Fisheries and reproductive biology of Octopus vulgaris (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in the Gulf of Alicante (Northwestern Mediterranean)

The common octopus Octopus vulgarisCuvier, 1797 is the most fished cephalopod species along the Spanish coasts. Its catches are highly fluctuating due to the short life cycle of the species and to the annual variability of the recruitment pattern, strongly dependent on the environmental conditions affecting the eggs and paralarvae. This study examines the common octopus fishery, the catch composition, and the main features of the reproductive biology of this species in the Gulf of Alicante (Spanish Eastern coast, Western Mediterranean FAO division 37.1.1). The common octopus fishery was studied analysing the monthly landing and effort data by fishing gear from 1994 to 2005. Monthly samplings of the commercial O. vulgarislandings from trawlers and clay pots from January 2004 to December 2005 resulted in the measuring of 1833 specimens to enable analysis of the catch composition, and allowed the biological sampling of 1176 individuals to provide the reproductive parameters of the species in the study area. The length-weight relationship calculated for the species was BW = 0.51 * DML 2.87. The yearly sex ratios (males:females) were 1:1 (trawl, 2004), 1:0.74 (trawl, 2005), and 1:0.88 (clay pots, 2005). The size (dorsal mantle length, DML) at maturity of the species in the study area was 9.67 cm for males and 14.38 cm for females. The gonadosomatic index reached a peak between April and July for males and in July for females. The Fulton condition index was lower in both sexes between June and September, and for males in November-December, whereas for both sexes the values of the digestive gland index were at their maximum between June and December. The energy allocation between somatic and reproductive growth was investigated and the results suggested that the energy spent on reproduction mainly came from feeding, and not from energy stored in the mantle tissues or in the digestive glan

The management of lifeguards in natural acuatic spaces (beaches)

Este estudio nace con la necesidad de establecer criterios básicos y descripción de recomendaciones para mejorar el nivel de atención de los socorristas acuáticos profesionales en los espacios acuáticos naturales, concretamente en el trabajo realizado en las playas, con el objetivo de aumentar la seguridad de estas zonas de baño. El estudio se ha desarrollado en la Comunidad Autónoma de Cataluña, concretamente en tres playas de varios municipios de la provincia de Barcelona. Se puede afirmar que tras esta investigación la mayor parte de los socorristas acuáticos que han participado en el estudio valoraron positivamente las medidas y criterios propuestos, asumiendo que con los mismos se puede desempeñar mejor su trabajoThis study arises from the need to establish basic criteria and the description of recommendations to improve the level of responsiveness of lifeguards in natural aquatic areas, specifically in the work done on the beaches, in order to increase the safety of these bathing areas. The study was developed Cataluña, in three beaches of different municipalities in the province of Barcelona. We can aver after this research that most of the lifeguards who participated in the study value positively the proposed measures and criteria, through the assumption that these features help improve their wor

Identification of Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus and Lettuce big-vein associated virus infecting Lactuca sativa with symptoms of lettuce big-vein disease in Argentina

Lettuce big-vein disease (BVD) affects all major lettuce-producing areas of the world. The causal agent is Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus (MLBVV), an ophiovirus transmitted by the soil-borne fungus Olpidium brassicae (Lot et al., 2002). MLBVV has been detected in many different areas of the world but never in Argentina. La Plata has about 700 ha of lettuce with a production of about 13 000 tonnes, and with about 70% of the total production from Buenos Aires Province. BVD has been detected in different areas in the north and west of the La Plata horticultural green belt. Many of the plants with BVD symptoms had leaf distortions of moderate severity, which affected their commercial value.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Identification of Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus and Lettuce big-vein associated virus infecting Lactuca sativa with symptoms of lettuce big-vein disease in Argentina

Lettuce big-vein disease (BVD) affects all major lettuce-producing areas of the world. The causal agent is Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus (MLBVV), an ophiovirus transmitted by the soil-borne fungus Olpidium brassicae (Lot et al., 2002). MLBVV has been detected in many different areas of the world but never in Argentina. La Plata has about 700 ha of lettuce with a production of about 13 000 tonnes, and with about 70% of the total production from Buenos Aires Province. BVD has been detected in different areas in the north and west of the La Plata horticultural green belt. Many of the plants with BVD symptoms had leaf distortions of moderate severity, which affected their commercial value.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Life history baseline of unexploited populations: The case of Beryx splendens from the Sierra Leone Rise

