Novel heterococcolithophores, holococcolithophores and life cycle combinations from the families Syracosphaeraceae and Papposphaeraceae and the genus Florisphaera

Abstract. Coccolithophores are a diverse group of calcifying phytoplankton, which are responsible for a large part of the modern oceanic carbonate production. Here, we describe novel or poorly known coccolithophores and novel life cycle combination coccospheres detected in samples collected either in the Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea or in the Gulf of Naples in the western Mediterranean. These include Syracosphaera winteri, for which detached coccoliths have previously been recorded but both a formal description and taxonomic affiliation were lacking, and five undescribed sets of combination cells linking HET and HOL forms for S. pulchra, S. mediterranea, S. azureaplaneta, S. lamina and S. orbicula. We also propose the replacement name S. kareniae for the fossil species Deutschlandia gaarderae. We describe a new species of the genus Ophiaster, O. macrospinus, displaying a unique morphological and ecological distribution as well as putative combination cells of two variants of the deep-dwelling Florisphaera profunda, which provide new insights on the affiliation of this genus within the Calcihaptophycideae. Additionally, in the family Papposphaeraceae we detected a new species, Pappomonas vexillata, and combination cells of Picarola margalefi and of a species resembling Papposphaera arctica. Finally, we detected three novel, unpaired holococcolithophore forms (Calyptrosphaera lluisae, Calicasphaera bipora and one form designated as Holococcolithophore A). Overall, this set of novel observations and ensuing discussions provide further insights into the diversity, evolution and life cycle complexity of coccolithophores in the oceans

Anesthesiology Consensus in the Management of the Airway

Os consensos na gestão clínica da via aérea em anestesiologia pretendem disponibilizar informação, baseada na evidência atual ou, na falta desta, na opinião de peritos, no que respeita à abordagem da via aérea difícil previsível ou não previsível. Reforçamos a importância da avaliação da via aérea e da identificação de potenciais problemas que possam condicionar dificuldade na sua abordagem e a adoção de uma estratégia segura que permita identificar e responder em crescendo de intervenção às dificuldades encontradas. Na impossibilidade de intubação traqueal (não intubo) otimizada e limitada a 4 tentativas, da impossibilidade de ventilar e oxigenar (não oxigeno) após 2 tentativas de usar um dispositivo supraglótico ou de uso de máscara facial inicialmente adequada é importante realizar, em tempo útil, uma cricotirotomia para assegurar oxigenação. As situações clínicas de exceção só com planos simples, conhecidos por todos e regularmente treinados e adaptados à nossa atividade clinica podem assegurar melhores “outcomes”. O registo destes eventos e a informação ao nosso doente da dificuldade encontrada e modo como foi resolvido o problema é essencial e constitui ainda um desafio a alargar a uma base nacional.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A molecular insight into algal-oomycete warfare : cDNA analysis of Ectocarpus siliculosus infected with the basal oomycete Eurychasma dicksonii

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Ocean acidification has different effects on the production of dimethylsulfide and dimethylsulfoniopropionate measured in cultures of Emiliania huxleyi and a mesocosm study:a comparison of laboratory monocultures and community interactions

The human-induced rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the industrial revolution has led to increasing oceanic carbon uptake and changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, resulting in lowering of surface water pH. In this study we investigated the effect of increasing CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) on concentrations of volatile biogenic dimethylsulfide (DMS) and its precursor dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), through monoculture studies and community pCO2 perturbation. DMS is a climatically important gas produced by many marine algae: it transfers sulfur into the atmosphere and is a major influence on biogeochemical climate regulation through breakdown to sulfate and formation of subsequent cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Overall, production of DMS and DMSP by the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi strain RCC1229 was unaffected by growth at 900 μatm pCO2, but DMSP production normalised to cell volume was 12 % lower at the higher pCO2 treatment. These cultures were compared with community DMS and DMSP production during an elevated pCO2 mesocosm experiment with the aim of studying E. huxleyi in the natural environment. Results contrasted with the culture experiments and showed reductions in community DMS and DMSP concentrations of up to 60 and 32 % respectively at pCO2 up to 3000 μatm, with changes attributed to poorer growth of DMSP-producing nanophytoplankton species, including E. huxleyi, and potentially increased microbial consumption of DMS and dissolved DMSP at higher pCO2. DMS and DMSP production differences between culture and community likely arise from pH affecting the inter-species responses between microbial producers and consumers

