A field-based comparison of ammonia emissions from six Irish soil types following urea fertiliser application

peer-reviewedAmmonia (NH3) emissions from a range of soil types have been found to differ under laboratory conditions. However, there is lack of studies comparing NH3 emissions from different soil types under field conditions. The objective was to compare NH3 emissions from six different soil types under similar environmental conditions in the field following urea fertiliser application. The study was conducted on a lysimeter unit and NH3 emissions were measured, using wind tunnels, from six different soil types with varying soil characteristics following urea fertiliser application (80 kg N/ha). On average, 17.6% (% total N applied) was volatilised, and there was no significant difference in NH3 emissions across all soil types. Soil variables, including pH, cation exchange capacity and volumetric moisture, were not able to account for the variation in emissions. Further field studies are required to improve the urea-NH3 emission factor used for Ireland’s NH3 inventory

A preliminary analysis of spatiotemporal patterns in swordfish habitat distributions.

A species distribution model (SDM) for swordfish that was in the development stage has been finalized. The model used detailed biological and oceanographic data to define the spatial distribution of Swordfish. The SDM adequately predicted Swordfish habitat (and thus fish) distributions such that it was found suitable for investigations into the spatiotemporal distribution of habitat. Results of this preliminary investigation supports the current hypothesized stock boundaries between the north and south Atlantic stocks used for management. Both the north and south Atlantic may be experiencing an expansion of habitat. This could result in decreased density of swordfish into a larger area and/or change MSY production metrics. A more detailed examination of this possibility is recommended.Versión del edito

The Effects of Scallop Dredge Fishing Practices on Physical, Behavioral, and Physiological Stress in Discarded Yellowtail Flounder, Windowpane, and Fourspot Flounder

The Atlantic sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus dredge fishery is one of the most lucrative commercial fishing industries in the northeastern United States, and fish bycatch can comprise up to ~42% of the total catch. Benthic species, such as flatfish, are particularly susceptible to unintended capture in scallop dredge gear, and mitigating bycatch and associated mortality has been mandated a priority for fisheries management. Based on this management need, the present study evaluated the physical, physiological, and behavioral stress responses of Yellowtail Flounder Limanda ferruginea, Windowpane Scophthalmus aquosus, and Fourspot Flounder Paralichthys oblongus to capture in the scallop dredge fishery. More specifically, we used generalized additive models and linear regression models to assess the influence of various fishing practices, environmental conditions, and biological factors on injury condition, physiological parameters, and reflex indicators. Although these flatfish species appeared to be physically resilient to capture based on an observable injury assessment, dredge capture and handling factors proved stressful, with the degree of immediate mortality, physiological disturbances, and reflex impairment varying by species. While multiple factors influenced the degree of stress in these species, based on our results the reduction of tow duration and limiting air exposure/sorting duration would likely be the most effective strategies to mitigate the impact of scallop dredge fishing on these flatfish specie

Electrocardiographic features of immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myocarditis

Background Myocarditis is a highly morbid complication of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) use that remains inadequately characterized. The QRS duration and the QTc interval are standardized electrocardiographic measures that are prolonged in other cardiac conditions; however, there are no data on their utility in ICI myocarditis. Methods From an international registry, ECG parameters were compared between 140 myocarditis cases and 179 controls across multiple time points (pre-ICI, on ICI prior to myocarditis, and at the time of myocarditis). The association between ECG values and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was also tested. Results Both the QRS duration and QTc interval were similar between cases and controls prior to myocarditis. When compared with controls on an ICI (93±19 ms) or to baseline prior to myocarditis (97±19 ms), the QRS duration prolonged with myocarditis (110±22 ms, p<0.001 and p=0.009, respectively). In contrast, the QTc interval at the time of myocarditis (435±39 ms) was not increased compared with pre-myocarditis baseline (422±27 ms, p=0.42). A prolonged QRS duration conferred an increased risk of subsequent MACE (HR 3.28, 95% CI 1.98 to 5.62, p<0.001). After adjustment, each 10 ms increase in the QRS duration conferred a 1.3-fold increase in the odds of MACE (95% CI 1.07 to 1.61, p=0.011). Conversely, there was no association between the QTc interval and MACE among men (HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.70 to 2.53, p=0.38) or women (HR 1.48, 95% CI 0.61 to 3.58, p=0.39). Conclusions The QRS duration is increased in ICI myocarditis and is associated with increased MACE risk. Use of this widely available ECG parameter may aid in ICI myocarditis diagnosis and risk-stratification

Ecosystem effects of bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus thynnus aquaculture in the NW Mediterranean Sea

17 pages, 5 figures, 6 tablesIn recent decades the eastern stock of Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus thynnus has declined, driven by excessive catches partially mediated by the growth of the capture-based aquaculture of bluefin in the Mediterranean. This study addresses the potential direct and indirect food-web effects on trophic linkages in the ecosystem through the removal of both small pelagic fish species and wild bluefin tuna for aquaculture operations in the Mediterranean. A mass-balanced model representing the southern Catalan Sea during the 1990s was modified to include a bluefin tuna farm partially supplied from fish captured in the area modeled. Six scenarios were developed to simulate possible changes to the capture-based aquaculture operations and possible impacts to the ecosystem. The addition of one bluefin tuna farm in the Catalan Sea did not produce substantial effects in the ecosystem. Simulation scenarios that include the level of production already present in a similar ecosystem in the Murcia region resulted in large fluctuations of both biomass and yield for bluefin tuna, as well as for many species in the modeled ecosystem. Increases in biomass of lower trophic level functional groups were observed with reductions in biomass from higher trophic level predators. These outcomes demonstrate that removal of biomass at top and intermediate trophic levels can have direct and indirect outcomes on the structure of the ecosystem due to the complexity of the food web. Our results suggest, in the case of the Western Mediterranean Sea, increasing bluefin tuna farming activities will likely contribute towards further degradation of an already highly exploited ecosystemM.C. was supported financially by the European Community Marie-Curie post-doctoral fellowship through the International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF; Call: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF) to ECOFUNPeer reviewe