GIS-BASED SUITABILITY MODELLING FOR THE EUROPEAN OYSTER WITHIN THE GERMAN EXCLUSIVE ZONE OF THE NORTH SEA

Oyster reefs are ecologically important habitats that have been suffering from anthropogenic stressors and severe damages over the past century. More than 85 % of the world's oyster reefs have already been destroyed, have disappeared or their existence is under severe and immediate threat. Due to their central ecological importance for benthic and bentho-pelagic systems and processes associated with important ecosystem functions and services, the restoration of oyster reefs is a focus of marine conservation measures worldwide. In the context of marine spatial planning and complex land use conflicts, and aimed at maximising the ecological success of such restoration measures, GIS-based habitat suitability analyses for oyster reintroduction have been conducted. The aim of the present study was to model and identify suitable habitats for the European oyster within the marine protected areas of Borkum Reefground and Sylt Outer Reef in the German Bight for which the restoration of biogenic reefs, namely native oyster reefs is a designated measure. For this purpose, a multi-criteria decision analysis was designed and applied. Based on geodata of the ecological habitat preferences of the European oyster and relevant logistic factors (contraindicated uses), suitable large- scale areas were successfully identified for which a reintroduction of the formerly native species is favourable. Both suitable and unsuitable habitats could therefore successfully be identified for both nature reserves. Due to the large impact of different standardisation procedures for the suitability variables applied, corresponding results may differ quite severely. Hence four different classifications were applied on the most important factor, ground fisheries accounting for a relative weighting of ca. 30% in the derived suitability formula. The results undermine the necessity of well-grounded scientific and practical reasons to decide on a suitable classification procedure in the multicriteria analysis

Expression of Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and Its Role in Insulin Release from Rat Pancreatic Beta Cells

<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Several transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are expressed in pancreatic beta cells and have been proposed to be involved in insulin secretion. However, the endogenous ligands for these channels are far from clear. Here, we demonstrate the expression of the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) ion channel in the pancreatic beta cells and its role in insulin release. TRPA1 is an attractive candidate for inducing insulin release because it is calcium permeable and is activated by molecules that are produced during oxidative glycolysis.</p> <h3>Methods</h3><p>Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot techniques were used to determine the expression of TRPA1 channel. Ca²⁺ fluorescence imaging and electrophysiology (voltage- and current-clamp) techniques were used to study the channel properties. TRPA1-mediated insulin release was determined using ELISA.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>TRPA1 is abundantly expressed in a rat pancreatic beta cell line and freshly isolated rat pancreatic beta cells, but not in pancreatic alpha cells. Activation of TRPA1 by allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and cyclopentenone prostaglandins (PGJ₂) and a novel agonist methylglyoxal (MG) induces membrane current, depolarization, and Ca²⁺ influx leading to generation of action potentials in a pancreatic beta cell line and primary cultured pancreatic beta cells. Activation of TRPA1 by agonists stimulates insulin release in pancreatic beta cells that can be inhibited by TRPA1 antagonists such as HC030031 or AP-18 and by RNA interference. TRPA1-mediated insulin release is also observed in conditions of voltage-gated Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ channel blockade as well as ATP sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channel activation.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>We propose that endogenous and exogenous ligands of TRPA1 cause Ca²⁺ influx and induce basal insulin release and that TRPA1-mediated depolarization acts synergistically with K_ATP channel blockade to facilitate insulin release.</p> </div

Long-Term Stability of Lorazepam in Sodium Chloride 0.9% Stored at Different Temperatures in Different Containers

Infusion containing lorazepam is used by geriatric department to limit anxiety disorders in the elderly. Currently, these infusions are prepared according to demand by the nursing staff, but the preparation in advance in a centralized service could improve quality of preparation and time management. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term stability of this infusion in polypropylene syringes stored at 5 ± 3°C. Then, results obtained were compared with stability data of lorazepam in syringes stored at room temperature, glass bottles at 5 ± 3°C, and glass bottles at room temperature. Eight syringes and 6 bottles of infusion were prepared by diluting 1 mL lorazepam 4 mg in 23 mL of NaCl 0.9% under aseptic conditions. Five syringes and 3 bottles were stored at 5 ± 3°C and 3 syringes and 3 bottles were stored at room temperature for 30 days. During the storage period, particle appearance or color change were periodically checked by visual and microscope inspection. Turbidity was assessed by measurements of optical density (OD) at 3 wavelengths (350 nm, 410 nm, 550 nm). The stability of pH was also evaluated. The lorazepam concentrations were measured at each time point by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector at 220 nm. Solutions were physically unstable in syringes at 5 ± 3°C after 4 days: crystals and a drop of OD at 350 nm were observed. However, pH was stable. After 2 days, solutions were considered as chemically unstable because a loss of lorazepam concentration higher than 10% was noticed: the lower 1-sided confidence limit at 95% was below 90% of the initial concentration. To assess temperature and polypropylene influence, results were compared with those obtained for syringes at room temperature and bottles at 5 ± 3°C and room temperature. Precipitation, drop of OD at 350 nm, and chemical instability were observed in all conditions. Solutions of lorazepam were unstable after 2 days in syringes at 5 ± 3°C. Preparation in advance appears, therefore, not possible for the clinical use. Storage conditions (temperature and form) do not improve the stability

Qu’en est-il vraiment de la méthode Chaboteau ?

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Analyse des difficultés liées à l’enseignement-apprentissage de la théorie de l’évolution

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Forty questions of importance to the policy and practice of native oyster reef restoration in Europe

© 2020 The Authors. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Oyster reefs are among the most threatened marine habitats globally. In Europe, oyster reefs have been extirpated from most locations within their historical range. Active restoration of the native oyster (Ostrea edulis) in Europe has grown substantially in recent years. In sharing experiences between oyster restoration projects in Europe at the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance conference, NORA2, in Edinburgh in May 2019, it became apparent that a number of similar barriers are experienced. This study identified the top 40 questions, which, if answered, would have the greatest influence on the policy and practice of oyster restoration in Europe. Initially 71 people were consulted across 28 institutions and 11 European countries to generate 194 questions. An established process of one round of pre-workshop voting followed by a one-day online workshop and two post-workshop rounds of voting resulted in the final 40 questions. Questions were broadly grouped into the following 10 themes: baselines, site selection, restoration methods, quantifying benefits, disease management, biosecurity, genetic diversity and population differentiation, policy and management, novel technologies, and current and future threats. We anticipate that this list will provide a starting point for developing collaborative projects across the NORA network, as well as assisting policy makers and funders with identifying key areas that need to be addressed in order to overcome existing barriers to scaling up oyster restoration in Europe.The NORA Secretariat are funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN) through the Federal Program for Biodiversity and the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research within the project PROCEED (FKZ 3517685013). PzE is supported by The Nature Conservancy, Global Ocean Team. WJS is funded by Arcadia. JWPC is funded by NWO Domain Applied and Engineering Sciences under Grant 14494. WGS is funded by Glenmorangie and St Abbs Marine Station