Influencia de la temperatura del fondo del mar y profundidad en la estimación del área de barrido en sistemas de arrastre

The methodological approach to data collection and analysis in Mediterranean bottom trawl surveys has changed considerably since their beginnings in the mid-1980s. The introduction of new technologies in surveys greatly improved knowledge on trawl underwater geometry, but also raised a question on the reliability of the data obtained. The most commonly used trawl monitoring systems in the Mediterranean use the constant speed of sound when calculating horizontal distance from one sensor to another. However, the speed of the sound in seawater is not constant because it depends on water temperature, pressure, and salinity. This is known to affect the performance of the horizontally transmitting sonars, and it is reasonable to assume that unless it is properly compensated for, the readings from trawl monitoring systems can be incorrect, resulting in biased swept area estimates, and hence potentially producing bias in abundance estimates. In the knowledge that speed of sound depends on temperature, salinity and pressure, the Del Grosso (1974) equation was used to calculate the compensation coefficient for a series of theoretical depth and temperature data. A simple model is proposed in the current paper for the manual correction of the horizontal net opening and swept area estimates. Temperature and depth data obtained from the MEDATLAS project are used to show seasonal and spatial variation in the near-bottom speed of sound, and the results demonstrate that, unless compensated for properly, the error in the horizontal net spread ranges from –1.5% to 2.9%.El enfoque metodológico para la recopilación de datos y análisis en estudios de arrastre de fondo del Mediterráneo ha cambiado considerablemente desde sus inicios en los años ochenta. La introducción de nuevas tecnologías en los estudios ha mejorado enormemente el conocimiento de la geometría de los artes de pesca de debajo del agua, pero, al mismo tiempo, surge la pregunta de la fiabilidad de los datos obtenidos. Los sistemas de seguimiento más comúnmente utilizados en los artes en el Mediterráneo usan la velocidad constante del sonido cuando calculan la distancia horizontal de un sensor a otro. Sin embargo la velocidad del sonido en el agua marina no es constante ya que depende de la temperatura del agua, de la presión y la salinidad. Se sabe que esto afecta al rendimiento de los sonares que transmiten en horizontal, y es razonable suponer que si se compensan adecuadamente, las lecturas de los monitores de seguimiento del arte pueden ser incorrectos, dando lugar a estimaciones sesgadas del área barrida por el arte, y en consecuencia potencialmente producir sesgo en bastantes estimaciones. Conociendo que la velocidad del sonido depende de la temperatura, salinidad y presión, se ha usado la ecuación de Del Grosso (1974) para calcular el coeficiente de compensación en series de datos de profundidad teórica y temperatura. A continuación, un modelo simple se ha propuesto en el presente artículo para la corrección manual de la obertura horizontal de la red y estimación del área de barrido. Se han usado los datos de temperatura y profundidad obtenidos del proyecto MEDATLAS para mostrar la variación estacional y espacial en la velocidad del sonido cerca del fondo marino, y los resultados demuestran que, a no ser que se compense adecuadamente, el error en la obertura horizontal de la red varía entre –1.5 a 2.9%

Dynamic modeling of levitation of a superconducting bulk by coupled HH-magnetic field and Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulations

Intrinsically stable magnetic levitation between superconductors and permanent magnets can be exploited in a variety of applications of great technical interest in the field of transportation (rail transportation), energy (flywheels) and industry. In this contribution, we present a new model for the calculation of levitation forces between superconducting bulks and permanent magnet, based on the $H$-formulation of Maxwell's equations coupled with an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation. The model uses a moving mesh that adapts at each time step based on the time-change of the distance between a superconductor bulk and a permanent magnet. The model is validated against a fixed mesh model (recently in turn validated against experiments) that uses an analytical approach for calculating the magnetic field generated by the moving permanent magnet. Then, it is used to analyze the magnetic field dynamics both in field-cooled and zero-field-cooled conditions and successively used to test different configurations of permanent magnets and to compare them in terms of levitation forces. The easiness of implementation of this model and its flexibility in handling different geometries, material properties, and application scenarios make the model an attractive tool for the analysis and optimization of magnetic levitation-based applications

