Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes - Highlights from the Baltic Sea Sciences Congress at Rostock University, Germany, 19-22 March 2007

The Baltic Sea Science Congress was held at Rostock University, Germany, from 19 to 22 March 2007. In the session entitled"Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes" 20 presentations were given,including 7 talks and 13 posters related to the theme of the session.This paper summarises new findings of the upwelling-related studies reported in the session. It deals with investigationsbased on the use of in situ and remote sensing measurements as well as numerical modelling tools. The biogeochemicalimplications of upwelling are also discussed.Our knowledge of the fine structure and dynamic considerations of upwelling has increased in recent decades with the advent ofhigh-resolution modern measurement techniques and modelling studies. The forcing and the overall structure, duration and intensity ofupwelling events are understood quite well. However, the quantification of related transports and the contribution to the overall mixingof upwelling requires further research. Furthermore, our knowledge of the links between upwelling and biogeochemical processes is stillincomplete. Numerical modelling has advanced to the extent that horizontal resolutions of c. 0.5 nautical miles can now be applied,which allows the complete spectrum of meso-scale features to be described. Even the development of filaments can be describedrealistically in comparison with high-resolution satellite data.But the effect of upwelling at a basin scale and possible changes under changing climatic conditions remain open questions

How do NHS organisations plan research capacity development? Strategies, strengths, and opportunities for improvement

Research that is integral into a 'learning healthcare system' can promote cost effective services and knowledge creation. As such, research is defined as a 'core function' in UK health service organisations, and is often planned through research and development (R&D) strategies that aim to promote research activity and research capacity development (RCD). The discussion focuses around the content of ten R&D strategies for healthcare organisations in England and Scotland, with respect to RCD. These organisations were engaged with a research interest network called ACORN (Addressing Organisational Capacity to do Research Network) that included two Scottish Health Boards, four community and mental health trusts, two provincial district hospitals, and two teaching hospitals. We undertook a thematic documentary analysis of the R&D strategies which identified 11 'core activities' of RCD. The potential for building research capacity in these 'core activities' was established by reviewing them through the lens of a RCD framework. Core activities aimed to 'hard wire' RCD into health organisations. They demonstrated a complex interplay between developing a strong internal organisational infrastructure, and supporting individual career planning and skills development, in turn enabled by organisational processes. They also included activities to build stronger inter-organisational relationships and networks. Practitioner, manager and patient involvement was a cross cutting theme. The potential to demonstrate progress was included in plans through monitoring activity across all RCD principles. Strategies were primarily aimed at research production rather than research use. Developing 'actionable dissemination' was poorly addressed in the strategies, and represents an area for improvement. We describe strengths of RCD planning activities, and opportunities for improvement. We explore how national policy and research funders can influence health systems' engagement in research

Эффективность и безопасность препарата нусинерсен в рамках программы расширенного доступа в России

Introduction. Spinal muscular atrophy is a severe neuromuscular disease characterized by rapid progression of muscle weakness and early death. Pathogenetic therapy with nusinersen can significantly change the course of the disease and enable the patient to acquire new skills. The study of the efficacy and safety of nusinersen therapy in patients with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy should be continued. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of nusinersen therapy in patients with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy for 6 months as part of an expanded access program at federal and regional healthcare facilities. Materials and methods. Patients with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy received nusinersen therapy under the expanded access program (NCT02865109). Patients were evaluated before starting treatment and 6 months after starting treatment. Overall motor development and motor function was assessed using the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Status Scale Part 2 and the Philadelphia Pediatric Hospital Neonatal Motor Scale. Results. 41 children aged 6 to 38 months received nusinersen therapy between July 2019 and March 2020. At the time of analysis, all patients were alive and continued treatment. The average improvement on the Hammersmith Hospital Neurological Status Scale was 3.7 points after 6 months of therapy compared to baseline (n = 39, p <0.001). The mean improvement on the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Scale for the Diagnosis of Motor Function in Newborns was 9.8 after 6 months of therapy from baseline (n = 30, p <0.001). Conclusion. The efficacy and safety of nusinersen have been demonstrated in real clinical practice in Russia in the treatment of early-onset spinal muscular atrophy.Введение. Спинальная мышечная атрофия – тяжелое нервно-мышечное заболевание, характеризующееся быстрым прогрессированием мышечной слабости, ранним летальным исходом. Применение патогенетической терапии нусинерсеном может существенно изменить течение болезни и дать возможность пациенту приобрести новые навыки. Изучение эффективности и безопасности терапии нусинерсеном у пациентов со спинальной мышечной атрофией 1-го типа неообходимо продолжать. Цель исследования – оценить безопасность и эффективность терапии нусинерсеном пациентов со спинальной мышечной атрофией 1-го типа в течение 6 мес в рамках клинической практики в лечебно-профилактических учреждениях федерального и регионального уровней. Материалы и методы. Пациенты со спинальной мышечной атрофией 1-го типа получали терапию препаратом нусинерсен в рамках программы расширенного доступа (NCT02865109). Оценка пациентов проводилась до начала лечения и через 6 мес после начала лечения. Оценивали общее двигательное развитие, моторную функцию – с помощью Шкалы оценки неврологического статуса больницы Хаммерсмит у детей раннего возраста, часть 2, и Шкалы детской больницы Филадельфии для диагностики двигательных функций у новорожденных. Результаты. Терапию препаратом нусинерсен получил 41 ребенок в возрасте от 6 до 38 мес в период с июля 2019 по март 2020 г. На момент анализа все пациенты были живы и продолжали лечение. Среднее улучшение по Шкале оценки неврологического статуса больницы Хаммерсмит составило 3,7 балла через 6 мес терапии по сравнению с исходным уровнем (n = 39, р <0,001). Среднее улучшение по Шкале детской больницы Филадельфии для диагностики двигательных функций у новорожденных составило 9,8 балла через 6 мес терапии по сравнению с исходным уровнем (n = 30, р <0,001). Заключение. Продемонстрированы эффективность и безопасность нусинерсена в условиях реальной клинической практики в России при терапии спинальной мышечной атрофии 1-го типа с ранним началом

