Two cases study of fouling colonization patterns in the Mediterranean Sea in the perspective of integrated aquaculture systems

Fouling assemblage colonizing fish-farms is considered mostly to produce negative impacts causing financial loss. By contrast, large evidences emerged on the bioremediation role by biofouling associated to aquaculture facilities, even if the fouling assemblages thriving in the water column was poorly investigated. The aim of the present work was to investigate the macrofouling assemblages over one year of immersion, in order to single out the fouling species, which play the most remarkable role for the bioremediation of the marine areas affected by aquaculture activities. With this in mind, we studied the fouling community dynamics in two Mediterranean maricultural facilities, respectively in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea) and in the Gulf of Gaeta (Tyrrhenian Sea), using the same experimental design and time frame. Two experiments were carried out using artificial panels anchored to two finfish cages. The one-year old fouling communities in the two sites were compared at four seasons of immersion, four submersion durations and three depths, both communities from structural and functional points of view. Notwithstanding the quite similar species composition of fouling of the two sites, the biofouling showed the highest biodiversity in the Mar Grande of Taranto. In the Gulf of Gaeta mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, dominated at all the times and depths, whilst in the Mar Grande of Taranto they were especially abundant at the surface with the deepest panels being largely colonized by polychaete sabellids. The co-occurrence of the filter-feeders Mytilus-sabellids recorded in the Gulf of Taranto also highlighted the highest filtration capability. Our results suggest two different fouling assemblages as candidates for bioremediation in integrated multitrophic aquaculture facilities: both a monospecific system dominated by mussels and a multi-specific system with sabellids and mussels as most abundant filter-feeders

Perception of changes in marine benthic habitats: The relevance of taxonomic and ecological memory

Having a reliable ecological reference baseline is pivotal to understanding the current status of benthic assemblages. Ecological awareness of our perception of environmental changes could be better described based on historical data. Otherwise, we meet with the shifting baseline syndrome (SBS). Facing SBS harmful consequences on environmental and cultural heritage, as well as on conservation strategies, requires combining historical data with contemporary biomonitoring. In the present “era of biodiversity”, we advocate for (1) the crucial role of taxonomy as a study of life diversity and (2) the robust, informative value of museum collections as memories of past ecosystem conditions. This scenario requires taxonomist skills to understand community composition and diversity, as well as to determine ecosystem change trends and rates. In this paper, we focus on six Mediterranean benthic habitats to track biological and structural changes that have occurred in the last few decades. We highlight the perception of biological changes when historical records make possible effective comparisons between past reference situations and current data. We conclude that the better we know the past, the more we understand present (and will understand future) ecosystem functioning. Achieving this goal is intrinsically linked to investing in training new taxonomists who are able to assure intergeneration connectivity to transmit cultural and environmental heritage, a key aspect to understanding and managing our changing ecosystems

Dual-source computed tomography coronary artery imaging in children

Computed tomography (CT) has a well-established diagnostic role in the assessment of coronary arteries in adults. However, its application in a pediatric setting is still limited and often impaired by several technical issues, such as high heart rates, poor patient cooperation, and radiation dose exposure. Nonetheless, CT is becoming crucial in the noninvasive approach of children affected by coronary abnormalities and congenital heart disease. In some circumstances, CT might be preferred to other noninvasive techniques such as echocardiography and MRI for its lack of acoustic window influence, shorter acquisition time, and high spatial resolution. The introduction of dual-source CT has expanded the role of CT in the evaluation of pediatric cardiovascular anatomy and pathology. Furthermore, technical advances in the optimization of low-dose protocols represent an attractive innovation. Dual-source CT can play a key role in several clinical settings in children, namely in the evaluation of children with suspected congenital coronary artery anomalies, both isolated and in association with congenital heart disease. Moreover, it can be used to assess acquired coronary artery abnormalities, as in children with Kawasaki disease and after surgical manipulation, especially in case of transposition of the great arteries treated with arterial switch operation and in case of coronary re-implantation

Mapping Flood-Related Mortality in the Mediterranean Basin. Results from the MEFF v2.0 DB

