Habitat colonisation by amphipods : comparison between native and alien algae

Invasion of algal habitat by the alien alga Caulerpa racemosa results in changes to habitat structure, part of which may be due to accumulation of large amounts of detritus. In turn, such changes lead to alterations in the assemblage structure of associated invertebrates. The present study was aimed at testing the hypotheses that (i) invasion by C. racemosa will influence the assemblage structure of amphipods associated with vegetated habitats, since colonisation by the invertebrates will differ between native algal habitat and habitat invaded by the alien alga, and (ii) differences in colonisation are mainly due to accumulation of detritus by the alien alga. To test these hypotheses, field experiments on habitat colonisation were undertaken at two sites within each of two Mediterranean localities (Malta and Spain). Using mesh bags, 3 different habitats were introduced at each site: habitat with the native alga Halopteris scoparia, habitat with C. racemosa, and an artificial habitat resembling algal habitat. Additionally, empty mesh bags were deployed as controls. Mesh bags containing plant material were defaunated prior to deployment. For each of the three habitat types, three supplement treatments were used: (i) no detritus, (ii) low detritus, and (ii) high detritus. The bags were placed on a rocky substratum at a water depth of 4.5–5 m for a period of 14 days, after which they were collected and the amphipod assemblage was assessed. The results showed that, overall, amphipod species richness and abundance were higher in bags containing H. scoparia but some amphipods exhibited a broad capability to colonize new habitat such as C. racemosa. Accumulation of detritus by the alien alga may play an important role but small-scale physical or biological habitat features can affect its ecological role.peer-reviewe

Scientific collaboration for early detection of invaders results in a significant update on estimated range: lessons from Stenothoe georgiana Bynum & Fox 1977

Detection of new non-indigenous species is often delayed when taxonomically challenging taxa are involved, such as small-sized marine organisms. The present study highlights the relevance of scientific cooperation in the early detection of the invader amphipod Stenothoe georgiana. Originally described from North Carolina (USA), the species was recently found in Chile and the Western Mediterranean. Here, we provide the first record of the species in Macaronesia, Atlantic coasts of continental Europe, North Africa and Australia, and extend its known distribution along the Mediterranean coast. Just like other small crustaceans, shipping (including recreational boating) and aquaculture are probably the main vectors of introduction and secondary spread for this amphipod species. This case of S. georgiana sheds light on the importance of promoting taxonomical knowledge, and building multidisciplinary expertise networks that ensure an effective spread of alien species information. We also encourage the implementation of standardized monitoring methodologies to facilitate early detection of small mobile invaders

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions: The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results: After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707

Vision, challenges and opportunities for a Plant Cell Atlas

With growing populations and pressing environmental problems, future economies will be increasingly plant-based. Now is the time to reimagine plant science as a critical component of fundamental science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, energy, technology and healthcare. This effort requires a conceptual and technological framework to identify and map all cell types, and to comprehensively annotate the localization and organization of molecules at cellular and tissue levels. This framework, called the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA), will be critical for understanding and engineering plant development, physiology and environmental responses. A workshop was convened to discuss the purpose and utility of such an initiative, resulting in a roadmap that acknowledges the current knowledge gaps and technical challenges, and underscores how the PCA initiative can help to overcome them.</jats:p

Measurement of the Higgs boson production rate in association with top quarks in final states with electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying tau leptons at s√=13TeV

The rate for Higgs (H) bosons production in association with either one (tH) or two (tt¯H) top quarks is measured in final states containing multiple electrons, muons, or tau leptons decaying to hadrons and a neutrino, using proton–proton collisions recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV by the CMS experiment. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 137fb−1. The analysis is aimed at events that contain H→WW, H→ττ, or H→ZZ decays and each of the top quark(s) decays either to lepton+jets or all-jet channels. Sensitivity to signal is maximized by including ten signatures in the analysis, depending on the lepton multiplicity. The separation among tH, tt¯H, and the backgrounds is enhanced through machine-learning techniques and matrix-element methods. The measured production rates for the tt¯H and tH signals correspond to 0.92±0.19(stat)+0.17−0.13(syst) and 5.7±2.7(stat)±3.0(syst) of their respective standard model (SM) expectations. The corresponding observed (expected) significance amounts to 4.7 (5.2) standard deviations for tt¯H, and to 1.4 (0.3) for tH production. Assuming that the Higgs boson coupling to the tau lepton is equal in strength to its expectation in the SM, the coupling yt of the Higgs boson to the top quark divided by its SM expectation, κt=yt/ySMt, is constrained to be within −0.9<κt<−0.7 or 0.7<κt<1.1, at 95% confidence level. This result is the most sensitive measurement of the tt¯H production rate to date.SCOAP

Estudio de composición y porosidad de materiales originales y de restauración incluidos en una construcción histórica costera.

