Invasive genotypes are opportunistic specialists not general purpose genotypes

It is not clear which forms of plasticity in fitness-related traits are associated with invasive species. On one hand, it may be better to have a robust performance across environments. On the other, it may be beneficial to take advantage of limited favorable conditions. We chose to study a worldwide invasive species, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, and compare the plasticity of life-history traits of a sample of invasive genotypes to a sample of ancestral-range genotypes. We examined the responses to salinity in this freshwater snail because it varies spatially and temporally in the introduced range and contributes to variation in fitness in our system. We used a recently developed statistical method that quantifies aspects of differences in the shape among reaction norms. We found that the invasive lineages survived and reproduced with an increased probability at the higher salinities, and were superior to ancestral-range lineages in only two traits related to reproduction. Moreover, we found that in terms of traits related to growth, the invasive lineages have a performance optimum that is shifted to higher salinities than the ancestral-range lineages as well as having a narrower niche breadth. Contrary to the prediction of the general purpose genotype hypothesis, we found that invasive lineages tended to be opportunistic specialists

Исследование минерализующего действия фосфогипса при обжиге цементного клинкера

Phosphogypsum accumulated in the dumps of JSC «Gomel Chemical Plant» in amount as much as 20 million tons could be one of the promising raw materials for cement production. The use of phosphogypsum in the cement industry as a mineral-izer for clinker burning process has been studied. It has been shown that the introduction of phosphogypsum in the feed mixture has a positive effect on the binding of calcium oxide during burning. The phase composition of clinkers and main properties of portland cement produced with the use of phosphogypsum, have been investigated.Одним из перспективных сырьевых компонентов в производстве цемента может быть фосфогипс, накопившийся в отвалах ОАО «Гомельский химический завод» в количестве свыше 20 млн т. Приведены результаты исследований по использованию фосфогипса в цементной промышленности в качестве минерализатора процесса обжига клинкеров. Показано, что введение фосфогипса в сырьевую смесь оказывает положительное влияние на связывание оксида кальция при обжиге. Изучен фазовый состав клинкеров и основные свойства портландцементов, полученных с использованием фосфогипса

Leeches as Sensor-bioindicators of River Contamination by PCBs

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of leeches of the genus Erpobdella as a means of assessing polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of watercourses. The River Skalice, heavily contaminated with PCBs, was selected as a model. The source of contamination was a road gravel processing factory in Rožmitál pod Třemšínem from which an estimated 1 metric ton of PCBs leaked in 1986. Levels of PCB were measured in leeches collected between 1992 to 2003 from 11 sites covering about 50 km of the river (the first sampling site upstream to the source of contamination and 10 sites downstream). The PCB indicator congeners IUPA no. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180 were measured. Levels were highest at the four sampling sites nearest the source of pollution. The highest values of PCB congeners were found in 1992. PCB content decreased from 1992 to 2003 and with distance from the source. The study indicated that leeches of the genus Erpobdella are a suitable bioindicator of contamination in the surface layer of river sediments

Educational Inequalities in Hospital Use Among Older Adults in England, 2004-2015.

Policy Points US policymakers considering proposals to expand public health care (such as "Medicare for all") as a means of reducing inequalities in health care access and use could learn from the experiences of nations where well-funded universal health care systems are already in place. In England, which has a publicly funded universal health care system, the use of core inpatient services by adults 65 years and older is equal across groups defined by education level, after controlling for health status. However, variation among these groups in the use of outpatient and emergency department care developed between 2010 and 2015, a period of relative financial austerity. Based on England's experience, introducing universal health care in the United States seems likely to reduce, but not entirely eliminate, inequalities in health care use across different population groups. CONTEXT: Expanding access to health care is once again high on the US political agenda, as is concern about those who are being "left behind." But is universal health care that is largely free at the point of use sufficient to eliminate inequalities in health care use? To explore this question, we studied variation in the use of hospital care among education-level-defined groups of older adults in England, before and after controlling for differences in health status. In England, the National Health Service (NHS) provides health care free to all, but the growth rate for NHS funding has slowed markedly since 2010 during a widespread austerity program, potentially increasing inequalities in access and use. METHODS: Novel linkage of data from six waves (2004-2015) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) with participants' hospital records (Hospital Episode Statistics [HES]) produced longitudinal data for 7,713 older adults (65 years and older) and 25,864 observations. We divided the sample into three groups by education level: low (no formal qualifications), mid (completed compulsory education), and high (at least some higher education). Four outcomes were examined: annual outpatient appointments, elective inpatient admissions, emergency inpatient admissions, and emergency department (ED) visits. We estimated regressions for the periods 2004-2005 to 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 to 2014-2015 to examine whether potential education-related inequalities in hospital use increased after the growth rate for NHS funding slowed in 2010. FINDINGS: For the study period, our sample of ELSA respondents in the low-education group made 2.44 annual outpatient visits. In comparison, after controlling for health status, we found that participants in the high-education group made an additional 0.29 outpatient visits annually (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.47). Additional outpatient health care use in the high-education group was driven by follow-up and routine appointments. This inequality widened after 2010. Between 2010 and 2015, individuals in the high-education group made 0.48 (95% CI, 0.21-0.74) more annual outpatient visits than those in the low-education (16.9% [7.5% to 26.2%] of annual average 2.82 visits). In contrast, after 2010, the high-education group made 0.04 (95% CI, -0.075 to 0.001) fewer annual ED visits than the low-education group, which had a mean of 0.30 annual ED visits. No significant differences by education level were found for elective or emergency inpatient admissions in either period. CONCLUSIONS: After controlling for demographics and health status, there was no evidence of inequality in elective and emergency inpatient admissions among the education groups in our sample. However, a period of financial budget tightening for the NHS after 2010 was associated with the emergence of education gradients in other forms of hospital care, with respondents in the high-education group using more outpatient care and less ED care than peers in the low-education group. These estimates point to rising inequalities in the use of hospital care that, if not reversed, could exacerbate existing health inequalities in England. Although the US and UK settings differ in many ways, our results also suggest that a universal health care system would likely reduce inequality in US health care use

