Assessing costs and benefits of measures to achieve good environmental status in European regional seas: challenges, opportunities, and lessons learnt

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires Member States to assess the costs and benefits of Programmes of Measures (PoMs) put in place to ensure that European marine waters achieve Good Environmental Status by 2020. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to carry out such an assessment whereby economic analysis is used to evaluate the outputs from ecological analysis that determines the expected effects of such management measures. This paper applies and tests an existing six-step approach to assess costs and benefits of management measures with potential to support the overall goal of the MSFD and discusses a range of ecological and economic analytical tools applicable to this task. Environmental cost-benefit analyses are considered for selected PoMs in three European case studies: Baltic Sea (Finland), East Coast Marine Plan area (UK), and the Bay of Biscay (Spain). These contrasting case studies are used to investigate the application of environmental cost-benefit analysis (CBA) including the challenges, opportunities and lessons learnt from using this approach. This paper demonstrates that there are opportunities in applying the six-step environmental CBA framework presented to assess the impact of PoMs. However, given demonstrated limitations of knowledge and data availability, application of other economic techniques should also be considered (although not applied here) to complement the more formal environmental CBA approach

The neuromuscular, biochemical, and endocrine responses to a single-session vs. double-session training day in elite athletes

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the acute neuromuscular, biochemical, and endocrine responses of a training day consisting of a speed session only to performing a speed and weight training session on the same day. Methods: Fifteen male academy level rugby players completed two protocols in a randomized order. The speed only protocol involved performing 6 maximal effort repetitions of 50m running sprints with 5 minutes recovery between each sprint, while the speed and weights protocol involved the same sprinting session but was followed 2h post by a lower body weights session consisting of 4 sets of 5 back squat and Romanian deadlift at 85% 1RM. Testosterone, cortisol, creatine kinase, lactate, and perceived muscle soreness were determined immediately before, immediately after, 2h post, and 24h post both protocols. Peak power, relative peak power, jump height, and average rate of force development were determined from a counter movement jump (CMJ) at the same time points. Results: At 24h post, muscle soreness was significantly higher following the speed and weights protocol compared to speed only protocol (effect size eta2= .253, F=4.750, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between any of the CMJ variables at any of the post training time points. Likewise creatine kinase, testosterone, and cortisol were unaffected by the addition of a weight training session. Conclusion: These data indicate that the addition of a weight training session 2h post a speed session, while increasing the perception of fatigue the following day, does not result in a difference in endocrine response or in neuromuscular capability

Resistance Training Acutely Impairs Agility and Spike-Specific Performance Measures in Collegiate Female Volleyball Players Returning from the Off-Season

[EN]This study examined the acute effects of resistance training (RT) on volleyball-specific performance. Sixteen female volleyball players undertook their initial, pre-season RT bout. Countermovement jump (CMJ), delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), and sport-specific performances (i.e., run-up jump, agility, and spiking speed and accuracy) were measured before, 24 (T24), and 48 (T48) hours after RT. A significant increase in DOMS was observed at T24 and T48 (~207.6% ± 119.3%; p < 0.05; ES = 1.8 (95% CI: 0.94–2.57)), whilst agility was significantly impaired at T48 (1.7% ± 2.5%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.30 (95% CI: −0.99–0.40)). However, there were no differences in CMJ (~−2.21% ± 7.6%; p > 0.05; ES = −0.11 (95% CI: −0.80–0.58)) and run-up jump (~−1.4% ± 4.7%; p > 0.05; ES = −0.07 (95% CI: −0.76–0.63)). Spiking speed was significantly reduced (−3.5% ± 4.4%; p < 0.05; ES = −0.28 (95% CI: −0.43–0.97)), although accuracy was improved (38.3% ± 81.4%: p < 0.05) at T48. Thus, the initial, preseason RT bout compromised agility and spiking speed for several days post-exercise. Conversely, spiking accuracy improved, suggesting a speed–accuracy trade-off. Nonetheless, at least a 48-h recovery may be necessary after the initial RT bout for athletes returning from the off-season or injury

Sprint mechanics evaluation using inertial sensor-based technology: a laboratory validation study

