Underwater Video as a Tool to Quantify Fish Density in Complex Coastal Habitats

Habitat loss is a serious issue threatening biodiversity across the planet, including coastal habitats that support important fish populations. Many coastal areas have been extensively modified by the construction of infrastructure such as ports, seawalls, docks, and armored shorelines. In addition, habitat restoration and enhancement projects often include constructed breakwaters or reefs. Such infrastructure may have incidental or intended habitat values for fish, yet their physical complexity makes quantitatively sampling these habitats with traditional gears challenging. We used a fleet of unbaited underwater video cameras to quantify fish communities across a variety of constructed and natural habitats in Perdido and Pensacola Bays in the central northern Gulf of Mexico. Between 2019 and 2021, we collected almost 350 replicate 10 min point census videos from rock jetty, seawall, commercial, public, and private docks, artificial reef, restored oyster reef, seagrass, and shallow sandy habitats. We extracted standard metrics of Frequency of Occurrence and MaxN, as well as more recently developed MeanCount for each taxon observed. Using a simple method to measure the visibility range at each sampling site, we calculated the area of the field of view to convert MeanCount to density estimates. Our data revealed abundant fish assemblages on constructed habitats, dominated by important fisheries species, including grey snapper Lutjanus griseus and sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus. Our analyses suggest that density estimates may be obtained for larger fisheries species under suitable conditions. Although video is limited in more turbid estuarine areas, where conditions allow, it offers a tool to quantify fish communities in structurally complex habitats inaccessible to other quantitative gears

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Benthic macrofauna community response to salinity in the San Antonio and Matagorda Bay systems, Texas

The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of salinity on ecosystem health in Matagorda and San Antonio Bay systems, using benthic macrofauna communities as biological indicators of ecosystem integrity. Benthic and discrete water quality samples were taken monthly at five stations in the San Antonio and Matagorda Bays. Benthic macrofauna community dynamics were linked to salinity to infer the effects of freshwater inflow on the estuarine biotic communities. The benthic communities were classified into two groups based on different salinity habitat zones when salinity was above or below 11. Benthic metrics were significantly correlated with salinity, one-month lag, or two-month lag salinity in all bays. Peak abundances were observed in Carancahua and San Antonio Bays when salinities were 5 and 7 respectively, and peak diversity was observed in San Antonio Bay when salinity was 4. Diversity (Hill’s N1) increased throughout the salinity gradient in Tres Palacios and San Antonio Bays, as did abundance in Tres Palacios Bay. Overall, salinity was a driving factor for these communities. There is a need for hydrological restoration in many areas, and resources for restoration have been made available by the RESTORE Act. However, only small flows may be available to be set aside to maintain ecological health. The present study gives evidence that benthic communities are supported by low salinity habitats within the upper reaches of the San Antonio and Matagorda Bay Systems.The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of salinity on ecosystem health in Matagorda and San Antonio Bay systems, using benthic macrofauna communities as biological indicators of ecosystem integrity. Benthic and discrete water quality samples were taken monthly at five stations in the San Antonio and Matagorda Bays. Benthic macrofauna community dynamics were linked to salinity to infer the effects of freshwater inflow on the estuarine biotic communities. The benthic communities were classified into two groups based on different salinity habitat zones when salinity was above or below 11. Benthic metrics were significantly correlated with salinity, one-month lag, or two-month lag salinity in all bays. Peak abundances were observed in Carancahua and San Antonio Bays when salinities were 5 and 7 respectively, and peak diversity was observed in San Antonio Bay when salinity was 4. Diversity (Hill’s N1) increased throughout the salinity gradient in Tres Palacios and San Antonio Bays, as did abundance in Tres Palacios Bay. Overall, salinity was a driving factor for these communities. There is a need for hydrological restoration in many areas, and resources for restoration have been made available by the RESTORE Act. However, only small flows may be available to be set aside to maintain ecological health. The present study gives evidence that benthic communities are supported by low salinity habitats within the upper reaches of the San Antonio and Matagorda Bay Systems.Physical and Environmental SciencesCollege of Science and Engineerin

Placing a mask on COVID-19 patients during high-flow nasal cannula therapy reduces aerosol particle dispersion

International audienc

Reduced heart rate variability in people with type 1 diabetes and elevated diabetes distress: Results from the longitudinal observational DIA-LINK1 study

Aims: People with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a clinical marker for CVD. In this observational study using continuous HRV measurement across 26 days, we investigated whether psychological stressors (diabetes distress, depressive symptoms) and glycaemic parameters (hypo- and hyperglycaemic exposure, glycaemic variability and HbA1c) are associated with lower HRV in people with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Data from the non-interventional prospective DIA-LINK1 study were analysed. At baseline, depressive symptoms and diabetes distress were assessed. Glucose values and HRV were recorded daily for 26 days using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and a wrist-worn health tracker respectively. Multilevel modelling with participant as nesting factor was used to analyse associations between day-to-day HRV and diabetes distress, depressive symptoms and CGM-derived parameters. Results: Data from 149 participants were analysed (age: 38.3 ± 13.1 years, HbA1c: 8.6 ± 1.9%). Participants with elevated diabetes distress had a significantly lower HRV across the 26 days compared to participants without elevated distress (β = −0.28; p = 0.004). Elevated depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with HRV (β = −0.18; p = 0.074). Higher daily exposure to hyperglycaemia (β = −0.44; p = 0.044), higher average exposure to hypoglycaemia (β = −0.18; p = 0.042) and higher HbA1c (β = −0.20; p = 0.018) were associated with reduced HRV across the 26 days. Sensitivity analysis with HRV averaged across all days corroborated these results. Conclusions: Diabetes distress is a clinically meaningful psychosocial stressor that could play a role in the cardiovascular health of people with type 1 diabetes. These findings highlight the need for integrated psychosocial care in diabetes management