Organoklorirani pesticidi u slatkovodnim ribama zagrebačkog područja

The aim of this study was to determine the level of organochlorine pesticides in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area, Croatia. The study included 215 freshwater fish samples from three sites: the Sava River, Lake Jarun, and five fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings. Organochlorine pesticides DDT and derivates, HCH, HCB, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor with epoxide, and methoxychlor were determined using the GC-ECD method. The determined amounts of organochlorine pesticides were within allowed concentration limits in all analysed fish samples. Median values ranged from below the detection limit of 0.01 µg kg-1 for dieldrin and metoxychlor to 2.00 µg kg-1 for DDT in the Cyprinidae fish family from the Sava River, Zagreb sampling site (group 1). This study has confirmed pesticide persistence in the overall ecosystem in our country despite the ban of some thirty years ago, like in many other parts of the world.Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi količinu organokloriranih pesticida u slatkovodnim ribama zagrebačkog područja. Obrađeno je ukupno 215 uzoraka slatkovodne ribe sa sljedećih triju lokacija: rijeka Sava, jezero Jarun i pet tzv. ekoloških jezera u okolici Zagreba. Organoklorirani pesticidi DDT i derivati, HCH izomeri (α-HCH, β-HCH and δ-HCH), HCB, lindan (γ-HCH), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptaklor, heptaklorepoksid i metoksiklor) određivali su se metodom plinske kromatografije uz elektronapsorpcijski način detekcije i uz postignutu granicu detekcije od 0,01 µg kg-1. Vrijednosti ispitivanih organokloriranih pesticida u svim su uzorcima riba bile mnogo niže od maksimalno dopuštenih koncentracija. Vrijednosti medijana kretale su se od najnižih 0,01 µg kg-1 za dieldrin i metoksiklor do najviših 2,00 µg kg-1 za DDT u uzorcima riba porodice Cyprinidae s lokacije Sava - Zagreb. Utvrđeni ostaci preostalih ispitivanih pesticida potvrđuju kako njihovu uporabu na našim područjima tako i njihovu postojanost i prisutnost u cjelokupnom ekosustavu unatoč činjenici da je većina zabranjena u Hrvatskoj prije gotovo 30 godina, kao i u mnogim dijelovima svijeta

Analysis of pore-forming toxins in dry environment after membrane insertion

Cholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are a family of pore-forming toxins that are produced by bacteria and form large pores in cholesterol-containing membranes. CDCs are produced as soluble monomeric proteins that oligomerize and form a membrane-inserted pore complex upon encountering target membrane. Monomers undergo extraordinary structural changes during membrane insertion. The aim of this work was to prepare dry samples with pores formed by vaginolysin (VLY) and pneumolysin (PLY), members of CDC family, and to analyze these pores using atomic force microscopy. It was shown that most pores are disintegrated after removing lipid bilayer and surface drying. However, some pores remain intact. Sample preparation method described in this work could be used for tertiary structure determination of pores formed by CDCs. In addition, mechanical properties of VLY and PLY were studied. The estimated Young‘s modulus for vaginolysin and pneumolysin are 1,1±0,4 GPa and 0,7±0,3 GPa, respectively

New York City\u27s East River Ferry Expanding Passenger Ferry Service and Stimulating Economic Development in the New York City Region

All along New York City\u27s premier waterfront, changes in zoning and land use have been implemented to spur economic growth in the region and revitalize areas that have seen years of decline. As regional growth continues, it is logical to look at waterways to accommodate these new developments and move New Yorkers efficiently and sustainably. However, to enhance the economic viability of ferry systems and warrant public and private investment, these systems must be incorporated into the overall economic planning efforts for the region. This paper focuses on the New York City Economic Development Corporation\u27s East River Ferry pilot as a case study to show the importance of integrating transit planning into the economic development process. The New York City Economic Development Corporation\u27s strategic approach was informed by several key sources: the Comprehensive Citywide Ferry Study, lessons learned from evaluating prior services, and focus groups with residents from Brooklyn and Queens. This informed approach helped lead to a successful start to the pilot service. The collaborative process of engaging various stakeholders, initial grassroots marketing efforts, and continued outreach using traditional and social media are also essential to improving the quality of service and influencing the way people commute to work. The success of the East River Ferry service not only serves as a best practice for other geographic areas, but also lays the groundwork for additional subsidized pilot programs and services in New York City, so that a robust passenger ferry system can once again prosper in the region

The wider impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the NHS*

The coronavirus pandemic has had huge impacts on the National Health Service (NHS). Patients suffering from the illness have placed unprecedented demands on acute care, particularly on intensive care units (ICUs). This has led to an effort to dramatically increase the resources available to NHS hospitals in treating these patients, involving reorganisation of hospital facilities, redeployment of existing staff and a drive to bring in recently retired and newly graduated staff to fight the pandemic. These increases in demand and changes to supply have had large knock‐on effects on the care provided to the wider population. This paper discusses likely implications for healthcare delivery in the short and medium term of the responses to the coronavirus pandemic, focusing primarily on the implications for non‐coronavirus patients. Patterns of past care suggest those most likely to be affected by these disruptions will be older individuals and those living in more deprived areas, potentially exacerbating pre‐existing health inequalities. Effects are likely to persist into the longer run, with particular challenges around recruitment and ongoing staff shortages