Aquatic plants fulfil a wide range of ecological roles, and make a substantial contribution to the structure, function and service provision of aquatic ecosystems. Given their well-documented ...importance in aquatic ecosystems, research into aquatic plants continues to blossom. The 14th International Symposium on Aquatic Plants, held in Edinburgh in September 2015, brought together 120 delegates from 28 countries and six continents. This special issue of Hydrobiologia includes a select number of papers on aspects of aquatic plants, covering a wide range of species, systems and issues. In this paper, we present an overview of current trends and future directions in aquatic plant research in the early twenty first century. Our understanding of aquatic plant biology, the range of scientific issues being addressed and the range of techniques available to researchers have all arguably never been greater; however, substantial challenges exist to the conservation and management of both aquatic plants and the ecosystems in which they are found. The range of countries and continents represented by conference delegates and authors of papers in the special issue illustrates the global relevance of aquatic plant research in the early twenty first century but also the many challenges that this burgeoning scientific discipline must address.
ABSTRACTLima, PS, de Campos, AS, de Faria Neto, O, Ferreira, TCA, Amorim, CEN, Stone, WJ, Prestes, J, Garcia, AMC, and Urtado, CB. Effects of combined resistance plus aerobic training on body ...composition, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and renal function in kidney transplantation subjects. J Strength Cond Res XX(X)000–000, 2019—Immunosuppression and a sedentary lifestyle may exacerbate complications such as early graft dysfunction and muscle loss, and reduce patient survival after kidney transplantation (KT). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in body composition (BC), muscular strength, aerobic, and renal function in KT subjects submitted to combined resistance plus aerobic training. Twelve KT subjects were randomly assigned into groups(G1) 12 weeks of combined training (3 males and 4 females, 54 ± 3 years); or (G2) nonexercise control (5 females, 43 ± 18 years). The subjects were evaluated for BC (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), estimated VCombining Dot AboveO2peak, right-hand maximal grip strength (RHMGS) and left-hand maximal grip strength (LHMGS), and renal function. Post-training revealed that G1 reduced body fat percentage (p = 0.046), uric acid (Δ = −0.87; p = 0.023), urea (Δ = −9.43; p = 0.032), and creatinine (Δ = −0.15; p = 0.045), increased fat-free mass, estimated VCombining Dot AboveO2peak, RHMGS, LHMGS (p < 0.05), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (Δ = 11.64; p = 0.017). G2 increased urea (Δ = 8.20; p = 0.017), creatinine (Δ = 0.37; p = 0.028), and decreased eGFR (Δ = −16.10; p = 0.038). After 12 weeks, urea (Δ = 24.94; p = 0.013), uric acid (Δ = 1.64; p = 0.044), and creatinine (Δ = 0.9; p = 0.011) were lower, whereas eGFR (Δ = 36.51; p = 0.009) was higher in G1. These data indicate that combined training instigates positive changes in BC, muscular strength, aerobic capacity, and renal function after KT.
Physical activity and sleep duration are established risk factors for many diseases, but their aetiology is poorly understood, partly due to relying on self-reported evidence. Here we report a ...genome-wide association study (GWAS) of device-measured physical activity and sleep duration in 91,105 UK Biobank participants, finding 14 significant loci (7 novel). These loci account for 0.06% of activity and 0.39% of sleep duration variation. Genome-wide estimates of ~ 15% phenotypic variation indicate high polygenicity. Heritability is higher in women than men for overall activity (23 vs. 20%, p = 1.5 × 10
) and sedentary behaviours (18 vs. 15%, p = 9.7 × 10
). Heritability partitioning, enrichment and pathway analyses indicate the central nervous system plays a role in activity behaviours. Two-sample Mendelian randomisation suggests that increased activity might causally lower diastolic blood pressure (beta mmHg/SD: -0.91, SE = 0.18, p = 8.2 × 10
), and odds of hypertension (Odds ratio/SD: 0.84, SE = 0.03, p = 4.9 × 10
). Our results advocate the value of physical activity for reducing blood pressure.
Thyrotropin alfa (rhTSH) is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration or European Medicines Agency for the preparation of radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) in patients with distant ...metastatic papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). There are only a few studies comparing rhTSH with levothyroxine withdrawal (LTW) in this context. Our main aim was to compare the two methods of RAIT preparation in terms of avidity and structural/biochemical response in distant metastatic PTC. We also intended to evaluate whether the two methods of RAIT preparation represented independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) in this subset of patients.