Recent events in Western Attica in Greece (24 deaths in November 2017), in the Balearic Islands (13 deaths in October 2018), and in southern France (15 deaths in October 2018) show that flood-related mortality remains a major concern in Mediterranean countries facing flash floods. Over the past several years, many initiatives have arisen to create databases on flood-related mortality. An international initiative started in 2011 pooling regional and national databases on flood mortality from region and/or countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The MEditerranean Flood Fatality Database (MEFF DB) brings together, in 2018, six Mediterranean regions/countries: Catalonia (Spain), Balearic Islands (Spain), Southern France, Calabria (Italy), Greece, and Turkey, and covers the period 1980-2018. MEFF DB is on progress and, every year, new data are included, but for this study, we kept only the preliminary data that were geolocated and validated on 31st of December 2018. This research introduces a new step in the analysis of flood-related mortality and follows the statistical description of the MEFF DB already published. The goals of this paper are to draw the spatial distribution of flood mortality through a geographical information system (GIS) at different spatial scales: country, NUTS 3 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics. Level 3) regions, catchment areas, and grid. A fatality rate (F: number of deaths/year/million of inhabitants) is created to help this analysis. Then, we try to relate mortality to basic (human or physical) drivers such as population density, rainfall seasonality, or rainfall frequency across the Mediterranean Basin. The mapping of F shows a negative mortality gradient between the western and the eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The south of France appears to be the most affected region. The maps also highlight the seasonality of flood-related deaths with the same west-east gradient. It confirms that flood mortality follows the climatological seasonal patterns across the Mediterranean Basin. Flood-related fatalities mainly occur during the early fall season in the western part of the Mediterranean area, while the Easter Basin is affected later, in November or during the winter season. Eastern Turkey introduces another pattern, as mortality is more severe in summer. Mortality maps are then compared with factors that potentially contribute to the occurrence of flood fatalities, such as precipitation intensity (rainfall hazard), to explain geographical differences in the fatality rate. The density of a fatal event is correlated to the population density and the rainfall frequency. Conversely, the average number of deaths per event depends on other factors such as prevention or crisis managemen

Population pharmacokinetics and dosing recommendations for the use of deferiprone in children younger than 6 years

AIMS: Despite long clinical experience with deferiprone, there is limited information on its pharmacokinetics in children < 6 years of age. Here we assess the impact of developmental growth on the pharmacokinetics of deferiprone in this population using a population approach. Based on pharmacokinetic bridging concepts, we also evaluate whether the recommended doses yield appropriate systemic exposure in this group of patients. METHODS: Data from a study in which 18 paediatric patients were enrolled were available for the purposes of this analysis. Patients were randomised to three deferiprone dose levels (8.3, 16.7 and 33.3 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected according to an optimised sampling scheme in which each patient contributed to a maximum of five samples. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using NONMEM v.7.2. Model selection criteria were based on graphical and statistical summaries. RESULTS: A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and first-order elimination best described the pharmacokinetics of deferiprone. Drug disposition parameters were affected by body weight, with both clearance and volume increasing allometrically with size. Simulation scenarios show that comparable systemic exposure (AUC) is achieved in children and adults after similar dose levels in mg/kg, with median (5-95(th) quantiles) AUC values respectively of 340.6 (223.2-520.0) and 318.5 (200.4-499.0) µmol/L*h at 75 mg/kg/day and 453.7 (297.3-693.0) and 424.2 (266.9-664.0) at 100 mg/kg/day t.i.d. doses. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the current findings, a dosing regimen of 25 mg/kg t.i.d. is recommended in children below 6 years of age, with the possibility of titration up to 33.3 mg/kg t.i.d

Flood Fatalities in Europe, 1980-2018: Variability, Features, and Lessons to Learn

Floods are still a significant threat to people, despite of the considerable developments in forecasting, management, defensive, and rescue works. In the near future, climate and societal changes as both urbanization of flood prone areas and individual dangerous behaviors could increase flood fatalities. This paper analyzes flood mortality in eight countries using a 39-year database (1980-2018) named EUFF (EUropean Flood Fatalities), which was built using documentary sources. The narratives of fatalities were investigated and standardized in the database reporting the details of the events. The entire dataset shows a stable trend on flood fatalities, despite the existence of individual increasing (Greece, Italy, and South France) and decreasing (Turkey and Catalonia) trends. The 2466 fatalities were mainly males, aged between 30-49 years and the majority of them happened outdoor. Most often people were dragged by water/mud when travelling by motor vehicles. Some cases of hazardous behaviors, such as fording rivers, were also detected. The primary cause of death was drowning, followed by heart attack. This work contributes to understand the human-flood interaction that caused fatalities. The changes in society's vulnerability highlighted throughout this study contribute to manage future risks, to improve people protection actions, and to reduce risk behaviors