Pontische Münzen am Bosporus zur Zeit Mithridates VI. Eupator

In der russischen archäologischen Literatur wurde bereits mehrfach erwähnt, dass am Bosporus und in anderen Regionen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes Funde von Kupfermünzen aus den Städten des Pontos und Paphlagoniens weit verbreitet sind. Nach Erscheinen des Aufsatzes von Imhoof-Blumer, der die Kupfermünzen der erwähnten Gebiete aus der Zeit Mithradates VI. sondierte und klassifizierte, wurde deutlich, dass diese Münzfunde in direkte Verbindung zum Anschluss des Bosporus an das Gebiet des pontischen Herrschers zu setzen sind. Urteilt man nach dem bekannten Dekret der Chersonesiten zu Ehren des Diophantes, eines Feldherren des pontischen Herrschers, so erfolgte dieser Anschluss um 109 v. Chr. Tatsächlich werden im nördlichen Schwarzmeergebiet nur äußerst selten pontische und paphlagonische Münzen gefunden, die in römischer oder vormithradatischer Zeit geprägt wurden. Diese Funde sind eher die Ausnahme. Obwohl die pontischen Münzen aus Fundstätten im nördlichen Schwarzmeergebiet mehrfach die Aufmerksamkeit der Numismatiker erregten und Gegenstand der wertvollen Untersuchung von Zograf sind, blieben sie doch weitgehend unzulänglich erforscht. In den vorliegenden Aufzeichnungen versuchen wir, einzelne Seiten dieses Problems zu betrachten, für dessen Lösung ausreichend Material gesammelt wurde

Distinctive features of water exchange across the Słupsk Sill (a full-scale experiment)

The flows of brackish waters in the upper layer and saline waters in the lower layer meet above the Słupsk Sill, which makes this one of the most significant features of the Baltic Sea, controlling as it does the ventilation of the deep basins in its central region. Earlier high-resolution measurements using towed scanning probes conducted here for more than ten years had revealed the complexity and variability of the water dynamics in this area. Mapping surveys repeated in quick succession are needed to study the water exchange in such an area. A survey of this kind was attempted in October 2003 during the 57th cruise of the r/v ‘Professor Shtokman’. Three surveys were carried out in the areas of the Słupsk Sill, the eastern Bornholm Basin, and the western Słupsk Furrow by means of a scanning probe towed along closely-spaced transects. The water structure around the sill was different each time, despite the rather short time gaps between the surveys. As follows from the data analysis, during the first survey, the saline Bornholm waters flowed over the sill as an axially symmetrical jet and entrained the adjacent freshened cold waters of the intermediate layer. In ten days, this joint flow displaced to the southern flank of the sill and propagated in the Słupsk Furrow along its southern border, with the dense core of saline waters gradually moving over the bottom to the northern border. Concurrently, the contrary flow of the main volume of cold freshened waters, originating from northern areas and leaving the Baltic Sea, was pushed away from the southern wall of the furrow and blocked at a significant distance from the sill. In three days, the blocked waters forced their way through towards its northern flank. Just below these waters, waters of elevated salinity were found above the eastern slope of the sill at the depth of its ridge, while waters of a similar salinity occurred below the depth of the ridge above the western slope of the sill. There were no indications of intensive overflow in the central and southern areas of the sill. Accordingly, the return flow of Bornholm waters across the sill became possible

On the possibility of convective overturning in the Slupsk Furrow overflow of the Baltic Sea

Closely spaced CTD transects across the Słupsk Furrow displayed a ‘downward- bending’ of salinity contours below the salinity interface on the southern flank due to a transverse circulation in the saline water overflow. Numerical simulation of a gravity current in an idealized channel with geometry, dimensions and initial density stratification all much the same as in the Słupsk Furrow was applied to verify whether the downward-bending could be transformed into an inverted density stratification. Some arguments in favour of the possibility of convective overturning due to the differential transverse advection beneath the gravity current, brought on by the numerical simulations, are discussed