Spatial variation of reef fishes and the relative influence of biotic and abiotic habitat traits

Patterns of distribution of reef fishes were examined across three spatial scales and related to habitat traits along 25 km of the northern Portuguese coast. Response variables included the multivariate assemblage structure, the total number of taxa and individuals, and the abundance of single groups categorized according to their preference for the benthic, proximo-benthic or pelagic environment, feeding and reproductive behaviour. Habitat traits included topographic elements (small and large ‘drops’ like cracks and crevices) and the extent of dominant morpho-functional types of macroalgae (kelp, large foliose, small erect, turf-forming filamentous, and encrusting). All fish responses were characterized by the largest variance at the smallest scale (among transects tens m apart), followed by that among reefs (hundreds m to 1 km apart) and almost null variance among sites (some km apart). Small and large ‘drops’ of the substratum explained, respectively, considerable variation of assemblage structure and the total abundance of individuals, while the extent of bare rock influenced the richness of taxa and that of benthic fishes, fishes feeding on sessile invertebrates and fishes laying benthic eggs or having nesting behaviour. Combinations of abiotic and biotic structural attributes of reefs influenced proximo-benthic fishes, the predators of mobile animals and fishes releasing pelagic eggs. The here reported associations between patterns of distribution of reef fishes and habitat traits have implications for the design of future protection schemes suitable to guarantee the conservation of reef fish communities and of the processes responsible for their variation. Within the SLOSS (single-large vs. several-small) debate in the design of marine reserves, for example, effective protection to the studied reef fishes would be provided by a set of small reserves, rather than a single large which might be appropriate for fishes having wider home ranges

Metabolic-related virulence traits in Streptococcus pneumoniae do not seem to be related with genomic differences

The gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae thrives in almost any environment. Under certain conditions this pathogen can cause several infections such as meningitis, otitis media, endocarditis or pneumonia. The virulence of a strain can be classified into 3 different levels: invasive, colonization and neutral. The goal of this work was to uncover an eventual metabolic basis for these different levels of virulence. For that purpose, we tested if there was a connection between the presence of specific metabolic genes and virulence. For this, a dataset of DNA microarray data showing gene presence and absence and containing 1074 probes was used to analyze the DNA of 72 streptococcus strains, with different levels of virulence. The software Merlin was used to identify the metabolic pathways for each gene from the microarray data. For manipulation and reorganization of the microarray data the software Mev was used. A Mann-Whitney test followed by a frame shift analysis were performed to analyse significant differences for each gene in each group of strains. The results show that around 50 genes were statistically different (predominantly present in invasive strains) between strain types. From these, only 10 were metabolic genes, which included functions such as an argininosuccinate synthase, an amino acid ABC transporter and a metabolic transposase. According to the literature, 3 specific metabolic pathways are connected to virulence: purine metabolism, peptidoglycan biosynthesis and D-glutamine and D-Glutamate metabolism. In general there was not a large deviation in any of the pathways according to the virulence of the strains, hinting that the presence or absence of these specific pathways in the genome might not have a direct connection to virulence. It is thus likely that metabolic differences associated with virulence are not associated with genomic differences but rather with difference patterns in gene expression

Spatial variation of reef fishes and the relative influence of biotic and abiotic habitat traits

Abstract Patterns of distribution of reef fishes were examined across three spatial scales and related to habitat traits along 25 km of the northern Portuguese coast. Response variables included the multivariate assemblage structure, the total number of taxa and individuals, and the abundance of single groups categorized according to their preference for the benthic, proximo-benthic or pelagic environment, feeding and reproductive behaviour. Habitat traits included topographic elements (small and large 'drops' like cracks and crevices) and the extent of dominant morpho-functional types of macroalgae (kelp, large foliose, small erect, turf-forming filamentous, and encrusting). All fish responses were characterized by the largest variance at the smallest scale (among transects tens m apart), followed by that among reefs (hundreds m to 1 km apart) and almost null variance among sites (some km apart). Small and large 'drops' of the substratum explained, respectively, considerable variation of assemblage structure and the total abundance of individuals, while the extent of bare rock influenced the richness of taxa and that of benthic fishes, fishes feeding on sessile invertebrates and fishes laying benthic eggs or having nesting behaviour. Combinations of abiotic and biotic structural attributes of reefs influenced proximo-benthic fishes, the predators of mobile animals and fishes releasing pelagic eggs. The here reported associations between patterns of distribution of reef fishes and habitat traits have implications for the design of future protection schemes suitable to guarantee the conservation of reef fish communities and of the processes responsible for their variation. Within the SLOSS (single-large vs. several-small) debate in the design of marine reserves, for example, effective protection to the studied reef fishes would be provided by a set of small reserves, rather than a single large which might be appropriate for fishes having wider home ranges