Development and field test of an asynchronous distributed Group Decision Support System in a groupware environment

This paper explores the issue of developing of Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) in a distributed environment ('different time-different place' DSS). The authors proposed an architecture for such a system, and have partly implemented it in a multicriteria GDSS prototype. The paper describes a project that is aiming to extend and test this system using a Lotus Notes environment

Development and field test of an asynchronous distributed Group Decision Support System in a groupware environment

This paper explores the issue of developing of Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) in a distributed environment ('different time-different place' DSS). The authors proposed an architecture for such a system, and have partly implemented it in a multicriteria GDSS prototype. The paper describes a project that is aiming to extend and test this system using a Lotus Notes environment.<div><br></div><div>Presented at: International Conference in Distributed Computer Communication Networks; 1999 Nov 4-8; Tel-Aviv, Israel. p. 42-48.</div

A hierarchical classification approach to knowledge acquisition for a Case-Based Decision Support System

Decision-makers are continually faced with situations which require reasoning and judgement. Eventually they form some rules-of-thumb based on their past decisions which they apply to new situations. A Case-Based Decision Support Systems (CBDSS) serves as a memory aid which increases consistency to decision making. The most arduous task of developing a CBDSS is knowledge acquisition for the case base. This paper proposes hierarchical classification as a knowledge level modelling technique from which to build a "seed" case base. This "seed" case base is structured for systematic expansion, allowing the decision-maker to incorporate new cases as they occur

Morphine patient controlled analgesia for postoperative analgesia in patients who have transplanted cadaver donor kidneys

Introduction. Patients who have chronic renal disease present challenges to anesthesiologists because of the sequelae of the underlying disease. Postoperative pain is usually mild to moderate after renal transplantation and is a concern because of underlying co-morbidities and variable responses of the graft. Effective postoperative pain management contributes to a a successful outcome after renal transplantation. Methods. A retrospective study, based on the collected data from clinical process and registration of the acute pain unit. Results. During 2007 and 2008, 124 patients were transplanted with cadaver donor kidneys. The final sample included 55 patients, namely 67% males and 33% females, whose ages range between 15 and 75 years (average, 47.23 years). Their American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification was 4 in 71% and 3 in 29%. Analgesia during surgery used a fentanyl, paracetamol and morphine protocol (n 47) or fentanyl, paracetamol, morphine, and local anesthetic infiltration (n 8). The postoperative pain was quantified using a numerical rating scale (0–4) with mean value of 1.07 on day 1, a mean value of 1 on day 2, and a mean value of 0.67 on day 3. Postoperative analgesia with morphine patient-controlled analgesia was used for every patient, combined with paracetamol in 89% of cases. The average number of bolus demands was 60 with 26.4 effective boluses, the mean total administered dose was 26.6 mg. The major side effects were constipation (18%), pruritus (14%), nausea (13%), and vomiting (1.8%). The following relations were significance: age and score of pain, pruritus and total dose of morphine, preoperative analgesia, and pain score on day 2. Conclusions. Our results suggest that analgesia with morphine patient-controlled analgesia was an effective method to achieve control of postoperative pain in this population with few side effects.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

A hierarchical classification approach to knowledge acquisition for a Case-Based Decision Support System

Decision-makers are continually faced with situations which require reasoning and judgement. Eventually they form some rules-of-thumb based on their past decisions which they apply to new situations. A Case-Based Decision Support Systems (CBDSS) serves as a memory aid which increases consistency to decision making. The most arduous task of developing a CBDSS is knowledge acquisition for the case base. This paper proposes hierarchical classification as a knowledge level modelling technique from which to build a "seed" case base. This "seed" case base is structured for systematic expansion, allowing the decision-maker to incorporate new cases as they occur.<div><br></div><div>Presented at: International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Multimedia Applications; 1998 Feb 9-11; Churchill, Australia. p. 173-179.</div