Fine scale physical-biological interactions during a shift from relaxation to upwelling with a focus on Dinophysis acuminata and its potential ciliate prey

Wind reversals and quick transitions from relaxation to upwelling in coastal areas cause major changes in water column structure, phytoplankton distribution and dominance, and rates of physiological processes. The cruise "ASIMUTH-Rías" (17–21 June 2013) was carried out in the Galician Rías and adjacent shelf, at the time of a DSP outbreak, to study small-scale physical processes associated with late spring blooms of "D. acuminata" and accompanying microzooplanktonic ciliates with the overall objective of improving predictive models of their occurrence. The cruise coincided with the initiation of an upwelling pulse following relaxation and deepening of a previously formed thin layer of diatoms. A 36-h cell cycle study carried on 18–20 June showed the vertical excursions of the thin layer, mainly delimited by the 13.5–14 °C isotherms and turbulence levels (ε) of 10−8–10−6 m2 s −3, as well as marked changes in phytoplankton composition (increased density and dominance of diatoms). There was no evidence of daily vertical migration of D. acuminata, which remained in the top layer during the cycle study, but the opposite was observed in the ciliate populations. Dinophysis and its potential prey (Mesodinium species) cell maxima overlapped after midday, when the ciliate moved to the surface, suggesting an “ambush” strategy of Dinophysis to catch prey. A remarkable decline (from 0.65 to 0.33 d−1) in division rates (µ) of D. acuminata was associated with increased turbulence (ε 2°C in about 8 h). In contrast, high division rates (µmin ∼ 0.69 d−1) persisted at a mid-shelf station where environmental conditions below the mixed layer were more stable. The onset of upwelling pulses appears to have a double negative effect on the net growth of Dinophysis populations: a direct physical effect due to advective dispersion and an indirect effect, decreased division rates. The latter would be caused by the rapid cooling of the mixed layer, and the increased turbulence at the surface resulting in shear stress to the cells. The short-term impact of upwelling pulses (and the winds promoting it) on the physiology of "Dinophysis" and its ciliate prey, and the role of mid-shelf populations of "Dinophysis" as a relatively undisturbed reservoir for the inoculation of subsequent blooms are discussed.European Commission | Ref. EC FP7-SPACE-2010-1, n. 261860Ministerio de Economía | Ref. CTM2016-75451-C2-2-RInterreg Atlantic Area | Ref. EAPA_182/2016Comisión Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Research (CONICYT), Chile | Ref. PAI79160065Comisión Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Research (CONICYT), Chile | Ref. REDES17010

Mesopelagic respiration near the ESTOC (European Station for Time-Series in the Ocean, 15.5°W, 29.1°N) site inferred from a tracer conservation model

© The Author(s), 2016. This is the author's version of the work and is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 115 (2016): 63–73, doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2016.05.010.Remineralization of organic matter in the mesopelagic zone (ca. 150–700 m) is a key controlling factor of carbon export to the deep ocean. By using a tracer conservation model applied to climatological data of oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nitrate, we computed mesopelagic respiration at the ESTOC (European Station for Time- Series in the Ocean, Canary Islands) site, located in the Eastern boundary region of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. The tracer conservation model included vertical Ekman advection, geostrophic horizontal transport and vertical diffusion, and the biological remineralization terms were diagnosed by assuming steady state. Three different approaches were used to compute reference velocities used for the calculation of geostrophic velocities and flux divergences: a no-motion level at 3000 m, surface geostrophic velocities computed from the averaged absolute dynamic topography field, and surface velocities optimized from the temperature model. Mesopelagic respiration rates computed from the model were 2.8–8.9molO2 m2 y=1, 2.0–3.1mol Cm2 y=1 and 0.6–1.0molNm2 y=1, consistent with remineralization processes occurring close to Redfield stoichiometry. Model estimates were in close agreement with respiratory activity, derived from electron transport system (ETS) measurements collected in the same region at the end of the winter bloom period (3.61 ± 0.48molO2 m=2 y=1). According to ETS estimates, 50% of the respiration in the upper 1000 m took place below 150 m. Model results showed that oxygen, DIC and nitrate budgets were dominated by lateral advection, pointing to horizontal transport as the main source of organic carbon fuelling the heterotrophic respiration activity in this region.Funding for this study was provided by the Xunta de Galicia under the research project VARITROP (09MDS001312PR, PI B. Mouriño-Carballido) and by the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura under the research project MESOPELAGIC (MAR97-1036, PI S. Hernández-León). B. Fernández-Castro acknowledges the receipt of FPU grant from the Spanish government (AP2010-5594).2017-05-2