Potential effects of kelp species on local fisheries

1. Kelp species are ecosystem engineers in temperate coasts, where they provide valuable services to humans. Evidence of the declines of kelp forests exists from several regions, but their effects on fisheries still need to be elucidated. More effective management strategies for sustainable fisheries require a synthesis of research findings and an assessment of how research could be improved to fill current gaps. 2. This review aimed to: (i) summarize the available evidence on the influence of changes in kelp density and/or area on the abundance and diversity of associated fisheries and (ii) examine how research on kelp–fisheries interactions could better support effective management. 3. Most studies (67%) reported data ascribable, directly or indirectly, to a positive relationship between kelp and fishery-relevant variables, 11% provided evidence of a negative relationship, 15% indicated species-specific findings and the remaining found unclear or ‘neutral’ relationships. 4. Important shortcomings were identified, including the paucity of experimental studies suitable to test for unequivocal cause–effect relationships, the disproportion between North America, which is well-studied, and other regions and between the large number of fish-based investigations and the small number of those focusing on other commercially important organisms, and the general lack of studies carried out over spatial and temporal scales comparable to those of global processes driving patterns of distribution of both kelps and fisheries. 5. Synthesis and applications. The consistency of most studies in showing a positive kelp–fishery relationship supports the protection of kelp habitats stated by current environmental directives. However, achieving their goals requires that the limitations we detect are addressed through better connections between research, management practice and policy. This would require the following: (i) researchers to combine multiple approaches (large-scale experimental studies and modelling) for the analysis of kelp–fisheries relationships; (ii) funding agencies to provide resources needed to fill the existing gaps; and (iii) researchers and institutions from less studied regions to strengthen collaborations with those from regions where there have been more investigations into kelp–fishery systems. This is essential under present and predicted environmental changes, with the ultimate aim of conserving and allowing the sustainable use of critically important habitats and of fishery resources relying on these

New Insights about Pulmonary Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma: Review of the Literature and Two Case Reports

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare neoplasm of vascular origin. There are three different major imaging patterns identified in thoracic manifestation of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: (1) multiple pulmonary nodules; (2) multiple pulmonary reticulonodular opacities; and (3) diffuse infiltrative pleural thickening. Radiographically, presence of bilateral multiple nodules is the most common pattern of presentation. The diagnosis is made on the basis of histopathological findings and confirmed by positive immunohistochemistry staining. Although the prognostic factors for PEH have not yet been well established, a better prognosis is usually associated with the multinodular pattern. We report two different imagological presentations of this rare disease, based on two institutional experiences, along with a review of the relevant literature.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ecosystem Service Mapping: A Management-Oriented Approach to Support Environmental Planning Process

Effective integration of ecosystem services (ESs) into spatial planning and decision-making processes has been advocated as an opportunity to improve current practices and to promote sustainable development. However, the actual uptake of ecosystem services is still challenging, in part due to the complexity of ES studies, data scarcity, and ES compartmentalization, and so on. This chapter presents a case of mapping and characterizing coastal ecosystem services in a way that deals with these issues in order to facilitate its integration in the decision-making and planning process. It gives an insight into which ESs are currently provided in Ria de Aveiro coastal region (Portugal), how are they distributed in space, and identifies multifunctional areas. We argue that the use of existing and available data, as well as tools and approaches that are similar to those used in spatial planning, notwithstanding its limitations, has the potential for bridging science and decision-making spheres. ES-related information could be thus gradually incorporated in the design of local strategies towards sustainable and transparent planning and management processes

Changes to TB care in an outpatient centre during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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The impact of self-stigma in people with diagnosis of severe mental illness: a cross-sectional pilot study from a community psychiatry unit in Porto, Portugal