This study examines for the first time the biology of alfonsino (Beryx splendens) from three small seamounts of the Sierra Leone Rise (SLR), an unexploited and fragile ecosystem in the Atlantic, using data from an experimental survey carried out in 2001 by Spanish longliners. In general, the lack of rigorous baseline data limits the implementation of efficient management and conservation plans in fisheries strategies. Therefore, the main aim of present study was to provide baseline information on basic biological parameters of the alfonsino population associated with an unexploited ecosystem. A total of 17296 individuals of alfonsino were sampled from SLR. Alfonsino is gonochoric and presented an unbalanced sex ratio, there were significantly more females than males. Taking into account the results in stage of maturity of alfonsino and the gonadosomatic index values during studied period, we can conclude that at least one reproductive period in these seamounts was in the late spring and early summer. The spawning stage was attained at a minimum fork length of 23 and 25 cm for males and females, respectively. The size at which 50% of the population attains sexual maturity was approximately 28 and 27 cm for males and females, respectively. The stock structure of alfonsino showed a segregation of the size with the depth, as they increase in size they move into the deeper water.Versión del edito

Injury prevention, drowning prevention habits and resuscitation knowledge of Portuguese surfing instructors. A cross-sectional study

Surfing instructors can play an important role both in preventing sport related injuries and as first responders in water emergencies events. Even though Portugal is a predominantly oceanic country, with many people enrolling in water sports activities, we still don’t have a clear insight of the knowledge and educational practices of surfing instructors concerning both injury prevention and first response actions. This study aimed to analyze the educational practices on prevention of surf-related injuries of Portuguese surfing instructors and their knowledge and experience acting as first responders in the sea. A cross-sectional study was designed, using an online survey distributed by all surfing schools registered at Portuguese Surfing Federation to their instructors. The survey included a brief demographic characterization, questions regarding teaching practices about prevention of surfing-related injuries and knowledge/experience acting as first responders at the sea. Data was collected anonymously using Google Forms. A total of 102 instructors participated in the study. The analysis of the survey responses showed that 93.2% of surfing instructors are aware of the importance of prevention habits for teaching but skip some major preventive measures when teaching novice surfers. Nevertheless, the instructors with more than 15 years of experience provide more feedback on prevention habits during classes than instructors with less experience (p=0.019). When looking at self-perceptions of own competence to act in a drowning event, the instructors who have attended a basic life support course asserted to be more competent than those who never attended a course (p<0.05). These findings suggest that it would be very positive that all surfing schools followed the same protocol, giving due importance to prevention measures. Moreover, surfing instructors can play an important role in first response to drowning events but might have some training flaws that should be considered as part of a Water Safety National Strategy. © JPES

Biology (growth and reproduction) of the Mediterranean deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846), Crustacea, Decapoda) from the Alicante Gulf (s.e. Spain).

The deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) is a demersal species and an important resource for the trawl fishery in the Alicante Gulf (S.E. Spain). This paper describes, for first time in this area, certain biometric relationships, as well as growth parameters and reproductive patterns of the species. The results showed a sexual size dimorphism, with a negative allometry of relative growth and high rates of absolute growth, both particularly in males. However, females dominated in the catch proportion. The spawning period occurred throughout the year, but especially in June-July and in October-November and the maturation stage for females takes place within the second year of life

Fatores preditivos da transfusão de concentrado de hemácias em pacientes submetidos a cirurgias eletivas do aparelho digestivo: uma análise interinstitucional

