Season exerts differential effects of ocean acidification and warming on growth and carbon metabolism of the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus in the western Baltic Sea

Warming and acidification of the oceans as a consequence of increasing CO2-concentrations occur at large scales. Numerous studies have shown the impact of single stressors on individual species. However, studies on the combined effect of multiple stressors on a multi-species assemblage, which is ecologically much more realistic and relevant, are still scarce. Therefore, we orthogonally crossed the two factors warming and acidification in mesocosm experiments and studied their single and combined impact on the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus associated with its natural community (epiphytes and mesograzers) in the Baltic Sea in all seasons (from April 2013 to April 2014). We superimposed our treatment factors onto the natural fluctuations of all environmental variables present in the Benthocosms in so-called delta-treatments. Thereby we compared the physiological responses of F. vesiculosus (growth and metabolites) to the single and combined effects of natural Kiel Fjord temperatures and pCO2 conditions with a 5 °C temperature increase and/or pCO2 increase treatment (1100 ppm in the headspace above the mesocosms). Responses were also related to the factor photoperiod which changes over the course of the year. Our results demonstrate complex seasonal pattern. Elevated pCO2 positively affected growth of F. vesiculosus alone and/or interactively with warming. The response direction (additive, synergistic or antagonistic), however, depended on season and daylength. The effects were most obvious when plants were actively growing during spring and early summer. Our study revealed for the first time that it is crucial to always consider the impact of variable environmental conditions throughout all seasons. In summary, our study indicates that in future F. vesiculosus will be more affected by detrimental summer heat-waves than by ocean acidification although the latter consequently enhances growth throughout the year. The mainly negative influence of rising temperatures on the physiology of this keystone macroalga may alter and/or hamper its ecological functions in the shallow coastal ecosystem of the Baltic Sea

Anchoring selenido-carbonyl ruthenium clusters to functionalised silica xerogels

Silica Xerogels containing carbonyl Ru3Se2 nido clusters were prepared in three different ways. The simple dispersion of [Ru3(mu3-Se)2(CO)7(PPh 3)2] via sol gel process produces an inhomogeneous material; by contrast, homogeneous xerogels were obtained by reaction of [Ru3(mu3-Se)2(CO)8(PPh 3)] with functionalised xerogels containing grafted diphenylphosphine moieties and by reaction of [Ru3(CO)12] with a xerogel containing grafted phosphine-selenide groups. The reaction between [Ru3(CO)12] and dodecyldiphenylphosphine selenide led to the formation of four selenido carbonyl clusters, which are soluble in hydrocarbon solvents and can be deposited as thin films from their solution by slow evaporation. Xerogéis de silica contendo carbonilas metálicas polinucleares (clusters) com estrutura nido Ru3Se2 foram preparadas através de três rotas diferentes. A simples dispersão do cluster [Ru3(mi3-Se)2(CO)7(PPh 3)2] pelo processo sol gel produz um material não homogêneo. Xerogéis homogêneos foram obtidos através da reação de [Ru3(mi3-Se)2(CO)8(PPh 3)] com xerogéis funcionalizados contendo fragmentos difenilfosfino enxertados, e pela reação do [Ru3(CO)12] com um xerogel contendo grupos fosfinoseleneto enxertados. A reação entre [Ru3(CO)12] e seleneto de dodecildifenilfosfinoseleneto resultou na formação de quatro clusters contendo ligantes carbonil e seleneto, solúveis em solventes apolares e que podem ser empregados na confecção de filmes

Modelling the Seasonal Growth of the Brown Seaweed Fucus Vesiculosus in the Kiel Outdoor Benthocosms

Warming and acidification of the oceans as a consequence of increasing CO2-concentrations occur globally. In mesocosm experiments, the single and combined impact of elevated seawater temperature and pCO2 (1,100 ppm) on the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus together with its ssociated community (epiphytes and mesograzers) was studied in four consecutive experiments (from April 2013 to April 2014). Based on these experiments, a numerical boxmodel simulating the seasonal growth of F. vesiculosus in the Kiel Outdoor Benthocosms (KOBs) was developed. Nitrogen and carbon cycling in the KOBs were considered and relevant physiological and ecological processes were implemented. To run simulations under present and global change scenarios (e.g. warming, ocean acidification) the model was forced with atmospheric and hydrographic data of the Kiel fjord. DIN and DIC concentration in the water and Fucus growth as carbon and nitrogen increase were explicitly modelled. For instance, the following processes were implemented: (1) Storage of carbon and nitrogen assimilates by Fucus, leading to a temporal decoupling of assimilation and growth. (2) Shading effects of epiphytes. (3) Grazing by Idotea, Gammarus and Littorina on both Fucus and epiphytes, but with species-specific rates and preferences. At present, the model is a suitable scientific tool capable of integrating our knowledge about macroalgal processes, their growth and productivity in coastal areas. It further facilitates the communication of complex knowledge to lay persons. Ultimately, the development of a predictive model, which can be coupled to a 3D-high resolution western Baltic Sea model, is anticipated. This will allow observations on the consequences of global change for the wellbeing and distribution of F. vesiculosus in the western Baltic Sea. Understanding responses of macroalgae and of the associated community is important because changing global temperatures and elevated CO2 may affect the ecological role of Fucus as primary producer, carbon sink, water purifier, and ecosystem engineer in the coastal ecosystem of the Baltic Sea