Karakterizacija različitih obalnih područja Jadrana u kasno proljeće

The objective of this study is to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of three coastal zones of the Adriatic Sea during late spring, and to identify similarities and differences among the zones. The trophic status of the Southeastern Adriatic-Sea, dominated by the discharge from the Buna/Bojana river delta watersheds, is compared with two other Adriatic regions: the Northwestern Adriatic Sea and the Southwestern Adriatic Sea (Gulf of Manfredonia); the first is dominated by the Po River freshwater discharge and the second is one of the most productive areas of the Southwestern Adriatic. The areas are influenced by two main Adriatic surface currents: the Eastern Adriatic Current (EAC) that flows north-westward, and the Western Adriatic Current (WAC) that flows south-eastward. The measurements of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll a in the three areas were collected and compared. The areas showed similar physical and bio-chemical characteristics, despite the Northern Adriatic is impacted by the Po River runoff and the WAC carries out along the Western Adriatic water rich of nutrients from the northern Italian rivers. The area affected by the Po River discharge showed maximum chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations within the river plume. Moreover, the Southwestern Adriatic Sea showed a load of nutrients and organic matter connected to substances coming from the northern Italian rivers (mainly the Po River). Similarly, in the Southeastern Adriatic-Sea, the Buna/Bojana River discharge contained relatively high values in the regional chlorophyll distribution. The three areas are directly or indirectly linked to river plume dynamics and the associated inorganic and organic inputs determine the trophic state of the areas. In particular, the Southeastern Adriatic Sea was a meso-eutrophic area; despite the most eastern side of the Adriatic was an oligotrophic basin.Cilj ovog istraživanja je analiza fizikalnih i kemijskih svojstava triju obalnih područja Jadrana u kasno proljeće i ustanovljenje sličnosti i razlika među zonama. Trofički status jugoistočnog Jadran- skog mora, pod utjecajem dotoka slatke vode iz sliva rijeke Bune / Bojane, je u ovom radu uspoređen s druge dvije jadranske regije: sjeverozapadnim Jadranom i jugozapadnim Jadranom (zaljev Man -fredonia) u prvom dominiraju pražnjenja rijeke Po, dok je drugi jedno od najproduktivnijih područja jugozapadnog Jadrana. Područja su pod utjecajem dviju glavnih površinskih struja Jadranskog mora: istočne jadranske struje (EAC) koja teče prema sjeverozapadu i zapadne jadranske struja (WAC) koja teče prema jugo-istoku. podaci o izmjerenoj temperaturu, slanosti, fluorescenciji, kisiku, hranjivim tvarima i klorofilu a su sakupljeni i uspoređeni za sva tri područja. Istraživana područja su pokazala slične fizičke i bio-kemijske karakteristike, unatoč činjenici da je sjeverni Jadran pod utjecajem dotoka rijeke Po, a zapadna jadranska struja (WAC) nosi duž zapadnog Jadrana vodu bogatu hranjivim tvarima iz talijanskih rijeka na sjeveru. Područje pogođeno dotokom rijeke Po pokazalo je maksimum koncentracije klorofila i dušika unutar rijeka. Štoviše, u jugozapadnom Jadranu količina hranjivih tvari i organske tvari je povezana s tvarima koje dolaze iz sjevernih talijanskih rijeka (uglavnom rijeke po). Slično tome, u jugoistočnom dijelu jadranskog mora, dotok rijeke Bune / Bojane sadržavao je relativno visoke vrijednosti klorofila na nivou regionalne distribucije. Tri područja su izravno ili neizravno povezana s dinamikom riječnih perjanica, te organskim i anorganskim riječnim unosom koji određuje trofičko stanje područja. Konkretno, jugoistočno Jadransko more je mezo-eutrofično područje; unatoč većoj istočnoj strani Jadrana koij je bio oligotrofan bazen

Variability of nutrient and thermal structure in surface waters between New Zealand and Antarctica, October 2004-January 2005

