I CROSTACEI DECAPODI DEL LAGO DI ACQUATINA: STRUTTURA DELLE POPOLAZIONI E CICLO RIPRODUTTIVO

The study analyses the structure of the Stagno di Acquatina Crustacean Decapods population and the reproductive biology, in the period from April 2006 to September 2007. The main species considered are: Carcinus aestuarii, Palaemon serratus, Palemon adspersus, Palaemon elegans and Palaemonetes antennarius; of them C. aestuarii resulted the more common species and P. elegans the less frequent one. Almost all the species presented a reduction in the capture in 2007, compared to 2006. The data on the biological composition and reproduction of the Crustacean Decapods represent an important instrument of a responsible management of the Stagno di Acquatina ecosystem

Composizione Strutturale e Dinamica del Pescato nel Lago di Acquatina

EnThe fish assemblages of the Stagno di Acquatina were studied from April 2006 to September 2007 and 65 species, 32 families, and 52 genera were determined. The more frequent species are: Atherina boyeri (32,9 %), Anguilla anguilla (15,5 %), Carcinus aestuarii (13,0 %), sparidae (6,1 %), mugilidae (6,0 %), the penaeid shrimp Melicertus kerathurus (5,4 %) and than Sciaena umbra (2,5 %), Palaemon serratus (2,5 %) and the family gobidae (2,3 %). The remaining 13,7 % is represented by fishes, crustaceans and molluscs; crustaceans are 22 % of the production. The fishery by fike-nets (production per hour) varied from a minimum of 3,4 g in winter to a maximum of 49,3 g in spring, with an average of 18,7 g. The study proved some populations are distributed according to an ecological gradient: C. aestuarii was significantly caught close to the connection with the sea; population of grey mullet, mainly Liza aurata, Liza saliens and Chelon labrosus, on the opposite, were catched far from the sea connection. In the fishery assemblage the marine species are represented almost exclusively by fry, that emphasizes the role of the Stagno di Acquatina as a natural nursery

Symptom profile of postpartum and non-postpartum manic episodes in bipolar I disorder: a within-subjects study

The relationship of postpartum mania to episodes of mania occurring outside the perinatal period among women with bipolar disorder remains controversial. Previous studies have used between-subjects designs to compare the clinical presentations of these episodes meaning the differences, in part, may reflect between-group differences. To overcome this we have undertaken within-subject comparisons of the symptom profile of postpartum and non-postpartum manic episodes in 50 women with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder. For each woman detailed symptom information on a postpartum episode of mania and a comparison non-postpartum manic episode was collected. The occurrence of manic, psychotic and depressive symptoms in these episodes were compared. Postpartum manic episodes had a significantly higher incidence of perplexity and excessive self-reproach. Classic manic symptoms, specifically pressured speech and increased sociability, were significantly less frequent in postpartum manic episodes. Overall there were significantly fewer manic symptoms and significantly more depressive symptoms in the postpartum episodes than in the non-postpartum episodes. The mixed presentation of postpartum manic episodes suggests childbirth may act as a pathoplastic trigger in women with bipolar disorder. The differences in symptom profiles suggests further research is warranted into whether differences in treatment response exist among women experiencing postpartum and non-postpartum manic episodes

Modelling effective choral conducting education through an exploration of example teaching and learning in England

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Population structure and spatial distribution of Loripes lacteus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Varano lagoon, SE Italy

In Varano lagoon (Puglia, Italy) the bivalve Loripes lacteus (Linnaeus, 1758) constitutes the most abundant species among the organisms of the benthic macrofauna. This work presents the results of five years (from 2001 at 2006) of observations on the abundance, size/age population structure and spatial distribution of this species within the basin (6500 ha). L. lacteus is one of the most common and frequent bivalve species in Mediterranean lagoons. It typically occurs in reduced sediments where it is able to live at low oxygen concentration due to a particular respiratory pigment haemoglobin. Lucinid bivalves house symbiotic, sulphur-oxydizing chemoautotrophic bacterias in their gills, which contribute substantially to their nutrition. The design was to perform two sampling campaignes on yearly basis during the intermediate seasons (Spring and Autumn), when possible. Each sampling was realized collecting 53 sampling units taken from 53 stations distributed regularly over the lagoon surface. Each sampling unit consisted in all the individuals contained in a solid 15 x 15 x 20 cm of sediment and held on 1 mm mesh. Growth patterns were determined with the Bhattacharya method which uses modal progression analysis from size frequency distribution. The results showed a spatial distribution of L. lacteus which occurred in patches and changed among samples. The population analysis showed two modal classes for each sampling time. L. lacteus is an “r” strategy species with small size, brief life cycle, with great capacity of recovery after environmental crises

Fluctuations of physicochemical characteristics in sediments and overlying water during an anoxic event: a case study from Lesina lagoon (SE Italy)