The materials used for the building constructions can suffer during their life numerous deterioration processes induced by different anthropogenic and natural factors. For this reason, optimal restoration works are vitally necessary for a correct Built Heritage preservation process. One of the most critical environment is the marine atmosphere (marine aerosol impact following dry and wet depositions) where the climatic conditions are very aggressive. For this reason, the new building materials that will be used for a restoration must be selected taking into account the possible deterioration sources that are present in the vicinity of the building or construction. Among marine aerosol, other factors such as biodeterioration, water infiltrations, physical stress, even pollutants than can be deposited from the surrounding environment must be taken into account. This work is focused on the analytical and physical study of the different building materials used for the restoration works carried out in 2014 in the Tower of La Galea Fortress (Getxo, Basque Country, Spain), a historical construction placed in front of the sea. The analyzed materials were the weathered sandstone (original sandstone) and the one used to replace it (restoration sandstone), as well as restoration joint and rendering mortars. The results presented in this work offered a global idea of the correct material selection, taking into account the different factors that can affect the integrity of the whole building in the future. In order to test the durability of these materials against the surrounding environment, different analyses were carried out. On the one hand, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Wavelength Dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) were used for chemical characterization of the materials. On the other hand, Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) was used to understand the porous system and the thermal behavior was studied using Infrared Thermography (IRT). Finally, the thermal fatigue test was carried out to determine if temperature cycles could have impact in the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance (i.e. color changes) of these materials during time.Los materiales utilizados para las construcciones de edificios pueden sufrir durante su vida numerosos procesos de deterioro inducidos por diferentes factores antropogénicos y naturales. Por esta razón, los trabajos de restauración óptimos son vitalmente necesarios para un correcto proceso de preservación del Patrimonio Construido. Uno de los entornos más críticos es la atmósfera marina (impacto de aerosol marino después de depósitos secos y húmedos) donde las condiciones climáticas son muy agresivas. Por este motivo, los nuevos materiales de construcción que se utilizarán para una restauración deben seleccionarse teniendo en cuenta las posibles fuentes de deterioro que están presentes en las inmediaciones del edificio o la construcción. Entre los aerosoles marinos, deben tenerse en cuenta otros factores, como el biodeterioro, las infiltraciones de agua, el estrés físico e incluso los contaminantes que pueden depositarse en el medio ambiente circundante. Este trabajo se centra en el estudio analítico y físico de los diferentes materiales de construcción utilizados para los trabajos de restauración realizados en 2014 en la Torre de la Fortaleza de La Galea (Getxo, País Vasco, España), una construcción histórica situada frente al mar. Los materiales analizados fueron la arenisca erosionada (arenisca original) y la que se usó para reemplazarla (arenisca de restauración), así como la restauración de juntas y morteros. Los resultados presentados en este trabajo ofrecieron una idea global de la selección correcta del material, teniendo en cuenta los diferentes factores que pueden afectar la integridad de todo el edificio en el futuro. Con el fin de probar la durabilidad de estos materiales contra el ambiente circundante, se llevaron a cabo diferentes análisis. Por un lado, la difracción de rayos X (XRD), la espectroscopia Raman y la fluorescencia de rayos X dispersiva de longitud de onda (WD-XRF) se utilizaron para la caracterización química de los materiales. Por otro lado, se usó porosimetría de intrusión de mercurio (MIP) para comprender el sistema poroso y se estudió el comportamiento térmico mediante termografía infrarroja (IRT). Finalmente, se llevó a cabo la prueba de fatiga térmica para determinar si los ciclos de temperatura podrían tener un impacto en la integridad estructural y el aspecto estético (es decir, los cambios de color) de estos materiales durante el tiempo

Importance of detritus for amphipod assemblage in shallow habitats : a manipulative experiment

Detritus plays an important role as a trophic resource for marine invertebrates, since it serves as a main trophic pathway of the marine ecosystem, and is one of the most important features of habitat structure in vegetated habitats. Studies have indicated that amphipods do not consume algal biomass directly, but feed on associated material such as detritus, rather than utilising the plant substratum as food.peer-reviewe

Evaluation of Nutritional Practices in the Critical Care patient (The ENPIC study) : Does nutrition really affect ICU mortality?