We describe the upper ocean thermal structure and surface nutrient concentrations between New Zealand and Antarctica along five transects that cross the Subantarctic Front, the Polar Front (PF) and the southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) front. The surface water thermal structure is coupled with variations in surface nutrient concentrations, making water masses identifiable by both temperature and nutrient ranges. In particular, a strong latitudinal gradient in orthosilicate concentration is centred at the PF. On the earlier sections that extend south-west from the Campbell Plateau, orthosilicate increases sharply southward from 10–15 to 50–55 µmol l−1 between 58° S and 60° S, while surface temperature drops from 7°C to 2°C. Nitrate increases more regularly toward the south, with concentrations ranging from 10–12 µmol l−1 at 54° S to 25–30 µmol l−1 at 66° S. The same features are observed during the later transects between New Zealand and the Ross Sea, but the sharp silica and surface temperature gradients are shifted between 60° S and 64° S. Both temporal and spatial factors may influence the observed variability. The January transect suggests an uptake of silica, orthophosphate and nitrate between 63° S and 70° S over the intervening month, with an average depletion near 37%, 44% and 29%, respectively. An N/P (nitrite + nitrate/orthophosphate) apparent drawdown ratio of 8.8±4.1 and an Si/N (silicic acid/nitrite + nitrate) apparent drawdown ratio >1 suggest this depletion results from a seasonal diatom bloom. A southward movement of the oceanic fronts between New Zealand and the Ross Sea relative to prior measurements is consistent with reports of recent warming and changes in the ACC

Karakterizacija različitih obalnih područja Jadrana u kasno proljeće

The objective of this study is to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of three coastal zones of the Adriatic Sea during late spring, and to identify similarities and differences among the zones. The trophic status of the Southeastern Adriatic-Sea, dominated by the discharge from the Buna/Bojana river delta watersheds, is compared with two other Adriatic regions: the Northwestern Adriatic Sea and the Southwestern Adriatic Sea (Gulf of Manfredonia); the first is dominated by the Po River freshwater discharge and the second is one of the most productive areas of the Southwestern Adriatic. The areas are influenced by two main Adriatic surface currents: the Eastern Adriatic Current (EAC) that flows north-westward, and the Western Adriatic Current (WAC) that flows south-eastward. The measurements of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll a in the three areas were collected and compared. The areas showed similar physical and bio-chemical characteristics, despite the Northern Adriatic is impacted by the Po River runoff and the WAC carries out along the Western Adriatic water rich of nutrients from the northern Italian rivers. The area affected by the Po River discharge showed maximum chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations within the river plume. Moreover, the Southwestern Adriatic Sea showed a load of nutrients and organic matter connected to substances coming from the northern Italian rivers (mainly the Po River). Similarly, in the Southeastern Adriatic-Sea, the Buna/Bojana River discharge contained relatively high values in the regional chlorophyll distribution. The three areas are directly or indirectly linked to river plume dynamics and the associated inorganic and organic inputs determine the trophic state of the areas. In particular, the Southeastern Adriatic Sea was a meso-eutrophic area; despite the most eastern side of the Adriatic was an oligotrophic basin.Cilj ovog istraživanja je analiza fizikalnih i kemijskih svojstava triju obalnih područja Jadrana u kasno proljeće i ustanovljenje sličnosti i razlika među zonama. Trofički status jugoistočnog Jadran- skog mora, pod utjecajem dotoka slatke vode iz sliva rijeke Bune / Bojane, je u ovom radu uspoređen s druge dvije jadranske regije: sjeverozapadnim Jadranom i jugozapadnim Jadranom (zaljev Man -fredonia) u prvom dominiraju pražnjenja rijeke Po, dok je drugi jedno od najproduktivnijih područja jugozapadnog Jadrana. Područja su pod utjecajem dviju glavnih površinskih struja Jadranskog mora: istočne jadranske struje (EAC) koja teče prema sjeverozapadu i zapadne jadranske struja (WAC) koja teče prema jugo-istoku. podaci o izmjerenoj temperaturu, slanosti, fluorescenciji, kisiku, hranjivim tvarima i klorofilu a su sakupljeni i uspoređeni za sva tri područja. Istraživana područja su pokazala slične fizičke i bio-kemijske karakteristike, unatoč činjenici da je sjeverni Jadran pod utjecajem dotoka rijeke Po, a zapadna jadranska struja (WAC) nosi duž zapadnog Jadrana vodu bogatu hranjivim tvarima iz talijanskih rijeka na sjeveru. Područje pogođeno dotokom rijeke Po pokazalo je maksimum koncentracije klorofila i dušika unutar rijeka. Štoviše, u jugozapadnom Jadranu količina hranjivih tvari i organske tvari je povezana s tvarima koje dolaze iz sjevernih talijanskih rijeka (uglavnom rijeke po). Slično tome, u jugoistočnom dijelu jadranskog mora, dotok rijeke Bune / Bojane sadržavao je relativno visoke vrijednosti klorofila na nivou regionalne distribucije. Tri područja su izravno ili neizravno povezana s dinamikom riječnih perjanica, te organskim i anorganskim riječnim unosom koji određuje trofičko stanje područja. Konkretno, jugoistočno Jadransko more je mezo-eutrofično područje; unatoč većoj istočnoj strani Jadrana koij je bio oligotrofan bazen