Learning styles and their relationship with the Technologies of Information and Communication (TIC) in the adaptation of pharmacy studies to the ESHE

Introducción: El conocimiento de los estilos de aprendizaje es fundamental para el docente a fin de comprender cómo aprenden sus alumnos y así modificar/reforzar su estilo de enseñanza. La aplicación de las nuevas Tecnologías de la Comunicación y de la Información (TIC) facilita la adaptación de las enseñanzas universitarias al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES). Objetivo: Evaluar el estilo de aprendizaje de los alumnos de Farmacia de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) y comparar dichos estilos con las TIC. Metodología: Alumnos de 4º curso de licenciatura en Farmacia y de postgrado. Todos respondieron al cuestionario CHAEA de estilos de aprendizaje. Además, se ha planteado un nuevo cuestionario para correlacionar estilos de aprendizaje y TIC. Discusión: Las puntuaciones positivas más elevadas correspondieron al estilo reflexivo seguido del teórico. Más del 80% de los alumnos muestran preferencia muy elevada por las clases magistrales (puntuaciones 4-5, siendo 5 la puntación de máxima preferencia). Este resultado estaría en concordancia con el estilo mayoritario de aprendizaje de los alumnos evaluados. Más del 90% de los alumnos valora de forma altamente positiva (4-5) la impartición de clases mediante la utilización de presentaciones en PowerPoint y, a continuación la utilización de la pizarra y la proyección de videos. Conclusiones: El estilo de aprendizaje de los alumnos de cuarto curso de Farmacia y de postgrado es fundamentalmente reflexivo aunque valoran de forma altamente positiva la utilización de las TIC, lo que confirma la importancia de su uso en la consecución de los objetivos del EEES.Introduction: knowledge of the learning styles of Pharmacy students is an important tool that can be used to improve teaching thereby reinforcing the use of appropriate and transferable teaching strategies. For this, the use of the Technologies of Information and Communication (TIC) may facilitate the implementation of the European Space for Higher Education (ESHE). Objective: To evaluate the learning styles of graduate and postgraduate pharmacy students at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and, to compare the student´s learning styles with their preferences regarding the use of the TIC. Methods: The study was performed on fourth-year pharmacy students and postgraduate students. The instrument used to analyze the learning styles was the CHAEA questionnaire. Moreover, a new questionnaire was developed and implemented in order to establish a correlation between learning styles and TIC. Results: The preferred learning styles corresponded to reflexive and, in second place, theoretical learning. More than 80% of the students highly graded traditional lectures (4-5, being 5 the grade for maximum preference), with this result in accordance with the main learning style of the population assayed. More than 90% of the students also positively graded (4-5) multimedia presentations using PowerPoint software, followed by the use of blackboard and videos. Conclusions: The main learning style of fourth-year graduate students and postgraduate students at the School of Pharmacy (UCM) is reflexive. The populations assayed highly and positively graded the use of TIC, thereby stating their importance in the implementation of the ESHE