O objetivo desse estudo foi compreender os fatores determinantes da prática transfusional de concentrado de hemácias em cirurgias eletivas do aparelho digestivo em quatro unidades hospitalares em Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, analítico e retrospectivo através do levantamento de dados em prontuários clínicos de quatro unidades hospitalares de onde foram catalogados os dados de pacientes a partir de junho de 2007 a dezembro de 2008, referentes às cirurgias citadas. Os resultados evidenciaram 81 casos, sendo 42% do gênero feminino e 58% do masculino. A idade média foi de 55,5 anos (±19,11 anos). As enfermidades de base reportadas mais comuns foram os processos neoplásicos (42%). Desses 81 pacientes, 38 (47%) foram hemotransfundidos no pré-operatório imediato, 28 (18%) foram transfundidos no transcirúrgico e 37 (45,7%) no pós-operatório imediato. Na análise univariada houve diferenças entre a prática transfusional pré-cirúrgica interinstitucional. Na fase cirúrgica houve relação entre a prática transfusional com a citação de motivos, fator RH (Rhesus), prática institucional e doença de base. Na fase pós-cirúrgica não foram demonstradas relações. Em todas as fases, não houve associação da prática transfusional com os tipos de procedimentos cirúrgicos, com o índice ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) e valores de hemoglobina e hematócrito. Concluindo, esse estudo revelou que a prática transfusional foi heterogênea entre instituições hospitalares, careceu de valores laboratoriais específicos, relacionou-se com a patologia de base mas não com o tipo de procedimento cirúrgico e foi norteada pelo critério de escolha do profissional.The objective of this study was to understand the determinative factors for packed red cell transfusions in elective digestive tract surgeries in four hospital units in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Retrospective analyses were performed by collecting data from the clinical records of patients submitted to elective digestive tract surgeries from June 2007 to December 2008 at these four hospital units. Eighty-one cases (42% females and 58% males) were included in this study. The average age was 55.5 years old (Standard deviation ± 19.11 years). The commonest reported underlying disease was neoplasia (42%). Of these patients, 38 (47%) were transfused in the immediate preoperative period, 28 (34.6%) during the surgery and 37 (45.7%) in the immediate postoperative period. In the univariate analysis, there was an association between the data of transfusions and the different institutions. In the surgical phase, there were correlations between transfusion and the reason for transfusion, RH factor (Rhesus), institutional policy and the underlying disease. In the postoperative phase, no association was identified. In all phases, there were not correlations between the type of surgical procedures, ASA index (American Society of Anesthesiology), and hemoglobin and hematocrit values. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the blood transfusions in elective digestive tract surgeries were heterogeneous between hospitals and were not related to specific laboratorial values; they were associated to the underlying pathology, but not with the type of surgical procedure and generally followed the criteria of the healthcare specialist

Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The Iberian SE is an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian-Balearic basin. It hosts important deep water fisheries targeting mostly red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus). The area comprises a complex system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts, knolls and hills (Palos, Planazo, Plis-Plas), and pockmark fields (Acosta et al., 2013). Few studies have been conducted on the bathyal megabenthos, unlike in the neighbouring Chella Bank (De la Torriente et al. 2018) and Balearic Islands (Massuti et al. 2022). The LIFE IP Intemares project is filling this gap

Interleukin 27 could be useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TBPE) has some limitations. We studied the efficacy of interleukin-27 (IL-27) in the diagnosis of TBPE. METHODS: We measured IL-27, adenosine deaminase (ADA), ADA-2, interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), and the ADA.IL-27 and ADA-2.IL-27 products in all the pleural effusion fluids. The diagnostic yield of IL-27 was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Of 431 pleural effusions, 70 were tuberculous, 146 were neoplastic, 58 were parapneumonic, 28 were empyemas, 88 were transudates, and 41 were other types. With a cutoff point of 0.55 ng/mL, IL-27 had a sensitivity of 91.4% and a specificity of 85.1%, which were significantly less than ADA, ADA-2, IFNgamma, ADA.IL-27, or ADA-2.IL-27. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for IL-27 (0.963) was also significantly lower than that for the other markers, except for IFNgamma. However, IL-27 improved the sensitivity of ADA and ADA-2 through ADA.IL-27 and ADA-2.IL-27 products (100% for both). CONCLUSIONS: IL-27 is less efficient than ADA and ADA-2 in the diagnosis of TBPE. However, ADA.IL-27 and ADA-2.IL-27 improve the diagnostic sensitivity of ADA and ADA-2, and thus could be useful in situations of high clinical suspicion and low ADA level. A value above the cutoff point of the latter is practically diagnostic of TBPE