Prostorna raspodjela fizikalnih, kemijskih i bioloških oceanografskih karakteristika, fitoplanktona, hranjivih tvari i otopljene obojane organske materije (CDOM) u Bokokotorskom zaljevu na Jadranu

The temporal variations of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, dissolved oxygen concentration, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and of chemical (nutrients, chlorophyll a) and biological (phytoplankton composition) parameters in the Boka Kotorska Bay were observed during two periods. CDOM regulates the penetration of UV light into the sea and therefore plays an important role in many hydrological and biogeochemical processes in the sea surface layer including primary productivity. In the framework ADRICOSM-STAR it was possible to investigate the Boka Kotorska Bay during May and June 2008 in order to increase an understanding of optical and chemical characteristics and their evolution during these periods. In both periods station KO (located furthest from the open sea) presented different physical, chemical and biological characteristics with respect to the other stations inside the Boka Kotorska Bay. A positive correlation was found between CDOM and chlorophyll a (R = 0.7, P < 0.001, n = 15) and this implies that in this area, similarly to the open sea, the primary source of CDOM should be the biological production from phytoplankton. This is probably due to the fact that the rivers entering the Boka Kotorska Bay are not severely impacted by man.U Bokokotorskom zaljevu su mjerene vremenske promjene temperature, saliniteta, fluorescencije, koncentracije otopljenog kisika, obojene otopljene organske materije (CDOM) i kemijskih (hranjive soli, klorofila) i bioloških (sastav fitoplanktona) parametara tijekom dva razdoblja (svibanj i lipanj 2008. godine). CDOM određuje prodiranje UV svjetlosnih zraka u more i stoga igra vrlo važnu ulogu u mnogim hidrološkim i biogeokemijskim procesima u površinskom sloju mora koji uključuje primarnu produkciju. Unutar ADRICOSM-STAR projekta, bilo je moguće istražiti Bokokotorski zaljev tijekom svibnja i lipnja 2008. godine radi povećanja razumijevanja optičkih i kemijskih karakteristika i njihovog razvoja kroz ova razdoblja. Zbog dotoka krških rijeka i smanjenja razmjene s otvorenim morem, u oba razdoblja postaja KO (smještena najdalje od otvorenog mora) je pokazala različite fizikalne, kemijske i biolo{ke karakteristike u odnosu na postaje unutar Bokokotorskog zaljeva. Pronađena je pozitivna korelacija izme|u CDOM i klorofila a (R = 0.7, P < 0.001, n = 15) {to upućuje na to da bi u ovom području, slično otvorenom moru, primarni izvor CDOM trebao biti biološka produkcija od fitoplanktona. To je vjerojatno zbog toga što dotoci rijeka u Bokokotorskom zaljevu nisu ozbiljnije ugroženi ljudskim djelovanjem

Microdispersions of ellagic acid and pomegranate extracts as new potential nutraceutical ingredients