We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with PTC treated with RAIT for distant metastatic disease between 2006 and 2018. We included 95 PTC patients-27 (28.4%) had LTW and 68 (71.6%) had rhTSH for RAIT.
The two groups presented similar clinicopathological characteristics, except for median age at PTC diagnosis, which was higher in the rhTSH group (
= 0.001), but the median age at first RAIT for distant metastatic disease was not different between the two methods of preparation, 63 years old (interquartile range IQR 23) in the LTW group versus 70 (IQR 26.75),
= 0.06. Avidity was similar between the two groups (
= 0.973). Median estimate PFS (
= 0.076) and DSS (
= 0.084) were also similar between LTW and rhTSH. Regarding RAIT-related side effects, only 1 (3.7%) patient and 5 (7.4%) patients in the LTW and rhTSH groups, respectively, reported sialadenitis (
= 0.670).
There were no differences between the two methods of RAIT preparation regarding avidity and clinical response. rhTSH may be used as an alternative method of preparation for RAIT in patients with known distant lesions, as it presents similar clinical outcomes to LTW and a good safety profile.
Climate change will predictably change hydrological patterns and processes at the catchment scale, with impacts on habitat conditions for fish. The main goal of this study is to assess how shifts in ...fish habitat favourability under climate change scenarios are affected by hydrological stressors. The interplay between climate and hydrological stressors has important implications in river management under climate change because management actions to control hydrological parameters are more feasible than controlling climate. This study was carried out in the Tamega catchment of the Douro basin. A set of hydrological stressor variables were generated through a process-based modelling based on current climate data (2008–2014) and also considering a high-end future climate change scenario. The resulting parameters, along with climatic and site-descriptor variables were used as explanatory variables in empirical habitat models for nine fish species using boosted regression trees. Models were calibrated for the whole Douro basin using 254 fish sampling sites and predictions under future climate change scenarios were made for the Tamega catchment. Results show that models using climatic variables but not hydrological stressors produce more stringent predictions of future favourability, predicting more distribution contractions or stronger range shifts. The use of hydrological stressors strongly influences projections of habitat favourability shifts; the integration of these stressors in the models thinned shifts in range due to climate change. Hydrological stressors were retained in the models for most species and had a high importance, demonstrating that it is important to integrate hydrology in studies of impacts of climate change on freshwater fishes. This is a relevant result because it means that management actions to control hydrological parameters in rivers will have an impact on the effects of climate change and may potentially be helpful to mitigate its negative effects on fish populations and assemblages.
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•Hydrological stressors were retained in habitat the models for most species•Models using hydrology produce less severe predictions of fish habitat range shifts•Hydrological stressors strongly influence projections of habitat range shifts.•Salmo trutta fario was the most sensitive species to climate change
Abstract
The degradation of estuarine areas has been a growing concern in recent years, as these ecosystems offer several services. The
Arthrocnemum
and
Suaeda
genera produce useful compounds with ...various applications, which have led to their overexploitation in their native habitats. The main goal of this study is to use green technologies for sustainable cultivation of two species bioindicators of Mediterranean saltmarshes,
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum
and
Suaeda vera
, as an alternative to their overutilization. A tailored soil (TAIL) was constructed with a Saline Fluvisol (FLU), from a marginal estuarine area, and organic/inorganic residues were used as amendments, for plant cultivation. Seeds collected in natural populations were pretreated with two dormancy‐breaking treatments (H
2
SO
4
, H
2
O
2
) and germinated in FLU or TAIL. A microcosm assay using FLU or TAIL irrigated with estuarine water (VF) or three aqueous saline solutions (0, 200, or 400 mmol/L NaCl) was established. The species obtained a low percentage of seeds' germination being the highest values under substrate control (water‐soaked filter paper). The
A
.
macrostachyum
reached the highest germination percentage when seeds were pretreated with H
2
SO
4
(20%) while the germination of
S
.
vera
was favored by the pretreatment with H
2
O
2
(49%). Both species had the highest growth in TAIL irrigated with 0 or VF, presenting the largest stems (13–32 cm), the largest primary branches (3.5–7.2 cm), and the highest production of aerial part biomass (28–36 g). This study contributes to the sustainable cultivation of these valuable halophytes and could play an important role in the sustainable management of marginal estuarine land.