The importance of artificial nutritional therapy is underrecognized, typically being considered an adjunctive rather than a primary therapy. We aimed to evaluate the influence of nutritional therapy on mortality in critically ill patients. Methods: This multicenter prospective observational study included adult patients needing artificial nutritional therapy for >48 h if they stayed in one of 38 participating intensive care units for ≥72 h between April and July 2018. Demographic data, comorbidities, diagnoses, nutritional status and therapy (type and details for ≤14 days), and outcomes were registered in a database. Confounders such as disease severity, patient type (e.g., medical, surgical or trauma), and type and duration of nutritional therapy were also included in a multivariate analysis, and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were reported. We included 639 patients among whom 448 (70.1%) and 191 (29.9%) received enteral and parenteral nutrition, respectively. Mortality was 25.6%, with non-survivors having the following characteristics: older age; more comorbidities; higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (6.6 ± 3.3 vs 8.4 ± 3.7; P < 0.001); greater nutritional risk (Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill [NUTRIC] score: 3.8 ± 2.1 vs 5.2 ± 1.7; P < 0.001); more vasopressor requirements (70.4% vs 83.5%; P=0.001); and more renal replacement therapy (12.2% vs 23.2%; P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that older age (HR: 1.023; 95% CI: 1.008-1.038; P=0.003), higher SOFA score (HR: 1.096; 95% CI: 1.036-1.160; P=0.001), higher NUTRIC score (HR: 1.136; 95% CI: 1.025-1.259; P=0.015), requiring parenteral nutrition after starting enteral nutrition (HR: 2.368; 95% CI: 1.168-4.798; P=0.017), and a higher mean Kcal/Kg/day intake (HR: 1.057; 95% CI: 1.015-1.101; P=0.008) were associated with mortality. By contrast, a higher mean protein intake protected against mortality (HR: 0.507; 95% CI: 0.263-0.977; P=0.042). Old age, higher organ failure scores, and greater nutritional risk appear to be associated with higher mortality. Patients who need parenteral nutrition after starting enteral nutrition may represent a high-risk subgroup for mortality due to illness severity and problems receiving appropriate nutritional therapy. Mean calorie and protein delivery also appeared to influence outcomes. ClinicaTrials.gov NCT: 03634943

CoCoNet: Towards coast to coast networks of marine protected areas (From the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential

This volume contains the main results of the EC FP7 "The Ocean of Tomorrow" Project CoCoNet, divided in two sections: 1) a set of guidelines to design networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas; 2) a smart wind chart that will allow evaluating the possibility of installing Offshore Wind Farms in both seas. The concept of Cells of Ecosystem Functioning, based on connectivity, is introduced to define natural units of management and conservation. The definition of Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is fully embraced to set the objectives of the project, by adopting a holistic approach that integrates a full set of disciplines, ranging from physics to bio-ecology, economics, engineering and many sub-disciplines. The CoCoNet Consortium involved scientist sfrom 22 states, based in Africa, Asia, and Europe, contributing to build a coherent scientific community

Editorial. A supplement of Scires-it on the COCONET european project

The Supplement to vol. 6, 2016 of SCIRES-IT contains the result of CoCoNet (Towards COast to COast NETworks of marine protected areas, coupled with sea-based wind energy potential), a project of the EU Oceans of Tomorrow programme (http://www.coconet-fp7.eu). The European Union requires Open Access to the results of the projects resulting from its support to scientific advancement. This is in full accordance with the policy of SCIRES-IT, an eco-sustainable open–access journal, which joins the main principles of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access with the aims of the International Convention on Biological Diversity. CoCoNet tackled two problems that are closely linked with each other: the protection of the marine environment and clean energy production. Hence, the Supplement is divided into two parts that, together, form a unicum