Surf zone hyperbenthos of Belgian sandy beaches: seasonal patterns

Since surf zone hyperbenthos, although highly important in local food webs, has often been neglected and very little information is available, a survey of the Belgian sandy beaches was carried out from May 1996 until July 1997. Monthly samples were taken to give a complete record of hyperbenthic organisms occurring in the surf zone of Belgian sandy beaches and to evaluate the intensity by which this surf zone is used. In total 172 species were recorded. The number of species occurring in the surf zone is comparable to that of adjacent areas. As weIl as true hyperbenthic species, endobenthic and planktonic organisms were sampled. More than 75% of the average total sample composition consisted of mysids, mainly Mesopodopsis slabberi, Schistomysis spiritus and Schistomysis kervillei (holohyperbenthos). Apart from several resident species, active and passive seasonal migration towards the surf zone by a number of species is suggested. A large number of sporadic species adds to the composition of surf zone hyperbenthos. Within the merohyperbenthos, postlarval decapods and fish were the dominant organisms. During the year three recruitment peaks were observed. Average densities per month exceeded 1500 ind. 100 m-2. Yearly biomass averages ranged from 300 to over 3000 mg ADW 100 m-2. Densities of the common species are slightly higher in the surf zone than in other habitats, emphasising the importance of the area. Besides a possible nursery function, the surf zone may also be used as a transient area between different habitats. Finally, the influence of several abiotic factors on the hyperbenthic assemblages was evaluated. The main structuring variables determining the occurrence of most of the organisms are water temperature and hydrodynamic factors such as wave height and turbidity. The influence of wave height seems to be two-fold: several good swimmers such as mysids and some fish species are suggested to be able to actively avoid severe wave conditions, whereas other, more planktonic organisms, are passively transported towards the area if wave height increases

La Politique Agricole Commune

La Politique Agricole Commune (PAC) est l’objet de ce numéro spécial de Regards économiques. Deux articles y sont consacrés. Le premier propose une analyse des effets économiques probables de la réforme récente de la PAC sur l’agriculture belge. Quant au second, il se demande comment rendre la PAC plus juste et plus efficace. La PAC : Une analyse de la réforme récente Les autorités régionales belges doivent se prononcer sur les différentes options de réforme de la PAC proposées par l'accord européen de juin dernier. Cet article examine les effets économiques probables de ces options sur l'agriculture belge à l'aide de deux modèles économiques complémentaires. Ce numéro donne aussi des pistes de réflexion sur quelques questions préoccupantes liées à cet accord et à l'évolution de la PAC. La PAC : Pour la rendre plus juste et plus efficace La PAC est examinée par le biais de trois questions. D’abord, quelles justifications normatives peut-on apporter à un subside de l’activité agricole pour elle même ? Ensuite, qui sont les bénéficiaires ultimes de la PAC dans ses versions passées et présente ? Enfin, peut-on reformuler une PAC dont les effets objectifs répondraient aux critères normatifs énoncés plus haut ?

Energy efficiency considerations in integrated IT and optical network resilient infrastructures

The European Integrated Project GEYSERS - Generalised Architecture for Dynamic Infrastructure Services - is concentrating on infrastructures incorporating integrated optical network and IT resources in support of the Future Internet with special emphasis on cloud computing. More specifically GEYSERS proposes the concept of Virtual Infrastructures over one or more interconnected Physical Infrastructures comprising both network and IT resources. Taking into consideration the energy consumption levels associated with the ICT today and the expansion of the Internet in size and complexity, that incurring increased energy consumption of both IT and network resources, energy efficient infrastructure design becomes critical. To address this need, in the framework of GEYSERS, we propose energy efficient design of infrastructures incorporating integrated optical network and IT resources, supporting resilient end-to-end services. Our modeling results quantify significant energy savings of the proposed solution by jointly optimizing the allocation of both network and IT resources

Prenatal muscle development in a mouse model for the secondary dystroglycanopathies

The defective glycosylation of α-dystroglycan is associated with a group of muscular dystrophies that are collectively referred to as the secondary dystroglycanopathies. Mutations in the gene encoding fukutin-related protein (FKRP) are one of the most common causes of secondary dystroglycanopathy in the UK and are associated with a wide spectrum of disease. Whilst central nervous system involvement has a prenatal onset, no studies have addressed prenatal muscle development in any of the mouse models for this group of diseases. In view of the pivotal role of α-dystroglycan in early basement membrane formation, we sought to determine if the muscle formation was altered in a mouse model of FKRP-related dystrophy