Nitrogen fixation in the upwelling region off NW Iberia

Comunicación oralPicoplankton are the most abundant organisms in the ocean, often dominate planktonic biomass and primary production, and they could represent a substantial contribution to the global export of carbon. Nowadays, we have a limited understanding about the factors that control the picoplankton community structure. A recent analysis indicates that light and temperature are the main factors explaining Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus distributions, whereas nutrient concentrations play a minor role (Flombaum et al., PNAS 2013). Methodological difficulties to quantify mixing in the marine enviroments have motivated the use of indirect approaches to determine the input of nutrients into the euphotic zone, however, nutrient concentrations are not necessarily a proxy of nutrient supply. We present a large data set, including open-ocean and coastal regions, of simultaneous measurements of picoplankton abundance, temperature and irradiance, together with estimates of nutrient supply. The transport of nutrients across the nutricline was computed combining nutrient concentrations and small-scale turbulence observations collected with a microstructure profiler. Our preliminary results indicate that nutrient supply also plays a role in the distribution of functional groups of picoplankton in the ocean

Medida de autocontrol motor en tiradores de esgrima mediante el Tapping Test

El Tapping Test es una prueba neurológica habitual en las evaluaciones de los equipos nacionales de Cuba. Nuestro objetivo fue medir el autocontrol motor con esta prueba y su respuesta psicofisiológica en deportistas de la selección nacional de esgrima de Cuba. Comparando dos versiones del Tapping Test: modo 1 (habitual de lápiz-papel) y modo 2 (versión propuesta ejecutando acción técnica con el arma). Fueron 12 participantes (Medad = 22.19 años, DE = 3.50 años). Se utilizó un equipo de registro psicofisiológico inalámbrico (Biofeedback 2000). Los resultados, indican un autocontrol motor, siendo el modo 1 significativo F(1,10) = 44.29, p < .001; ya que la cantidad de toques o golpes fueron coherentes de acuerdo al ritmo de ejecución. El modo 2 tuvo una motilidad o aceleración significativa en las diferentes fases de la prueba F(1.58,15.8) = 8.14, p = .006, además mostró un mayor nivel de activación psicofisiológica. Este grupo de esgrimistas de alto nivel a pesar del incremento en la activación mostraron un autocontrol motor, ya que controlaron su movimiento de acuerdo al ritmo que se pedía (modo 1).The Tapping Test is a common neurological means of evaluating Cuba's national teams. Our objective was to assess self-control of motor abilities and the athletes' psychophysiological response by comparing two versions of the tapping test: mode 1 (normal pencil and paper) and mode 2 (technical action with the épée). The participants were made up of 12 athletes from the Cuban National Fencing Team (Mage = 22.19 years, SD = 3.50 years). We used wireless psychophysiological recording equipment (Biofeedback 2000). The results show self-control of motor abilities, mode 1 being significant F(1,10) = 44.29, p < .001 as the number of touches or hits was consistent with the execution rate. Mode 2 showed a motility or significant acceleration in the different phases of the test F(1.586, 15.85) = 8146, p = .006, plus a higher level of psychophysiological activation. This high-ranking group of fencers demonstrated self-control of their motor abilities despite increased activation, controlling their movements to match the requested pace (mode 1)

Short-term variability in the activity and composition of the diazotroph community in a coastal upwelling system

Today we know that diazotrophs are common and active in nitrogen (N) replete regions, however the factors controlling their distribution remain elusive. Previous studies in upwelling regions revealed that the composition of diazotrophs responded to changes in hydrodynamic forcing over seasonal scales. Here we used high-frequency observations collected during a 3-week cruise in the upwelling region off NW Iberia to describe changes in the activity and composition of diazotrophs over shorter temporal scales. The cruise started after a strong upwelling event followed by a few days of relaxation-downwelling, and soon after another upwelling pulse. Higher N2 fixation rates (2.2 ± 0.7 µmol m-3 d-1) were measured during relaxation-downwelling, when surface nitrate concentration was low. During the fertilization associated with the upwelling, N2 fixation dramatically decreased to 0.10 ± 0.09 µmol m-3 d-1. The comparison with nitrate consumption and diffusion confirmed the minor role of N2 fixation (<1%) as a source of new N for primary production. The unicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-A2 was the dominant diazotroph during the cruise. UCYN-A2 abundance was four times higher during relaxation-downwelling (4x104 copies L-1) compared to upwelling conditions (0.2x104 copies L-1), when the unusual Epsilonproteobacteria increased their relative abundance. These results indicate that diazotrophs can respond rapidly to changes in the environment, and point out to the availability of N as a key factor controlling the activity, composition and distribution of diazotrophs in eutrophic regions