The health properties attributed to several fruits (i.e. pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, blackberry, chestnuts, walnuts, pecan), herbs (tea) and seeds (berries seeds) are attributed to an important group of natural polyphenols classified as hydrolysable tannins (HT) named Ellagitannins (ETs), that have shown in vitro multi-target biological properties relevant to the treatment of several human diseases. In vivo, ETs are rather not absorbed, and they are hydrolysed providing mainly Ellagic acid (EA). EA is endowed with the same biological properties of ETs and it could be considered as the responsible of their health benefits. Unfortunately, EA cannot be exploited for in vivo applications because of its poor water solubility (9.7 \u3bcg/mL) and accordingly low bioavailability. At first, aiming to increase EA solubility, an EA solid microdispersion (EA-md) was realized by employing only water and low methoxylated pectin, as a food compatible excipient, by applying spray drying technology. EA-md showed a 22% (w/w) Drug Loading (DL), a 30 times improved water solubility maintaining a remarkable radical scavenging activity [1]. It has been analytically characterised and used for in vivo pharmacological treatments in order to evaluate it as potential nutraceutical ingredient. Adult (3-6 months old) and old (20-22 old months) male mice were chronically administered EA-md dissolved in the drinking water (about 150 mg / Kg) for 14 days. During this period, animals were monitored for the spontaneous motor activity and for curiosity before, during and at the end of the EA-md treatment. Adult and old mice were then sacrificed for \u201cex vivo, in vitro\u201d analysis to test the efficiency of noradrenaline release from cortical nerve endings. It is known that noradrenaline exocytosis from cortical nerve endings is significantly impaired during ageing. We found that the chronic administration of EA-md did not alter the noradrenaline exocytosis from cortical nerve endings of adult mice, but significantly recovered the reduced noradrenaline overflow in aged mice. Further investigations are needed to explore the cellular cascade of events accounting for the beneficial effect. In a second step, pomegranate, as a natural source of EA, has been considered to similarly prepare and investigate an analogous formulation. Since pomegranate fruit is recognized as one of the most important sources of ETs, mainly localized in the by-products obtained after industrial juice squeezing, a method to convert the squeezing marcs into a potential nutraceutical ingredient has been explored. In particular, Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (PUAE), using just water as solvent, resulted to be suitable for extracting the water-soluble bioactive molecules (PEx), whose content in hydrolysable tannins, standardized in EA, has been determined. Furthermore, the already mentioned spray drying microdispersion has been employed to formulate and to stabilize it over time. This last formulation (PEx-md) will be subjected to the already mentioned pharmacological experiments in order to study its nutraceutical properties too. [1] S. Alfei, F. Turrini, S. Catena, P. Zunin, B. Parodi, G. Zuccari, A.M. Pittaluga, R. Boggia, New J. Chem, 43, 2438-2448 DOI: 10.1039/C8NJ05657

The noradrenergic component in tapentadol action counteracts \u3bc-opioid receptor-mediated adverse effects on adult neurogenesis

Opiates were the first drugs shown to negatively impact neurogenesis in the adult mammalian hippocampus. Literature data also suggest that norepinephrine is a positive modulator of hippocampal neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo. On the basis of these observations, we investigated whether tapentadol, a novel central analgesic combining \u3bc-opioid receptor (MOR) agonism with norepinephrine reuptake inhibition (NRI), may produce less inhibition of hippocampal neurogenesis compared with morphine. When tested in vitro, morphine inhibited neuronal differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and survival of adult mouse hippocampal neural progenitors and their progeny, via MOR interaction. By contrast, tapentadol was devoid of these adverse effects on cell survival and reduced neurite outgrowth and the number of newly generated neurons only at nanomolar concentrations where the MOR component is predominant. On the contrary, at higher (micromolar) concentrations, tapentadol elicited proneurogenic and antiapoptotic effects via activation of \u3b22 and \u3b12 adrenergic receptors, respectively. Altogether, these data suggest that the noradrenergic component in tapentadol has the potential to counteract the adverse MOR-mediated effects on hippocampal neurogenesis. As a proof of concept, we showed that reboxetine, an NRI antidepressant, counteracted both antineurogenic and apoptotic effects of morphine in vitro. In line with these observations, chronic tapentadol treatment did not negatively affect hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo. In light of the increasing long-term use of opiates in chronic pain, in principle, the tapentadol combined mechanism of action may result in less or no reduction in adult neurogenesis compared with classic opiates

Hydroxytyrosol Reduces Foam Cell Formation and Endothelial Inflammation Regulating the PPARγ/LXRα/ABCA1 Pathway.

Cholesterol accumulation in macrophages leads to the formation of foam cells and increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis. We have verified whether hydroxytyrosol (HT), a phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can reduce the cholesterol build up in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. We have also investigated the potential mechanisms. Oil Red O staining and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays were utilized to detect cellular lipid accumulation and cholesterol content, respectively, in THP-1 macrophages foam cells treated with HT. The impact of HT on cholesterol metabolism-related molecules (SR-A1, CD36, LOX-1, ABCA1, ABCG1, PPARγ and LRX-α) in foam cells was assessed using real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Finally, the effect of HT on the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) was analyzed to study endothelial activation. We found that HT activates the PPARγ/LXRα pathway to upregulate ABCA1 expression, reducing cholesterol accumulation in foam cells. Moreover, HT significantly inhibited monocyte adhesion and reduced the levels of adhesion factors (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) in LPS-induced endothelial cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that HT, with its ability to interfere with the import and export of cholesterol, could represent a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of atherosclerotic disease