A Participatory Health Promotion Mobile App Addressing Alcohol Use Problems (The Daybreak Program): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: At-risk patterns of alcohol use are prevalent in many countries with significant costs to individuals, families, and society. Screening and brief interventions, including with Web delivery, are effective but with limited translation into practice to date. Previous observational studies of the Hello Sunday Morning approach have found that their unique Web-based participatory health communication method has resulted in a reduction of at-risk alcohol use between baseline and 3 months. The Hello Sunday Morning blog program asks participants to publicly set a personal goal to stop drinking or reduce their consumption for a set period of time, and to record their reflections and progress on blogs and social networks. Daybreak is Hello Sunday Morning's evidence-based behavior change program, which is designed to support people looking to change their relationship with alcohol. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically evaluate different versions of Hello Sunday Morning's Daybreak program (with and without coaching support) in reducing at-risk alcohol use. METHODS: We will use a between groups randomized control design. New participants enrolling in the Daybreak program will be eligible to be randomized to receive either (1) the Daybreak program, including peer support plus behavioral experiments (these encourage and guide participants in developing new skills in the areas of mindfulness, connectedness, resilience, situational strategies, and health), or (2) the Daybreak program, including the same peer support plus behavioral experiments, but with online coaching support. We will recruit 467 people per group to detect an effect size of f=0.10. To be eligible, participants must be resident in Australia, aged =18 years, score =8 on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT), and not report prior treatment for cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: The primary outcome measure will be reduction in the AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores. Secondary outcomes include mental health (Kessler's K-10), days out of role (Kessler), alcohol consumed (measured with a 7-day drinking diary in standard 10 g drinks), and alcohol-related harms (CORE alcohol and drug survey). We will collect data at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months and analyze them with random effects models, given the correlated data structure. CONCLUSIONS: A randomized trial is required to provide robust evidence of the impact of the online coaching component of the Daybreak program, including over an extended period

Efficacy of a loading dose of IV salbutamol in children with severe acute asthma admitted to a PICU:a randomized controlled trial

The optimal dose regimen for intravenous (IV) treatment in children with severe acute asthma (SAA) is still a matter of debate. We assessed the efficacy of adding a salbutamol loading dose to continuous infusion with salbutamol in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with SAA. This multicentre, placebo-controlled randomized trial in the PICUs of four tertiary care children’s hospitals included children (2–18 years) with SAA admitted between 2017 and 2019. Children were randomized to receive either a loading dose IV salbutamol (15 mcg/kg, max. 750 mcg) or normal saline while on continuous salbutamol infusion. The primary outcome was the asthma score (Qureshi) 1 h after the intervention. Analysis of covariance models was used to evaluate sensitivity to change in asthma scores. Serum concentrations of salbutamol were obtained. Fifty-eight children were included (29 in the intervention group). Median baseline asthma score was 12 (IQR 10–13) in the intervention group and 11 (9–12) in the control group (p = 0.032). The asthma score 1 h after the intervention did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.508, β-coefficient = 0.283). The median increase in salbutamol plasma levels 10 min after the intervention was 13 μg/L (IQR 5–24) in the intervention group and 4 μg/L (IQR 0–7) in the control group (p = 0.001). Side effects were comparable between both groups. Conclusion: We found no clinical benefit of adding a loading dose IV salbutamol to continuous infusion of salbutamol, in children admitted to the PICU with SAA. Clinically significant side effects from the loading dose were not encountered.What is Known:• Pediatric asthma guidelines struggle with an evidence-based approach for the treatment of SAA beyond the initial steps of oxygen suppletion, repetitive administration of inhaled β2-agonists, and systemic steroids.• During an SAA episode, effective delivery of inhaled drugs is unpredictable due to severe airway obstruction.What is New:• This study found no beneficial effect of an additional loading dose IV salbutamol in children admitted to the PICU.• This study found no clinically significant side effects from the loading dose

Voluntary exercise can strengthen the circadian system in aged mice

Consistent daily rhythms are important to healthy aging according to studies linking disrupted circadian rhythms with negative health impacts. We studied the effects of age and exercise on baseline circadian rhythms and on the circadian system's ability to respond to the perturbation induced by an 8 h advance of the light:dark (LD) cycle as a test of the system's robustness. Mice (male, mPer2luc/C57BL/6) were studied at one of two ages: 3.5 months (n = 39) and >18 months (n = 72). We examined activity records of these mice under entrained and shifted conditions as well as mPER2::LUC measures ex vivo to assess circadian function in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and important target organs. Age was associated with reduced running wheel use, fragmentation of activity, and slowed resetting in both behavioral and molecular measures. Furthermore, we observed that for aged mice, the presence of a running wheel altered the amplitude of the spontaneous firing rate rhythm in the SCN in vitro. Following a shift of the LD cycle, both young and aged mice showed a change in rhythmicity properties of the mPER2::LUC oscillation of the SCN in vitro, and aged mice exhibited longer lasting internal desynchrony. Access to a running wheel alleviated some age-related changes in the circadian system. In an additional experiment, we replicated the effect of the running wheel, comparing behavioral and in vitro results from aged mice housed with or without a running wheel (>21 months, n = 8 per group, all examined 4 days after the shift). The impact of voluntary exercise on circadian rhythm properties in an aged animal is a novel finding and has implications for the health of older people living with environmentally induced circadian disruption