Coastal lagoons are vulnerable systems often affected by severe anoxic events, also as direct consequence of excessive accumulation of organic matter. During these events, also in function of their location and geomorphology, they are characterized by large temporal and spatial fluctuations of physical and chemical conditions. Results presented in this work are related to an anoxic event occurred in Lesina lagoon (SE Italy) in summer 2008. The main aim is to describe the short-term dynamics of physicochemical characteristics of both sediment and overlaying water, inside and outside the critical area of the anoxic event. Nine sampling campaigns were carried out on a weekly basis between the first week of July and the second week of September 2008. The water sampling was performed at three sites located in the western side (inside and outside area interested by crisis) and in the eastern zone of the lagoon, close to the communicating channel with the sea, while the sediment samples were collected in four stations, including two sites within crisis area and two outside. At each occasion T, S, pH, DO, nutrients and chl a were measured in water and TOC, TN, TP, TFe and ORP were performed on superficial sediments. In relation to the water, wide temporal fluctuations of physico-chemical parameters were observed for the site inside the anoxic area, which exhibited the highest concentrations of chl a at the beginning of the observation period, with a peak of biomass of 180 µg.L-1 followed by saturation of oxygen higher than 100%. A strong significant difference among sampling sites was observed in relation to nutrients; in particular, the site within the anoxic area exhibited broader concentration ranges of both SRP and TP than the other sites, while TN was in general higher in the site outside. Significant differences related to the sedimentary variables were also observed between anoxic and reference area, except for TP which was homogeneously distributed during the observation period in all the sites. Disturbed sites showed the highest contents of TOC at the beginning of the observation period (July 2008), TN contents almost two times lower and mean contents of TFe higher than those obtained in control sites. All sites were characterized by highly reducing conditions despite the well oxygenated conditions of the overlying waters. These findings highlight wider time-related fluctuations of physico-chemical parameters (for both sediments and overlying water) within anoxic area than in control area, but, at the same time, stress the significant role of the factor "space" (anoxic sites and control sites) for the observed physico-chemical diferences. Also, this integrated approach between sediments and water indicates sediment-related source of nutrients in the anoxic overlying water, suggesting that quick mineralization processes and nutrient release in mid-term happened mainly in disturbed area. The high biomass production observed along the overlying water within the anoxic area at the beginning of the observation period was related to this greater availability of nutrients in disturbed area

Renewal time in a population of Abra segmentum (Mollusca, Bivalvia): a case of marked r strategy

Abra segmentum is a common and frequently abundant species in the Mediterranean coastal lagoons, playing a dominant role, both in numbers and biomass, in the infauna of these habitats and is an important food for a variety of species. The main objective of this work is to describe the renewal time of Abra segmentum in Lesina lagoon. The insurgence of hydrogen sulphide which exterminated the benthic macrofauna in an area of Lesina lagoon during July 2008 allowed us to accurately observe the re-colonization time of this bivalve. In order to achieve this aim, the population structure and spatial distribution of A. segmentum before and after the dystrophic crisis were investigated in the entire Lesina lagoon and, in detail, in the area affected by the crisis. 51 sampling units were collected in Lesina lagoon in May and October 2008, allowing to compare the situation before and after the dystrophic crisis. The length-frequency distribution showed the existence of two size groups in both May and October 2008. The individuals were counted, their individual length measured and their total wet biomass weighed. The total number of individuals decreased after the crisis in the entire lagoon, but this drop was strongly observed in the perturbed area. The length-frequency distribution showed the existence of two size groups in both May and October 2008. After dystrophic crisis, the two size groups were clearly separated and juveniles group (2-5 mm) was located in the area interested by dystrophic event. The results obtained in this study highlight the rapidity of re-colonisation of A. segmentum after the strong disturbance caused by the insurgence of dystrophic crisis. The dynamics of the population was particularly clear when considering the area affected by the dystrophic crisis. In May the population was structured as in the rest of the lagoon, but in October there was a marked difference. The insurgence of a dystrophic crisis in Lesina lagoon allowed to clearly observe the resilience of A. segmentum to environmental stress, confirming it as an r strategy species

Direct Binding of Human NK Cell Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor NKp44 to the Surfaces of Mycobacteria and Other Bacteria▿

Our previous studies demonstrated that Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can directly interact with human NK cells and induce the proliferation, gamma interferon production, and cytotoxic activity of such cells without the need for accessory cells. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify the putative receptor(s) responsible for the recognition of BCG by human NK cells and potentially involved in the activation of NK cells. To this end, we first investigated the surface expression of three NK cell-activating receptors belonging to the natural cytoxicity receptor (NCR) family on highly purified human NK cells upon in vitro direct stimulation with BCG. An induction of the surface expression of NKp44, but not of NKp30 or NKp46, was observed after 3 and 4 days of in vitro stimulation with live BCG. The NKp44 induction involved mainly a particular NK cell subset expressing the CD56 marker at high density, CD56bright. In order to establish whether NKp44 could directly bind to BCG, whole BCG cells were stained with soluble forms of the three NCRs chimeric for the human immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc fragment (NKp30-Fc, NKp44-Fc, NKp46-Fc), followed by incubation with a phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated goat anti-human IgG antibody. Analysis by flow cytometry of the complexes revealed a higher PE fluorescence intensity for BCG incubated with NKp44-Fc than for BCG incubated with NKp30-Fc, NKp46-Fc, or negative controls. The binding of NKp44-Fc to the BCG surface was confirmed with immunogold labeling using transmission electron microscopy, suggesting the presence of a putative ligand(s) for human NKp44 on the BCG cell wall. Similar binding assays performed on a number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria revealed a pattern of NKp44-Fc binding restricted to members of the genus Mycobacterium, to the mycobacterium-related species Nocardia farcinica, and to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Altogether, the results obtained indicate, for the first time, that at least one member of the NCR family (NKp44) may be involved in the direct recognition of bacterial pathogens by human NK cells