Coastal areas often host small water bodies described by high levels of biodiversity, which are threatened by environmental changes such as saltwater intrusion. This work evaluates the salinization ...effects on macroinvertebrate communities of 16 permanent small wetlands (ponds) located in a coastal Mediterranean forest in Northern Italy, characterized by different salinity levels. From a preliminary multivariate analysis (CCA), salinity was detected as the main driver affecting taxa distribution. Thus, diversity in terms of taxa, biological and functional traits of macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed considering three salinity classes (freshwater, oligo-mesohaline and polyhaline). The threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN) was used for detecting changes in taxa abundance and trait distributions within the salinity range and for assessing synchrony among their change points as evidence of community thresholds. Taxonomic and functional diversity indices and single functional/biological traits among the three salinity classes were also compared. The findings demonstrated that ponds’ macroinvertebrate communities are resilient to moderate increases of salinity, but salinization increase to polyhaline levels causes loss of biodiversity and a drastic community simplification in terms of functional evenness due to increased functional specialization. Since climate change and anthropogenic activities are expected to exacerbate salinization, management measures are required for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity in small coastal wetlands.
•Small water bodies are neglected hot spots for aquatic biodiversity in river deltas.•Variations in macroinvertebrate communities along salinity levels were studied.•Macroinvertebrate communities are resilient to moderate increases of salinity.•Extreme salinization causes simplification in community structure and functions.•Measures are urgently needed to guarantee aquatic biodiversity conservation.
HD 191939 (TOI-1339) is a nearby (
d
= 54 pc), bright (
V
= 9 mag), and inactive Sun-like star (G9 V) known to host a multi-planet transiting system. Ground-based spectroscopic observations confirmed ...the planetary nature of the three transiting sub-Neptunes (HD 191939 b, c, and d) originally detected by TESS and were used to measure the masses for planets b and c with 3σ precision. These previous observations also reported the discovery of an additional Saturn-mass planet (HD 191939 e) and evidence for a further, very long-period companion (HD 191939 f). Here, we report the discovery of a new non-transiting planet in the system and a refined mass determination of HD 191939 d. The new planet, HD 191939 g, has a minimum mass of 13.5±2.0
M
⊕
and a period of about 280 days. This period places the planet within the conservative habitable zone of the host star, and near a 1:3 resonance with HD 191939 e. The compilation of 362 radial velocity measurements with a baseline of 677 days from four different high-resolution spectrographs also allowed us to refine the properties of the previously known planets, including a 4.6
σ
mass determination for planet d, for which only a 2
σ
upper limit had been set until now. We confirm the previously suspected low density of HD 191939 d, which makes it an attractive target for attempting atmospheric characterisation. Overall, the planetary system consists of three sub-Neptunes interior to a Saturn-mass and a Uranus-mass planet plus a high-mass long-period companion. This particular configuration has no counterpart in the literature and makes HD 191939 an exceptional multi-planet transiting system with an unusual planet demographic worthy of future observation.
The oxidative effects of photodynamic therapy with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (TMP) and Zn-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (ZnTMP) were evaluated in Wistar rats ...subcutaneously inoculated with Walker 256 carcinoma. The animals were irradiated with red light (λ = 685 nm; D = 50 J/cm2; 15 min) 3 h after intra-peritoneal administration of 10 mg/kg body weight of porphyrins. The presence of free radicals in tumours after photodynamic therapy with TMP and ZnTMP revealed by chemiluminescence of luminol attained the highest level at 18 h after irradiation. Lipid peroxides measured as thiobarbituric-reactive substances and protein carbonyls, which are indices of oxidative effects produced on susceptible biomolecules, were significantly increased in tumour tissues of animals 24 h after photodynamic therapy. The levels of thiol groups and total antioxidant capacity in the tumours were decreased. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were also increased in tumour tissues after photodynamic therapy. Increased levels of plasma lipid peroxides as well as changes in the levels of erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities suggest possible systemic effects of photodynamic therapy with TMP and ZnTMP.
We present the discovery and characterization of two transiting planets observed by TESS in the light curves of the young and bright (V = 9.67) star HD73583 (TOI-560). We perform an intensive ...spectroscopic and photometric space- and ground-based follow-up in order to confirm and characterize the system. We found that HD73583 is a young (similar to 500 Myr) active star with a rotational period of 12.08 +/- 0.11 d, and a mass and radius of 0.73 +/- 0.02 M-circle dot and 0.65 +/- 0.02 R-circle dot, respectively. HD 73583 b (P-b = 6.3980420(-0.0000062)(+0.0000067 )d) has a mass and radius of 10.2(-3.1)(+3.4) M-circle plus and 2.79 +/- 0.10 R-circle plus, respectively, which gives a density of 2.58(-0.81)(+0.95) g cm(-3). HD 73583 c (P-c = 18.87974(-0.00074)(+0.00086) d) has a mass and radius of 9.7(-1.7)(+1.8) M-circle plus and 2.39(-0.09)(+0.10) R-circle plus, respectively, which translates to a density of 3.88(-0.80)(+0.91) g cm(-3). Both planets are consistent with worlds made of a solid core surrounded by a volatile envelope. Because of their youth and host star brightness, they both are excellent candidates to perform transmission spectroscopy studies. We expect ongoing atmospheric mass-loss for both planets caused by stellar irradiation. We estimate that the detection of evaporating signatures on H and He would be challenging, but doable with present and future instruments.
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
Background
14-day continuous ambulatory ECG monitoring (AEM) has been ...shown to have superior diagnostic yield to traditional 48-hour Holter monitoring for paroxysmal or undiagnosed atrial fibrillation and a wide range of clinical arrhythmias. 30-day recordings are typically from event recorders (non-continuous) and require frequent adhesive/electrode and battery replacement, all of which can impair patient compliance, wear time, and diagnostic yield. A new, uninterrupted patch-based AEM with next-generation breathable adhesive, storage, and battery life has received FDA clearance for 14-day wear. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of using this device for 30-days of continuous AEM.
Methods
We enrolled 30 participants with indications for AEM and applied a single Zio Monitor device for 30-days and analyzed wear time, analyzable time, and diagnostic yield, compared to with Zio Monitor 14-day use and with our standard, previous-generation product.
Results
In the cohort (76% female, 35% non-white, age 37±9 years, BMI 30.6±6.8), the median wear time was 29 continuous days (IQR 28-30) with no device changeouts and no clinically significant skin irritation. Although median analyzable times were high and similar across the previous (XT) and next-generation (Monitor) devices, the mean was significantly higher with Monitor, indicating fewer outliers that experienced premature termination of wear time. Arrhythmia yield (AF ≥30 sec, SVT ≥90 bpm & ≥4 bt, VT ≥100 bpm & ≥4 bt, inc PVT/TdP/VF, Pause ≥3 s, and/or AVB (any 2nd Deg or CHB) was significantly higher with the new Zio Monitor Device compared to Zio XT (80.9% vs 77.1%; p=0.017).
Conclusion
The application of a single, continuous, patch-based AEM for 30 days without adhesive (electrode) or battery replacement is feasible and safe. Analyzable time was high for 14-day and 30-day wear. The uninterrupted wear time and high compliance could lead to higher diagnostic yield than with traditional 30-day event recorders.
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