Advances in micro‐electromechanical systems have turned magnetic inertial measurement units (MIMUs) into a suitable tool for vertical jumping biomechanical evaluation. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether appropriate reliability and agreement reports could also be obtained when analyzing 20‐m sprint mechanics. Four bouts of 20‐m sprints were evaluated to determine whether the data provided by a MIMU placed at the lumbar spine could reliably assess sprint mechanics and to examine the validity of the MIMU sensor compared to force plate recordings. Maximal power (P0), force (F0), and velocity (V0), as well as other mechanical determinants of sprint performance associated with the force‐velocity, power‐velocity, and ratio of forces‐velocity, such as applied horizontal force loss (Sfv) and decrease in ratio of forces (Drf), were calculated and compared between instrumentations. Extremely large‐to‐very large correlation levels between MIMU sensor‐based sprint mechanics variables and force plate recordings were obtained (mean±SD, force plate vs MIMU; V0, 8.61±0.85 vs 8.42±0.69; F0, 383±110 vs 391±103; P0, 873±246 vs 799±241; Sfv, −44.6±12.7 vs −46.2±10.7), ranging from 0.88 to 0.94, except for Drf, which showed weak‐to‐moderate correlation level (r=.45; −6.32±1.08 vs −5.76±0.68). Step‐averaged force values measured with both systems were highly correlated (r=.88), with a regression slope close to the identity (1.01). Bland and Altman graphical representation showed a no random distribution of measured force values. Finally, very large‐to‐extremely large retest correlation coefficients were found for the intertrial reliability of MIMU measurements of sprint performance variables (r value ranging from .72 to .96). Therefore, MIMUs showed appropriate validity and reliability values for 20‐m sprint performance variables

Ophiostoma spp. associated with pine- and spruce-infesting bark beetles in Finland and Russia

The timber and pulp industries of Finland rely heavily on importations from Russia as source of raw timber. These imports raise the risk of accidentally importing forest pests and pathogens, especially bark beetles and their associated fungi, into Finland. Although ophiostomatoid fungi have previously been reported from Finland and Russia, the risks of accidentally moving these fungi has prompted a first survey to compare the diversity of conifer-infesting bark beetles and associated fungi from boreal forests on both sides of the Finnish-Russian border. The aim of the present study was to identify and characterise Ophiostoma species isolated in association with 11 bark beetle species infesting Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies during this survey in the eastern parts of Finland and neighbouring Russia. Fungal isolates were grouped based on morphology and representatives of each morphological group were subjected to DNA sequence comparisons of the internal transcribed spaced region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and β-tubulin gene region. A total of 15 species of Ophiostoma were identified, including seven known species, five new species, and three species for which the identity remains uncertain. In the O. piceae-complex we identified O. canum, O. floccosum, O. karelicum and O. rachisporum sp. nov., and related to these, some isolates belonging to the European clade of O. minus in the O. minus-complex. Ophiostoma bicolor and O. fuscum sp. nov. were identified in the O. ips-complex, while O. ainoae, O. brunneo-ciliatum, O. tapionis sp. nov. and O. pallidulum sp. nov. were shown to group close to, but not in a strict monophyletic lineage with species of the O. ips-complex. Together with a single O. abietinum-like isolate, the only species that grouped close to the Sporothrix schenckii- O. stenoceras complex, was O. saponiodorum sp. nov

SISTEM PEMBAGIAN HASIL PADA USAHA PENGGEMUKAN SAPI DI KABUPATEN KUPANG (STUDI KASUS DESA RETRAEN KECAMATAN AMARASI)

Usaha penggemukan sapi merupakan usaha peternakan yang sangat dominan di Kupang namun terkendala pakan ternak. Potensi pakan yang cukup banyak dianggap sebagai indikator keberhasilan usaha. Tujuan: mengetahui struktur biaya penggemukan ternak sapi dan proporsi keuntungan antara peternak dan pemodal. Penelitian dilasanakan tiga bulan, Mei sampai Juli 2012 di desa Retraen, Kupang.. Desa ini dipilih karena merupakan sentra sapi di kabupaten Kupang. Penentuan responden dilakukan secara sengaja dengan wawancara 15 orang peternak. Jenis data: data primer dan sekunder. Analisis yang digunakan adalah deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa  komposisi struktur biaya penggemukan ternak sapi tertinggi adalah biaya bakalan dikuti tenaga kerja dalam keluarga dengan  proporsi keuntungan tertinggi pada penggemukan berjangka waktu tiga tahun dengan besarnya komposisi antara peternak dan pemodal sebesar Rp 667.330,3 (peternak) dan Rp 2.669.323 per ekor.  

Dietary Intake, Serum Hormone Concentrations, Amenorrhea and Bone Mineral Density of Physique Athletes and Active Gym Enthusiasts