To assess if ocular motility impairment, and the ensuing diplopia, after Baerveldt Glaucoma device (BGI) implantation, is related to the presence of a large fluid reservoir (bleb), using Magnetic ...Resonance Imaging (MRI).
In a masked observational study (CCMO-registry number: NL65633.058.18), the eyes of 30 glaucoma patients with (n = 12) or without diplopia (n = 18) who had previously undergone BGI implantation were scanned with a 7 Tesla MRI-scanner. The substructures of the BGI-complex, including both blebs and plate, were segmented in 3D. Primary outcomes were a comparison of volume and height of the BGI-complex between patients with and without diplopia. Comparisons were performed by using an unpaired t-test, Fisher's Exact or Mann-Whitney test. Correlations were determined by using Spearman correlation.
The median volume and height of the BGI-complex was significantly higher in patients with compared to patients without diplopia (p = 0.007 and p = 0.025, respectively). Six patients had an excessively large total bleb volume (median of 1736.5mm3, interquartile range 1486.3-1933.9mm3), four of whom experienced diplopia (33% of the diplopia patients). Fibrotic strands through the BGI plate, intended to limit the height of the bleb, could be visualized but were not related to diplopia (75% versus 88%; p = 0.28).
With MRI, we show that in a significant number of diplopia cases a large bleb is present in the orbit. Given the large volume of these blebs, they are a likely explanation of the development of diplopia in at least some of the patients with diplopia after BGI implantation. Additionally, the MR-images confirm the presence of fibrotic strands. As these strands are also visible in patients with a large bleb, they are apparently not sufficient to restrict the bleb height.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Post mortem interval estimation is crucial in forensic sciences for both positive identification and reconstruction of perimortem events. However, reliable dating of skeletonized remains ...poses a scientific challenge since human remains decomposition involves a set of complex and highly variable processes. Many of the difficulties in determining post mortem interval and/or the permanence of a body in a specific environment relates with the lack of systematic observations and research in human body decomposition modalities in different environments. In March 2006, in order to solve a problem of misidentification, a team of the South Branch of Portuguese National Institute of Legal Medicine carried out the exhumation of 25 identified individuals buried for almost five years in the same cemetery plot. Even though all individuals shared similar post mortem intervals, they presented different stages of decomposition. In order to analyze the post mortem factors associated with the different stages of decomposition displayed by the 25 exhumed individuals, the stages of decomposition were scored. Information regarding age at death and sex of the individuals were gathered and recorded as well as data in the cause of death and grave and coffin characteristics. Although the observed distinct decay stages may be explained by the burial conditions, namely by the micro taphonomic environments, individual endogenous factors also play an important role on differential decomposition as witnessed by the present case.
Abstract
Context
The recommendations for radioactive-iodine treatment (RAIT) in metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are mostly based in the experience with papillary histotype and do not ...consider the differences within the distinct types of DTC, in terms of RAIT uptake and response.
Objective
This work aims to investigate the association between histology and RAIT avidity and response, and to evaluate whether histotype was an independent prognostic factor in progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) after RAIT for distant metastatic disease.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted of all DTC patients who underwent RAIT for distant metastatic disease, from 2001 to 2018, at a thyroid cancer referral center. We included 126 patients: 42 (33.3%) classical variant papillary thyroid cancer (cvPTC), 45 (35.7%) follicular variant PTC (fvPTC), 17 (13.5%) follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) and 22 (17.5%) Hürthle cell carcinoma. Main outcome measures included RAIT avidity and response.
Results
RAIT avidity was independently associated with histology (P < .001) and stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) at first RAIT for distant lesions (P = .007). Avidity was lowest in HCC (13.6%), intermediate in cvPTC (21.4%), and highest in fvPTC (75.6%) and FTC (76.5%). Regarding RAIT response, HCC and FTC were not different; both showed significantly more often progression after RAIT than fvPTC and cvPTC. Histology influenced PFS (P = .014), but tumor type was not a significant prognostic factor in DSS. Instead, age at diagnosis, resection status, and stimulated Tg at the first RAIT were significantly associated with DSS.
Conclusion
DTC histotype influenced RAIT avidity and PFS. It is crucial to better detect the metastatic patients that may benefit the most from RAIT.
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