The structure and components of European estuarine fish assemblages

This paper discusses the structure of fish assemblages using information from 17 European estuarine areas (in the British Isles, Portugal, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Spain). Binary (presence/absence) and quantitative data for each assemblage have been used to assess the assemblage structure according to taxonomy (i.e. species identity). Following this, a total of 29 functional guilds were created in order to describe the use made of an estuarine area for each taxon encountered: feeding preferences, reproduction type, substratum preferences (for bottom dwelling fish) and position within the water column (vertical preference guild). The paper focuses on the designation and determination of the proportions of the guild members of the fish assemblage within each estuary. Ecological guilds within the assemblage include estuarine residents, marine juvenile migrants, catadromous and anadromous migrants, marine seasonal users, and freshwater and marine adventitious species. Feeding guilds include detritivores, planktonic feeders, infaunal croppers and sediment ingesters, piscivores, and active predators of mobile crustaceans. Reproduction guilds include planktonic and demersal spawners and those using brood-protection. The substratum preference indicates the proportions of sand, mud, rock and vegetation dwellers, and the vertical preference denotes benthic, demersal or pelagic species. The analysis has allowed both the estuaries to be grouped according to taxonomic and guild similarity and the characterisation of a typical European estuarine fish assemblage. Within the limits posed by differing sampling methods, times of sampling and survey rationale, there is a high similarity between estuaries. The data indicate common patterns of estuarine usage irrespective of the differences between the estuaries although such patterns cannot be interpreted fully given the incomplete knowledge of their physical and anthropogenic characteristics

Gender differences in the effects of repeated taste exposure to the Mediterranean diet : a 6-month follow-up study

Objectif. Déterminer si une intervention basée principalement sur l'exposition au régime méditerranéen, accompagnée de recommandations et d'outils pour encourager une alimentation saine, mène à des effets différents en ce qui concerne l'adhésion au régime alimentaire et la gestion du poids six mois après l'intervention chez des femmes et des hommes canadiens. Méthodes. Trente-huit hommes et 32 femmes préménopausées (tous âgés de 24 à 53 ans) ont été exposés au même régime méditerranéen expérimental pendant 4 semaines au cours desquelles la nourriture leur était fournie. Les participants ont aussi reçu des recommandations et des outils pour les aider à adhérer à un régime alimentaire sain, sans autre contact jusqu'à la visite de suivi 6 mois plus tard. Résultats. En comparaison au début de l'étude, le score méditerranéen a augmenté à la fin du suivi de 6 mois (effet temps P = 0,003) sans différence entre les sexes (interaction entre le sexe et le temps P = 0,97). Concernant les composantes du score méditerranéen, on a observé des différences entre les sexes, les hommes déclarant des changements dans plus de groupes alimentaires que les femmes. Bien que l'intervention n'était pas axée sur la gestion du poids, en comparaison au début, l'IMC des participants a diminué au cours de l'intervention tant chez les hommes que chez les femmes. Cependant, seules les femmes ont maintenu un IMC plus bas 6 mois après l'intervention. Conclusions. L'exposition de courte durée au régime méditerranéen favorise l'adhésion à ce modèle alimentaire chez les deux sexes et aide à la gestion du poids, particulièrement chez les femmes.Purpose: To determine whether an intervention based mainly on exposure to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), along with recommendations/tools for encouraging healthy eating, lead to different effects on dietary adherence and body weight management six months post-intervention in Canadian men and women. Methods: Thirty-eight men and 32 premenopausal women (24-53 years) were exposed to the same 4-week experimental MedDiet during which all foods were provided to participants. Participants also received some recommendations/tools to adhere to a healthy way of eating, with no other contact until the 6-month follow-up visit. Results: Compared to baseline, the Mediterranean score (MedScore) had increased at the end of the 6-month follow-up (time effect P=0.003), with no gender difference (gender-by-time interaction P=0.97). Although our intervention was not focused on body weight management, compared to baseline, BMI decreased during the intervention in both men and women (respectively P<0.0001 and P=0.03); however, only the female participants of this study managed to maintain the lower BMI, six months after the intervention (P=0.03 for women; gender-by-time interaction P=0.04). Conclusions: Exposure to the MedDiet for a short duration promotes the adherence to this food pattern in both genders and helps in the management of body weight, especially in women

Gender differences in dietary intakes : what is the contribution of motivational variables ?