As the diet, hormones, amenorrhea, and bone mineral density (BMD) of physique athletes (PA) and gym enthusiasts (GE) are little-explored, we studied those in 69 females (50 PA, 19 GE) and 20 males (11 PA, 9 GE). Energy availability (EA, kcal·kgFFM−1·d−1 in DXA) in female and male PA was ~41.3 and ~37.2, and in GE ~39.4 and ~35.3, respectively. Low EA (LEA) was found in 10% and 26% of female PA and GE, respectively, and in 11% of male GE. In PA, daily protein intake (g/kg body mass) was ~2.9–3.0, whereas carbohydrate and fat intakes were ~3.6–4.3 and ~0.8–1.0, respectively. PA had higher protein and carbohydrate and lower fat intakes than GE (p < 0.05). Estradiol, testosterone, IGF-1, insulin, leptin, TSH, T4, T3, cortisol, or BMD did not differ between PA and GE. Serum IGF-1 and leptin were explained 6% and 7%, respectively, by EA. In non-users of hormonal contraceptives, amenorrhea was found only in PA (27%) and was associated with lower fat percentage, but not EA, BMD, or hormones. In conclusion, off-season dietary intakes, hormone levels, and BMD meet the recommendations in most of the PA and GE. Maintaining too-low body fat during the off-season may predispose to menstrual disturbances

Dietary Intake, Serum Hormone Concentrations, Amenorrhea and Bone Mineral Density of Physique Athletes and Active Gym Enthusiasts

As the diet, hormones, amenorrhea, and bone mineral density (BMD) of physique athletes (PA) and gym enthusiasts (GE) are little-explored, we studied those in 69 females (50 PA, 19 GE) and 20 males (11 PA, 9 GE). Energy availability (EA, kcal·kgFFM−1·d−1 in DXA) in female and male PA was ~41.3 and ~37.2, and in GE ~39.4 and ~35.3, respectively. Low EA (LEA) was found in 10% and 26% of female PA and GE, respectively, and in 11% of male GE. In PA, daily protein intake (g/kg body mass) was ~2.9–3.0, whereas carbohydrate and fat intakes were ~3.6–4.3 and ~0.8–1.0, respectively. PA had higher protein and carbohydrate and lower fat intakes than GE (p < 0.05). Estradiol, testosterone, IGF-1, insulin, leptin, TSH, T4, T3, cortisol, or BMD did not differ between PA and GE. Serum IGF-1 and leptin were explained 6% and 7%, respectively, by EA. In non-users of hormonal contraceptives, amenorrhea was found only in PA (27%) and was associated with lower fat percentage, but not EA, BMD, or hormones. In conclusion, off-season dietary intakes, hormone levels, and BMD meet the recommendations in most of the PA and GE. Maintaining too-low body fat during the off-season may predispose to menstrual disturbances

Is the water footprint an appropriate tool for forestry and forest products: The Fennoscandian case

The water footprint by the Water Footprint Network (WF) is an ambitious tool for measuring human appropriation and promoting sustainable use of fresh water. Using recent case studies and examples from water-abundant Fennoscandia, we consider whether it is an appropriate tool for evaluating the water use of forestry and forest-based products. We show that aggregating catchment level water consumption over a product life cycle does not consider fresh water as a renewable resource and is inconsistent with the principles of the hydrologic cycle. Currently, the WF assumes that all evapotranspiration (ET) from forests is a human appropriation of water although ET from managed forests in Fennoscandia is indistinguishable from that of unmanaged forests. We suggest that ET should not be included in the water footprint of rain-fed forestry and forest-based products. Tools for sustainable water management should always contextualize water use and water impacts with local water availability and environmental sensitivity

Epidemiological, clinical and molecular characterization of Lynch-like syndrome : A population-based study

Colorectal carcinomas that are mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient in the absence of MLH1 promoter methylation or germline mutations represent Lynch-like syndrome (LLS). Double somatic events inactivating MMR genes are involved in the etiology of LLS tumors. Our purpose was to define the clinical and broader molecular hallmarks of LLS tumors and the population incidence of LLS, which remain poorly characterized. We investigated 762 consecutive colorectal carcinomas operated in Central Finland in 2000-2010. LLS cases were identified by a stepwise protocol based on MMR protein expression, MLH1 methylation and MMR gene mutation status. LLS tumors were profiled for CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP) and somatic mutations in 578 cancer-relevant genes. Among 107 MMR-deficient tumors, 81 (76%) were attributable to MLH1 promoter methylation and 9 (8%) to germline mutations (Lynch syndrome, LS), leaving 14 LLS cases (13%) (3 remained unclassified). LLS carcinomas were diagnosed at a mean age of 65 years (vs. 44 years in LS, p <0.001), had a proximal to distal ratio of 1:1, and all were BRAF V600E-negative. Two somatic events in MMR genes were identifiable in 11 tumors (79%). As novel findings, the tumors contained an average of 31 nonsynonymous somatic mutations/Mb and 13/14 were CIMP-positive. In conclusion, we establish the epidemiological, clinical and molecular characteristics of LLS in a population-based study design. Significantly more frequent CIMP-positivity and lower rates of somatic mutations make a distinction to LS. The absence of BRAF V600E mutation separates LLS colorectal carcinomas from MLH1-methylated colorectal carcinomas with CIMP-positive phenotype.Peer reviewe