"Introduction Self-stigma refers to the process in which a person internalizes negative stereotypes, beliefs, and prejudices about their mental illness, adopting a stigmatized view of themselves. Severe mental illness is one of the most socially exclusive stigmata and is associated with poor clinical and functional outcomes and social withdrawal. Objectives In Portugal, investigation regarding self-stigma is scarce. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of self-stigma among people with diagnosis of severe mental illness (SMI). For this goal we assess the prevalence of self-stigma of psychiatric patients with diagnosis SMI; and investigate the correlates of elevated self-stigma levels. Methods Fifty-one outpatients with SMI, were recruited from a community psychiatry unit from Porto, Portugal. After informed consent, evaluations included sociodemographic data, illness characteristics, and self-reported standardized scales. Self-stigma (ISMI), self-esteem (RSES) and quality of life (WHO-QoL) were assessed. Data analyses were performed using the SPSS version 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). p-values<0.05 were considered significant. Results From the study sample, 66.7% were male, with mean age of 44.8±11.0 and 56.9% were single. 33.3% reported living with their parents while 31.4% were living with a partner/spouse. The majority of participants had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (60.8%). Concerning the level of education, 58.8% completed basic education, but most patients were retired due to illness (62.7%). In this study, moderate to high self-stigma levels was found in 31.4% participants. Proportion of elevated self-stigma was significantly higher in unemployed/retired patients vs. those who were active (39.0% vs. 0%; P=0.021). No significant correlations were found with age, level of education, age at diagnosis, duration of illness, and number of hospitalizations. In the correlations analysis, a negative correlation between self-stigma and self-esteem (rho=-0.745; P<0.001), as well as self-stigma and quality of life (rho=-0.585; P<0.001) was found. A positive relationship between self-esteem and quality of life (rho=0.551; P<0.001) was found. Conclusions This study investigates, for the first time, the prevalence of self-stigma among outpatients with SMI in a community psychiatric unit from Porto. Our findings suggest a high prevalence of elevated levels of self-stigma among these patients. A significant association with being unemployed/retired was also found. Our results support previous evidence that internalized stigma is strongly associated with diminished self-esteem and impaired quality of life, in particular those aspects related to physical and psychological complaints. Targeting internalized stigma and self-esteem among patient with SMI will likely improve their quality of life, besides improving their clinical and functional outcomes.

Early magnetic resonance imaging control after temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) lysis and lavage arthrocentesis with viscosupplementation are an effective treatment for acute disc displacement (DD) without reduction. Clinical success seems to be related to multiple factors despite the lack of understanding of its mechanisms. The authors present a case report of 17-year-old women with acute open mouth limitation (12 mm), right TMJ pain-8/10 visual analog scale, right deviation when opening her mouth. The clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis was acute DD without reduction of right TMJ. Right TMJ arthrocentesis was purposed to the patient with lysis, lavage, and viscosupplementation of the upper joint space. After 5 days, a new MRI was performed to confirm upper joint space distension and disc position. Clinical improvement was obtained 5 days and 1 month after arthrocentesis. Upper joint space increased 6 mm and the disc remained displaced. We report the first early TMJ MRI image postoperative, with measurable upper joint space.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antimicrobial activity and lipid profile of seaweed extracts from the North Portuguese coast

Seaweeds or marine macroalgae are a potential renewable resource in the marine environment and can represent a source of new natural compounds for human nutrition. This experimental work focused on the selection of a suitable extraction method, using Gracilaria vermiculophylla as a model, followed by the characterization of the antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Porphyra dioica and Chondrus crispus, both from wild and from an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system (IMTA), collected in the north of Portugal. Additionally, the fatty acid profile of the seaweed extracts was also investigated. Extraction tests included the definition of the physical state of the seaweed, temperature and type of solvents to be used during the process. Results revealed that test organisms (Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria as well as one yeast species) were more sensitive to extracts obtained with dried algae, processed continuously at higher temperatures. Results from antimicrobial activity of wild and IMTA seaweed extracts showed stronger antimicrobial activity in extracts of ethyl acetate when compared with those from methanol and diethyl ether; furthermore, among the type of microorganisms tested, there was tendency for inhibition of the Gram positive ones. In general, there appears to be a higher antimicrobial activity for the microorganisms under study in extracts obtained from aquaculture species, when compared with the wild ones. The fatty acid profile of ethyl acetate extracts revealed a predominance of saturated fatty acids (SFA), especially palmitic acid (16:0), followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). A higher content of fatty acids in aquaculture extracts of Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Porphyra dioica was also observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio