The Interactive Role of Hydrocarbon Seeps, Hydrothermal Vents and Intermediate Antarctic/Mediterranean Water Masses on the Distribution of Some Vulnerable Deep-Sea Habitats in Mid Latitude NE Atlantic Ocean

In this work, we integrate five case studies harboring vulnerable deep-sea benthic habitats in different geological settings from mid latitude NE Atlantic Ocean (24–42° N). Data and images of specific deep-sea habitats were acquired with Remoted Operated Vehicle (ROV) sensors (temperature, salinity, potential density, O2, CO2, and CH4). Besides documenting some key vulnerable deep-sea habitats, this study shows that the distribution of some deep-sea coral aggregations (including scleractinians, gorgonians, and antipatharians), deep-sea sponge aggregations and other deep-sea habitats are influenced by water masses’ properties. Our data support that the distribution of scleractinian reefs and aggregations of other deep-sea corals, from subtropical to north Atlantic could be dependent of the latitudinal extents of the Antarctic Intermediate Waters (AAIW) and the Mediterranean Outflow Waters (MOW). Otherwise, the distribution of some vulnerable deep-sea habitats is influenced, at the local scale, by active hydrocarbon seeps (Gulf of Cádiz) and hydrothermal vents (El Hierro, Canary Island). The co-occurrence of deep-sea corals and chemosynthesis-based communities has been identified in methane seeps of the Gulf of Cádiz. Extensive beds of living deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus mauritanicus) and other chemosymbiotic bivalves occur closely to deep-sea coral aggregations (e.g., gorgonians, black corals) that colonize methane-derived authigenic carbonates.Versión del edito

Micro-morphologies, habitats and associated biodiversity in a fluid venting submarine structure using ROV underwater images: Mercator mud volcano (Gulf of Cádiz)

Mercator mud volcano has been explored by direct visual observations using a ROV at 350 to 370 m depth. Underwater images, taken mainly at the summit, have allowed characterizing the fluid venting environment, where different microforms, habitats and associated biota, with typical seepage components have been identified. Chemosynthetic bacterial communities were detected and sampled at the northeastern side of the summit at 350 m, next to pockmark-like depressions with diameters ranging 1 to 3 m, bioturbation marks, sediment mounds and authigenic carbonates of different sizes (0.1-5m length). Chemosynthesis-based communities were mainly composed by bacterial mats (patch diameter 10-30 cm), however some remains of cold seep chemosymbiotic bivalves (Lucinoma asapheus) were also found on the sediment. Habitat types at Mercator MV are influenced by oceanographic and sedimentation processes deposition and favouring fauna colonizing diverse substrate types, such as large sponges on slabs and sea-pens and annelids on soft bottoms

Maping seafloor features and benthic habitats in mud volcanoes of the Moroccan margin of the Gulf of Cádiz using ROV underwater images

In March 2014, the Spanish R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa equipped with the Portuguese multi-operational Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) "Luso 6000" explored and sampled five mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cádiz during SUBVENT2 expedition. The explored mud volcanoes were Mercator, Yuma, Algacel, Mvseis and Madrid located offshore Moroccan Atlantic margin at water depths between 350 and 1650 meters. In addition, bathymetric data were acquired using the Atlas Hydrosweep DS multibeam echo-sounder and were processed with CARIS HIPS & SIPS yielding a bathymetric grid resolution of 15 m. The characterization of habitats and associated biota was based on high resolution videos and captured photographic material with MAGIX software as well as samples collected with the ROV. The observation was done during scanning the sea floor by TV camera at the altitude of 1-5 meters above the seafloor at low velocity of approximately 0.2-0.5m/s. Digital data analyses and their cartographical representation were performed with ArcMap 10.3.1 and Fledermaus. Underwater images allowed to characterize the occurrence of cold seeps with different seafloor micro-features, habitats and associated biota. Chemosynthetic bacterial communities, mainly occurring as bacterial mats (e.g., sulfate-oxidizing cf. Beggiatoa sp.), were detected, sampled and related to active bubbling seeps in pockmark-like depressions of different sizes. Sediment mounds and authigenic carbonates of different sizes (0.1-5 m length) were also detected in vent sites. Six different species of chemosymbiotic bivalves, including Lucinoma asapheus, Acharax gadirae, Solemya elarraichensis, Thyasira vulcoluatre, Isorropodon megadesmus and the deep water mussel Bathymodiulus mauritanicus displayed populations in the studied mud volcanoes. Hard bottoms with exhumated carbonate slabs seem to display a wider biodiversity and complexity, including large size sponges (e.g. Geodia, Phakellia), scleractinians (e.g. Caryophillia, Corallium, Madrepora), gorgonians (e.g. Bebryce, Chelidonisis) and antipatharians (e.g. Stichopathes) as well as different mobile associated species.. Habitat types of these mud volcanoes may be influenced by different oceanographic, sedimentation and venting processes resulting then in a broad biodiversity.SUBVENT project (CGL2012-39524-C02, MINECO, Spain), ATLAS project (EU, Horizon 2020) and EMEPC (Portugal

Apixaban versus Enoxaparin for Thromboprophylaxis in Medically Ill Patients

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of prolonging prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in medically ill patients beyond hospital discharge remain uncertain. We hypothesized that extended prophylaxis with apixaban would be safe and more effective than short-term prophylaxis with enoxaparin. METHODS: In this double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned acutely ill patients who had congestive heart failure or respiratory failure or other medical disorders and at least one additional risk factor for venous thromboembolism and who were hospitalized with an expected stay of at least 3 days to receive apixaban, administered orally at a dose of 2.5 mg twice daily for 30 days, or enoxaparin, administered subcutaneously at a dose of 40 mg once daily for 6 to 14 days. The primary efficacy outcome was the 30-day composite of death related to venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis, or asymptomatic proximal-leg deep-vein thrombosis, as detected with the use of systematic bilateral compression ultrasonography on day 30. The primary safety outcome was bleeding. All efficacy and safety outcomes were independently adjudicated. RESULTS: A total of 6528 subjects underwent randomization, 4495 of whom could be evaluated for the primary efficacy outcome--2211 in the apixaban group and 2284 in the enoxaparin group. Among the patients who could be evaluated, 2.71% in the apixaban group (60 patients) and 3.06% in the enoxaparin group (70 patients) met the criteria for the primary efficacy outcome (relative risk with apixaban, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62 to 1.23; P=0.44). By day 30, major bleeding had occurred in 0.47% of the patients in the apixaban group (15 of 3184 patients) and in 0.19% of the patients in the enoxaparin group (6 of 3217 patients) (relative risk, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.02 to 7.24; P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In medically ill patients, an extended course of thromboprophylaxis with apixaban was not superior to a shorter course with enoxaparin. Apixaban was associated with significantly more major bleeding events than was enoxaparin. (Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00457002.)