Background : Differences between men and women with respect to dietary intakes and eating behaviours have been reported and could be explained by gender differences in motivational variables associated with the regulation of food intake. The main objectives of the present study were to identify gender differences in dietary intakes, eating behaviours and motivational variables and to determine how motivational variables were associated with dietary intakes and eating behaviours in men and women. Methods : Sixty-four men and 59 premenopausal women were included in the present study and presented cardiovascular risk factors. The Regulation of Eating Behaviours scale was completed to assess motivational variables. A validated food frequency questionnaire was administered to evaluate dietary intakes and subjects completed the Three-Factor Eating questionnaire to assess eating behaviours. Results : Men had higher energy intake, energy density and percentage of energy from lipids and lower percentage of energy from carbohydrates than women (P = 0.04). Men also had a lower emotional susceptibility to disinhibition than women (P = 0.0001). Women reported a higher score for eating-related self-determined motivation [i.e. eating-related self-determination index (SDI)] than men (P = 0.002). The most notable gender difference in the pattern of associations was that eating-related SDI was negatively associated with energy density (r = -0.30; P = 0.02), only in women. Conclusions : Women had a better dietary profile and higher eating-related SDI than men. However, gender differences in dietary variables might be explained by a potential gender-specific pattern of association of eating-related SDI with dietary intakes and eating behaviours

Impact of the traditional Mediterranean diet on the Framingham risk score and the metabolic syndrome according to sex

Background: The traditional Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been recognized as a food pattern with beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. However, even if sex-related differences in the cardiovascular response to diet have been previously highlighted, the existence of such differences in the impact of the MedDiet on the global cardiovascular risk has not been yet investigated. This study examined sex differences in the global cardiovascular impact of a 4-week isoenergetic controlled MedDiet using the Framingham risk score and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) metabolic syndrome criteria. Methods: This study included 38 men and 32 premenopausal women (24–53 years) who had slightly elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations (between 3.4 and 4.9¿mmol/L) or total cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratios =5.0. Cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and after the controlled MedDiet. Results: A time effect (P=0.04) was found for the Framingham risk score, with both men and women showing a nonsignificant decrease in response to the MedDiet. No time effect was found for the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria that were met by participants (P>0.05). However, a time effect was noted for the continuous metabolic syndrome score (P=0.008), with nonsignificant decreases in both men and women. No sex-by-time interaction was noted for any of variables studied (P>0.05). Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that the global cardiovascular impact of the MedDiet, as assessed by the Framingham risk score and metabolic syndrome criteria, is not significantly different in men than in premenopausal women in isoenergetic conditions

Une plage urbaine sans bains : Toamasina (Madagascar)

« Tamatave, paresseusement étendue le long d’une plage de sable doré limitée par les pointes Tanio et Hastie, et formant un havre très sûr pour les navires de gros tonnage…. Le boulevard maritime, digne des plus belles plages balnéaires métropolitaines, bordé de plusieurs rangées de palmiers colonnes, longe la belle plage de sable fin… » (Janicot, 1955, p. 250 et 254) (Figure 1). Ces propos de la fin de l’époque coloniale pouvaient laisser augurer d’un développement touristique fondé sur des ..

Strengthening integrated research and capacity development within the Caribbean region

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Caribbean region, like other developing regions of the world, faces significant challenges in conducting research, especially in the context of limited resource capacities and capabilities. Further, due to its diverse and multiple island states, research capacity is scattered and unevenly spread within the region. The Caribbean EcoHealth Programme (CEHP) is a research program that is structured to improve the capacity and capability of health professionals in the Caribbean region to respond in integrative and innovative ways to on-going and emerging environmental health challenges by means of multi-sectoral interventions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Core parts of the CEHP’s mission are to (1) conduct collaborative research in areas that the region has identified as critical; (2) build and strengthening integrated approaches to research; and (3) develop and enhance basic research capacity within the Caribbean region.</p> <p>Fundamental to the success of the CEHP’s human and resource development mission has been its use of the Atlantis Mobile Laboratory (AML). The AML has allowed the CEHP program to move throughout the Caribbean and be able to respond to calls for specific research and capacity building opportunities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The CEHP’s five main research projects have generated the following results: (1) the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) study has evaluated human exposures to POPs, heavy metals, pesticides, and zoonotic infections; (2) the Burden of Illness (BOI) studies have developed protocols for the testing of foodborne microorganisms, strengthen laboratory analytical capabilities, and determined the prevalence and incidence of food-borne illness; (3) the Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) study has evaluated the microbial and chemical quality of rainwater harvesting systems; (4) the Ecotoxicology Water (ETW) studies have provided much needed data on the quality of recreational and drinking water supplies, and (5) the Food Safety Training Program has developed Diploma and M.Sc Agri-Food Safety and Quality Assurance programmes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The CEHP program provides a successful example of how a collaborative instead of researcher driven research agenda can lead to not only the generation of needed information, but also leave within the region where the research has been carried out the capacity and capabilities to continue to do so independent of outside interventions.</p

Une plage urbaine sans bains : Toamasina (Madagascar)

« Tamatave, paresseusement étendue le long d’une plage de sable doré limitée par les pointes Tanio et Hastie, et formant un havre très sûr pour les navires de gros tonnage…. Le boulevard maritime, digne des plus belles plages balnéaires métropolitaines, bordé de plusieurs rangées de palmiers colonnes, longe la belle plage de sable fin… » (Janicot, 1955, p. 250 et 254) (Figure 1). Ces propos de la fin de l’époque coloniale pouvaient laisser augurer d’un développement touristique fondé sur des ..