Importance of N2 fixation vs. nitrate diffusion along a latitudinal transect in the Atlantic Ocean

We present ocean, basin-scale simultaneous measurements of N2-fixation, nitrate diffusion, and primary production along a south–north transect in the Atlantic Ocean crossing three biogeographic provinces: the south subtropical Atlantic (SSA; , 31uS–12uS), the equatorial Atlantic (EA; , 12uS–16uN), and the north subtropical Atlantic (NSA, , 16uN–9uN) in April–May 2008. N2-fixation and primary production were measured as 15N2 and 14C uptake, respectively. Dissipation rates of turbulent kinetic energy (e) were measured with a microstructure profiler. The vertical input of nitrate through eddy diffusion was calculated from the product of diffusivity, derived from e, and the gradient of nanomolar nitrate concentration across the base of the euphotic zone. The mean N2-fixation rate in EA was 56 6 49 mmol N m22 d21, whereas SSA and NSA had much lower values (, 10 mmol N m22 d21). Because of the large spatial variability in nitrate diffusion (34 6 50, 405 6 888, and 844 6 1258 mmol N m22 d21 in SSA, EA, and NSA, respectively), the contribution of N2-fixation to new production in the SSA, EA, and NSA was 44% 6 30%, 22% 6 19%, and 2% 6 2%, respectively. The differences between SSA and NSA in the contribution of N2 fixation were partly due to the contrasting seasonal forcing in each hemisphere, which likely affected both N2 fixation rates and vertical nitrate diffusion. The variability in the nitrogen budget of the Atlantic subtropical gyres was unexpectedly high and largely uncoupled from relatively constant phytoplankton standing stocks and primary production rates.CTM2004-05174-C02 CTM2007-28295-E/MAR Programa I. Parga-Ponda

Temporal variability of diazotroph community composition in the upwelling region off NW Iberia

Knowledge of the ecology of N 2 -fixing (diazotrophic) plankton is mainly limited to oligotrophic (sub)tropical oceans. However, diazotrophs are widely distributed and active throughout the global ocean. Likewise, relatively little is known about the temporal dynamics of diazotrophs in productive areas. Between February 2014 and December 2015, we carried out 9 one-day samplings in the temperate northwestern Iberian upwelling system to investigate the temporal and vertical variability of the diazotrophic community and its relationship with hydrodynamic forcing. In downwelling conditions, characterized by deeper mixed layers and a homogeneous water column, non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs belonging mainly to nifH clusters 1G (Gammaproteobacteria) and 3 (putative anaerobes) dominated the diazotrophic community. In upwelling and relaxation conditions, affected by enhanced vertical stratification and hydrographic variability, the community was more heterogeneous vertically but less diverse, with prevalence of UCYN-A (unicellular cyanobacteria, subcluster 1B) and non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs from clusters 1G and 3. Oligotyping analysis of UCYN-A phylotype showed that UCYN-A2 sublineage was the most abundant (74%), followed by UCYN-A1 (23%) and UCYN-A4 (2%). UCYN-A1 oligotypes exhibited relatively low frequencies during the three hydrographic conditions, whereas UCYN-A2 showed higher abundances during upwelling and relaxation. Our findings show the presence of a diverse and temporally variable diazotrophic community driven by hydrodynamic forcing in an upwelling system.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. EM2013/021Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad | Ref. CTM2016-75451-C2-1-RMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte | Ref. FPU13/01674Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte | Ref. EST16/00142Universidad de Vigo | Ref. Axudas á investigación 201

