Scaling Behavior of Human Locomotor Activity Amplitude: Association with Bipolar Disorder

Scale invariance is a feature of complex biological systems, and abnormality of multi-scale behaviour may serve as an indicator of pathology. The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a major node in central neural networks responsible for regulating multi-scale behaviour in measures of human locomotor activity. SCN also is implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) or manic-depressive illness, a severe, episodic disorder of mood, cognition and behaviour. Here, we investigated scaling behaviour in actigraphically recorded human motility data for potential indicators of BD, particularly its manic phase. A proposed index of scaling behaviour (Vulnerability Index [VI]) derived from such data distinguished between: [i] healthy subjects at high versus low risk of mood disorders; [ii] currently clinically stable BD patients versus matched controls; and [iii] among clinical states in BD patients

Distribution of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in sediment and plants from a contaminated salt marsh (Tejo estuary, Portugal)

Concentrations and profiles of 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl- PCBs)were investigated in sediment and plants collected from a salt marsh in the Tejo estuary, Portugal. The highest PCDD/F and dl-PCB concentrations were detected in uncolonized sediments, averaging 325.25±57.55 pg g−1 dry weight (dw) and 8,146.33±2,142.14 pg g−1 dw, respectively. The plants Sarcocornia perennis and Halimione portulacoides growing in PCDD/F and dl-PCB contaminated sediments accumulated contaminants in roots, stems, and leaves. It was observed that PCDD/F and dl-PCB concentrations in roots were significantly lower in comparison with stems and leaves. In general, concentration of ΣPCDD/Fs and Σdl-PCBs in H. portulacoides tissues were found to be twofold higher than those in S. perennis, indicating a difference in the accumulation capability of both species. Furthermore, congener profiles changed between sediments and plant tissues, reflecting a selective accumulation of low chlorinated PCDD/Fs and non-ortho dl-PCBs in plants.This work was financially supported by the FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, through a PhD grant attributed to MN Cardoso (SFRH/BD/46969/2008) co-funded by the POPH/FSE

Modelling Exchanges: From the Process Scale to the Regional Scale

International audienceThis chapter shows how the knowledge on the processes of surface exchange and atmospheric fate of different pollutants from agriculture or with an impact on agroecosystems is factored into mathematical simulation tools. It also considers the complexity of the interactions involved, the quantities of matter exchanged between agroecosystems and the atmosphere, and the measurement methods used to quantify them. The resulting models, which range from highly local (plant, leaf …) to global scales, ultimately enable to assess the impacts of changes in agricultural practices or climate change on pollutant exchanges between the atmosphere and agroecosystems. We describe different modelling approaches at the process, field, landscape and regional scales with different integrative levels. Model results are useful to understand how different processes interact and to predict how different environmental conditions, future climate or agricultural practices affect air quality. Models can also help identify levers for emission mitigation and estimate their efficiency