117 research outputs found
Updated comparison of age estimates from paired calcified structures from Atlantic bluefin tuna
In this paper we present an updated comparison of age estimates from otoliths and spines
from the same specimen, with the intention to analyze whether it is possible to use both
structures in obtaining age-length keys for this species. The agreement between otolith and
spine age estimates was good for bluefin tuna younger than 14 years old with less than one
year difference. Tests of symmetry showed the asymmetrical distribution of ages. However
no significant differences were found between the growth parameters estimated from both
paired hard parts. It is suggested using both structures readings for constructing agelength
keys for bluefin tuna younger than 14 years.En prensa0,000
US Fish and Wildlife Service 1979 wetland classification: A review
In 1979 the US Fish and Wildlife Service published and adopted a classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. The system was designed for use in a national inventory of wetlands. It was intended to be ecologically based, to furnish the mapping units needed for the inventory, and to provide national consistency in terminology and definition. We review the performance of the classification after 13 years of use. The definition of wetland is based on national lists of hydric soils and plants that occur in wetlands. Our experience suggests that wetland classifications must facilitate mapping and inventory because these data gathering functions are essential to management and preservation of the wetland resource, but the definitions and taxa must have ecological basis. The most serious problem faced in construction of the classification was lack of data for many of the diverse wetland types. Review of the performance of the classification suggests that, for the most part, it was successful in accomplishing its objectives, but that problem areas should be corrected and modification could strengthen its utility. The classification, at least in concept, could be applied outside the United States. Experience gained in use of the classification can furnish guidance as to pitfalls to be avoided in the wetland classification process
Correction: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Biometrics and Condition
Correction: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Biometrics and ConditionPostprint4,411
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Biometrics and Condition
The compiled data for this study represents the first Atlantic and Mediterranean-wide effort
to pool all available biometric data for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) with the collaboration
of many countries and scientific groups. Biometric relationships were based on
an extensive sampling (over 140,000 fish sampled), covering most of the fishing areas for
this species in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Sensitivity analyses
were carried out to evaluate the representativeness of sampling and explore the most adequate
procedure to fit the weight-length relationship (WLR). The selected model for the
WLRs by stock included standardized data series (common measurement types)
weighted by the inverse variability. There was little difference between annual stock-specific
round weight-straight fork length relationships, with an overall difference of 6% in
weight. The predicted weight by month was estimated as an additional component in the
exponent of the weight-length function. The analyses of monthly variations of fish condition
by stock, maturity state and geographic area reflect annual cycles of spawning and
feeding behavior. We update and improve upon the biometric relationships for bluefin currently
used by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, by
incorporating substantially larger datasets than ever previously compiled, providing complete
documentation of sources and employing robust statistical fitting.WLRs and other conversion factors estimated in this study differ from the ones used in previous bluefin
stock assessments.Postprint4,411
Presence of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in urban sewage sludge and their degradation as a result of composting
The concentrations of some widely used pharmaceuticals, namely
fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin C17H18FN3O3, norfloxacin C16H18FN3O3
and ofloxacin C18H20FN3O4) and sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine
C12H14N4O4S and sulfamethoxazole C10H11N3O3S ) were determined in urban
sewage sludge utilized for making compost. The levels of degradation of
these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed.
The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied
both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon the
possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in
sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be ignored. The
concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if
compared to the relevant concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest
pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge - 426 μg/kg - was
detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations
present in compost were 22 μg/kg of norfloxacin and 20 μg/kg
of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for
making compost or before using the compost a fertilizer for food
plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly
used pharmaceuticals
The effectiveness of sewage treatment processes to remove faecal pathogens and antibiotic residues
Pathogens and antibiotics enter the aquatic environment via sewage effluents and may pose a health risk to wild life and humans. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of faecal bacteria, and selected antibiotic residues in raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents from three different sewage treatment plants in the Western Cape, South Africa. Sewage treatment plant 1 and 2 use older technologies, while sewage treatment plant 3 has been upgraded and membrane technologies were incorporated in the treatment processes. Coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used as bioindicators for faecal bacteria. A chromogenic test was used to screen for coliforms and E. coli. Fluoroquinolones and sulfamethoxazole are commonly used antibiotics and were selected to monitor the efficiency of sewage treatment processes for antibiotic removal. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) were used to quantitate antibiotic residues in raw and treated sewage. Raw intake water at all treatment plants contained total coliforms and E. coli. High removal of E. coli by treatment processes was evident for treatment plant 2 and 3 only. Fluoroquinolones and sulfamethoxazole were detected in raw wastewater from all sewage treatment plants. Treatment processes at plant 1 did not reduce the fluoroquinolone concentration in treated sewage effluents. Treatment processes at plant 2 and 3 reduced the fluoroquinolone concentration by 21% and 31%, respectively. Treatment processes at plant 1 did not reduce the sulfamethoxazole concentration in treated sewage effluents. Treatment processes at plant 2 and 3 reduced sulfamethoxazole by 34% and 56%, respectively. This study showed that bacteria and antibiotic residues are still discharged into the environment. Further research needs to be undertaken to improve sewage treatment technologies, thereby producing a better quality treated sewage effluent
Meta-Analysis of Mass Balances Examining Chemical Fate during Wastewater Treatment
Mass balances are an instructive means for investigating the fate of chemicals during wastewater treatment. In addition to the aqueous-phase removal efficiency (Φ), they can inform on chemical partitioning, transformation, and persistence, as well as on the chemical loading to streams and soils receiving, respectively, treated effluent and digested sewage sludge (biosolids). Release rates computed on a per-capita basis can serve to extrapolate findings to a larger scale. This review examines over a dozen mass balances conducted for various organic wastewater contaminants, including prescription drugs, estrogens, fragrances, antimicrobials, and surfactants of differing sorption potential (hydrophobicity), here expressed as the 1-octanol−water partition coefficient (KOW) and the organic carbon normalized sorption coefficient (KOC). Major challenges to mass balances are the collection of representative samples and accurate quantification of chemicals in sludge. A meta-analysis of peer-reviewed data identified sorption potential as the principal determinant governing chemical persistence in biosolids. Occurrence data for organic wastewater compounds detected in digested sludge followed a simple nonlinear model that required only KOW or KOC as the input and yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9 in both instances. The model predicted persistence in biosolids for the majority (>50%) of the input load of organic wastewater compounds featuring a log10KOW value of greater than 5.2 (log10KOC > 4.4). In contrast, hydrophobicity had no or only limited value for estimating, respectively, Φ and the overall persistence of a chemical during conventional wastewater treatment
Environmental Emission of Pharmaceuticals from Wastewater Treatment Plants in the USA
The residual drugs, drug bioconjugates, and their metabolites, mostly from human and veterinary usage, are routinely flushed down the drain, and enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Increasing population, excessive use of allopathic medicine, continual introduction of novel drugs, and existing inefficient wastewater treatment processes result in the discharge of large volumes of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites from the WWTPs into the environment. The effluent from the WWTPs globally contaminate ~25% of rivers and the lakes. Pharmaceuticals in the environment, as contaminants of emerging concerns, behave as pseudo-persistent despite their relatively short environmental half-lives in the environment. Therefore, residual levels of pharmaceuticals in the environment not only pose a threat to the wildlife but also affect human health through contaminated food and drinking water. This chapter highlights WWTPs as point-sources of their environmental emissions and various effects on the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem
Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study
Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised
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