Spatial and temporal variability of discards indicators and fishery factors affecting otter-trawl fishery in the spanish Mediterranean sea

A set of diversity indices were studied from data of observers on board two Mediterranean trawlers from 2001 to 2009. These diversity indices comprise relationships between total catch, landing and discard fractions to explore the accuracy of the estimates and to analyse the series trends using different methods, such as ARIMA. The hypothesis tested was that diversity indicators give a good representation of the changes produced in impacted bottom‐trawl areas, providing a reasonable fit of the data. ARIMA models are useful because they handle time-correlated modelling and forecasting. These techniques can also reveal changes in total catch as well changes in catch composition, probably induced by changes in effort fishery, seasonal (time) fluctuations, and environmental or climatic processes. Contrasted trends were also compared with survey data by MEDITS Mediterranean trawl survey time‐series indicator

Informe del seguimiento científico de la acción piloto RAI/AP-26/2007: Pesca experimental con arte de arrastre de fondo en el Golfo de León (Mediteráneo noroccidental)

RESUMEN.- Del 24 de Octubre al 18 de Diciembre de 2007, se han realizado 67 pescas experimentales de arrastre de fondo, a bordo de las embarcaciones B/P Berto y B/P Sort de Taranet, en caladeros del talud del Golfo de León, situados en aguas internacionales al este del Cabo Creus y alejados entre 70 y 100 millas de su puerto base (Port de la Selva). Ambos barcos trabajaron de manera continuada durante 46 horas semanales (su período de actividad habitual es de 5 días semanales y 12 ó 16 horas diarias), utilizando una red de arrastre tipo cuadrado-dragón, que habitualmente usan para sus operaciones de pesca comercial en el área. De manera simultánea, un barco utilizó el copo tradicional de malla rómbica de 40 mm, mientras que el otro utilizó un copo de malla cuadrada de 40 mm. Ello permitió comparar la selectividad de ambos copos por el método de pescas paralelas. Del total de pescas, 50 fueron consideradas válidas para el análisis de datos, en base a dos estratos batimétricos: (i) 300-450 m, dirigidas a cigala (B/P Berto: 14 pescas entre 357 y 434 m; B/P Sort de Taranet: 14 pescas entre 371 y 451 m); (ii) 450-700 m, dirigidas a gamba roja (B/P Berto: 11 pescas entre 478 y 692 m; B/P Sort de Taranet: 11 pescas entre 493 y 571 m). Se han estimado los rendimientos medios, estandarizados a hora de arrastre efectivo, su fracción comercial y descartada y la distribución de tallas de las principales especies de interés comercial y ecológico. Paralelamente, se ha recogido información de los desembarcos y consumo de combustible esta acción piloto y para el mismo período de 2006, en que estas embarcaciones realizaron su actividad pesquera rutinaria. El análisis de esta información se ha realizado mediante técnicas uni- y multi-variantes. Los elevados rendimientos, así como la distribución de tallas de la captura de las principales especies explotadas, indican que los fondos prospectados están poco explotados. En ambos estratos batimétricos, con la malla cuadrada se redujeron los descartes, sin una disminución significativa de los rendimientos comerciales. Del mismo modo, la estrategia de pesca aplicada durante la acción piloto redujo el esfuerzo efectivo de pesca, sin disminuir el rendimiento de la pesquería respecto del mismo período de 2006. Además, se redujo considerablemente el consumo de combustible, lo que repercutió positivamente en las tasas de combustible consumido por unidad de desembarcos. La estrategia de explotación aplicada en la acción piloto mejora la relación coste-eficiencia de la pesquería y presenta una serie de ventajas, tanto de mejora en el rendimiento pesquero y en la explotación de los recursos, como de carácter medioambiental y social. No obstante, aplicar esta estrategia a la explotación comercial conlleva riesgos para el mantenimiento de los stocks de especies explotadas y la conservación de hábitats de especial interés y ecosistemas marinos vulnerables, en un área con numerosos cañones submarinos, como el Golfo de León.RESUM.- INFORME DEL SEGUIMENT CIENTÍFIC DE L’ACCIÓ PILOT RAI/AP-26/2007: PESCA EXPERIMENTAL AMB ART DE RÒSSEC DE FONS EN EL GOLF DE LLEÓ (MEDITERRÀNIA NOR-OCCIDENTAL): Del 24 de Octubre al 18 de Desembre de 2007, s’han dut a terme 67 pesques experimentals de ròssec de fons, a bord de les embarcacions B/P Berto i B/P Sort de Taranet, en caladors del talús del Golf de Lleó, situats en aigües internacionals a l’est del Cap de Creus, allunyats entre 70 i 100 milles del seu port base (Port de la Selva). Ambdós vaixells van treballar de manera continuada durant 46 hores setmanals (el seu període d’activitat habitual és de 5 dies setmanals i 12 ó 16 hores diàries), utilitzant una xarxa de ròssec de tipus quadratdragó, que habitualment utilitzen per les operacions de pesca comercial a l’àrea. De manera simultània, un vaixell va emprar el cóp tradicional de malla ròmbica de 40 mm, mentre que l’altre va emprar un cóp de malla quadrada de 40 mm. Això va permetre comparar la selectivitat d’ambdós cóps, mitjançant el mètode de pesques paral·leles. Del total de pesques, 50 foren considerades vàlides per l’anàlisi de dades, en base a dos estrats batimètrics: (i) 300-450 m, dirigides a escamerlà (B/P Berto: 14 pesques entre 357 i 434 m; B/P Sort de Taranet: 14 pesques entre 371 i 451 m); (ii) 450-700 m, dirigides a gamba vermella (B/P Berto: 11 pesques entre 478 i 692 m; B/P Sort de Taranet: 11 pesques entre 493 i 571 m). S’han estimat els rendiments mitjans, estandarditzats a hora efectiva de ròssec, la seva fracció comercial i rebutjada i la distribució de talles de les principals espècies d’interès comercial i ecològic. Paral·lelament, s’ha recollit informació dels desembarcaments i consum de combustible durant l’acció pilot de 2007 i pel mateix període de 2006, en que aquestes embarcacions van realitzar la seva activitat pesquera rutinària. L’anàlisi d’aquesta informació s’ha realitzat mitjançant tècniques uni- i multi-variants. Els elevats rendiments, així com la distribució de talles de la captura de les principals espècies explotades, indiquen que els fons prospectats estan poc explotats. En ambdós estrats batimètrics, amb la malla quadrada es van reduir els rebuigs, sense una disminució significativa dels rendiments comercials. De manera semblant, l’estratègia de pesca aplicada durant l’acció pilot va reduir l’esforç efectiu de pesca, sense disminuir el rendiment de la pesquera respecte del mateix període de 2006. A més, es va reduir considerablement el consum de combustible, la qual cosa va repercutir positivament en les tases de combustible consumit per unitat de desembarcaments. L’estratègia d’explotació aplicada en l’acció pilot incrementa la relació cost-eficiència de la pesquera i presenta una sèrie d’avantatges, tant de millora en el rendiment pesquer i en l’explotació dels recursos, com de caràcter mediambiental i social. No obstant, aplicar aquesta estratègia a l’explotació comercial comporta riscs pel manteniment dels estocs d’espècies explotades i la conservació d’hàbitats d’especial interès i ecosistemes marins vulnerables, a una àrea amb nombrosos canons submarins, com el Golf de Lleó.Secretaria General de Pesca Marítim

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data