Efficacy and Tolerability of 6-Month Treatment with Tamsulosin Plus the Hexanic Extract of Serenoa repens versus Tamsulosin Plus 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors for Moderate-to-Severe LUTS-BPH Patients: Results of a Paired Matched Clinical Study

The objective of this subset analysis was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and tolerability of two combination treatments for men with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Data were from a real-world, open-label, prospective, and multicenter study performed in outpatient urology clinics. Men with moderate-to-severe LUTS/BPH received 6-month treatment with tamsulosin (TAM) in combination with either the hexanic extract of S. repens (HESr) or a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (5ARI). Changes in urinary symptoms and quality of life were measured using the IPSS and BII questionnaires, respectively. Treatment tolerability was assessed by recording adverse effects (AEs). Patients in the two study groups were matched using iterative and propensity score matching approaches. After iterative matching, data were available from 136 patients (n = 68 treated with TAM + 5ARI, n = 68 with TAM + HESr). After 6 months of treatment, mean (SD) IPSS total score improved by 7.7 (6.3) and 6.7 (5.0) points in the TAM + 5ARI and TAM + HESr groups, respectively (p = 0.272); mean BII total scores improved by 3.1 (2.9) and 2.9 (2.4) points (p = 0.751), respectively. AEs were reported by 26.5% and 10.3% of patients in the same groups, mostly affecting sexual function (p < 0.027). When used in a real-world setting to treat patients with moderate-severe LUTS/BPH, 6-month treatment with TAM + HESr was as effective as TAM + 5ARI, but with better tolerability. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Efficacy and safety of a hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon (R)) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH): systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies

Objectives To comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of the hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (HESr, Permixon (R); Pierre Fabre Medicament, Castres, France), at a dose of 320 mg daily, as monotherapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Materials and methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies in patients with LUTS/BPH identified through searches in Medline, Web of Knowledge (Institute for Scientific Information), Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and bibliographic references up to March 2017. Articles studying S. repens extracts other than Permixon were excluded. Data were collected on International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), nocturia, quality of life, prostate volume, sexual function, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Data obtained from RCTs and observational studies were analysed jointly and separately using a random effects model. A sub-group analysis was performed of studies that included patients on longer-term treatment (= 1 year). Results Data from 27 studies (15 RCTs and 12 observational studies) were included for meta-analysis (total N = 5 800). Compared with placebo, the HESr was associated with 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.98 to -0.31) fewer voids/ night (P < 0.001) and an additional mean increase in Q(max) of 2.75 mL/s (95% CI 0.57 to 4.93; P = 0.01). When compared with a-blockers, the HESr showed similar improvements on IPSS (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.57, 95% CI -0.27 to 1.42; P = 0.18) and a comparable increase in Q(max) to tamsulosin (WMD -0.02, 95% CI -0.71 to 0.66; P = 0.95). Efficacy assessed using the IPSS was similar after 6 months of treatment between the HESr and 5a-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs). Analysis of all available published data for the HESr showed a mean improvement in IPSS from baseline of -5.73 points (95% CI -6.91 to -4.54; P < 0.001). HESr did not negatively affect sexual function and no clinically relevant effect was observed on prostate-specific antigen. Prostate volume decreased slightly. Similar efficacy results were seen in patients treated for = 1 year (n = 447). The HESr had a favourable safety profile, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most frequent ADR (mean incidence of 3.8%). Conclusion The present meta-analysis, which includes all available RCTs and observational studies, shows that the HESr (Permixon) reduced nocturia and improved Q(max) compared with placebo and had a similar efficacy to tamsulosin and short-term 5ARI in relieving LUTS. HESr (Permixon) appears to be an efficacious and well-tolerated therapeutic option for the longterm medical treatment of LUTS/BPH