Assessment of the different types of failure on anterior cantilever resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses fabricated with three different materials: An in vitro study

background: resin-bonded fixed dental prosthesis (RBFDP) represents a highly aesthetic and conservative treatment option to replace a single tooth in a younger patient. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the fracture strength and the different types of failure on anterior cantilever RBFDPs fabricated using zirconia (ZR), lithium disilicate (LD), and PMMA-based material with ceramic fillers (PM) by the same standard tessellation language (STL) file. Methods: sixty extracted bovine mandibular incisives were embedded resin block; scanned to design one master model of RBFDP with a cantilevered single-retainer. Twenty cantilevered single-retainer RBFDPs were fabricated using ZR; LD; and PM. Static loading was performed using a universal testing machine. Results: the mean fracture strength for the RBFDPs was: 292.5 Newton (Standard Deviation (SD) 36.6) for ZR; 210 N (SD 37.6) for LD; and 133 N (SD 16.3) for PM. All the failures of RBFDPs in ZR were a fracture of the abutment tooth; instead; the 80% of failures of RBFDPs in LD and PM were a fracture of the connector. Conclusion: within the limitations of this in vitro study, we can conclude that the zirconia RBFDPs presented load resistance higher than the maximum anterior bite force reported in literature (270 N) and failure type analysis showed some trends among the groups

Impact of use of oral anticancer drugs on activity of Italian oncology practices: results of a survey conducted by the Italian Society of Medical Oncology (AIOM)

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In recent years, the number of oral anticancer drugs used in clinical practice has rapidly increased. The Italian Society of Medical Oncology (AIOM) conducted a survey to describe the impact of the use of oral anticancer drugs on the daily activity of Italian oncology practices. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A survey questionnaire was distributed to the coordinators of the regional sections of AIOM. A 6-month period was considered, from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010. The survey addressed (1) quantitative aspects of the use of oral anticancer drugs; (2) practical aspects in the management of patients treated with these drugs; (3) issues related to treatment costs and reimbursement procedures. RESULTS: Thirty-six questionnaires were received from institutions distributed throughout the Italian territory. Oral anticancer drugs (both chemotherapy and molecularly targeted agents) accounted for a significant proportion (17%) of prescribed treatments. Among the responding institutions, there were different dispensation procedures of oral drugs to patients: drugs were dispensed by the pharmacist (57%) or directly by the medical oncologist (23%) or nurse (20%). The medical oncologist played a major role in the communication with patients (73% alone and a further 24% in cooperation with other professional figures) and was the point of reference in the event of side effects in 97% of cases. In most cases, the reimbursement of drug costs was separated ("File F" procedure) from the flat fare received by the hospital for outpatient visits or day-hospital access. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal organization of oral anticancer treatment warrants the cooperation and integration of multiple professional figures. At least three figures are involved in patient management in the hospital: the medical oncologist, the nurse, and the hospital pharmacist. Oral anticancer treatments are associated with specific reimbursement issues: in the majority of cases, the cost of the drug is reimbursed separately from the cost of patient access

Big data in Antarctic sciences – current status, gaps, and future perspectives

This paper was initiated by a multidisciplinary Topic Workshop in the frame of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Priority Program 1158 “Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Ice Areas”, and hence it represents only the national view without claiming to be complete but is intended to provide awareness and suggestions for the current discussion on so-called big data in many scientific fields. The importance of the polar regions and their essential role for the Earth system are both undoubtedly recognized. However, dramatic changes in the climate and environment have been observed first in the Arctic and later in Antarctica over the past few decades. While important data have been collected and observation networks have been built in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, this is a relatively data-scarce region due to the challenges of remote data acquisition, expensive labor, and harsh environmental conditions. There are many approaches crossing multiple scientific disciplines to better understand Antarctic processes; to evaluate ongoing climatic and environmental changes and their manifold ecological, physical, chemical, and geological consequences; and to make (improved) predictions. Together, these approaches generate very large, multivariate data sets, which can be broadly classified as “Antarctic big data”. For these large data sets, there is a pressing need for improved data acquisition, curation, integration, service, and application to support fundamental scientific research. Based on deficiencies in crossing disciplines and to attract further interest in big data in Antarctic sciences, this article will (i) describe and evaluate the current status of big data in various Antarctic-related scientific disciplines, (ii) identify current gaps, (iii) and provide solutions to fill these gaps.</p