Limnological characteristics, community metabolism and management strategies of a coastal sinkhole in Cuba (Cenote Jennifer)

Author(s):  
Roberto González-De Zayas ◽  
Liosban Lantigua Ponce de León ◽  
Liezel Guerra Rodríguez ◽  
Felipe Matos Pupo ◽  
Leslie Hernández-Fernández

The Cenote Jennifer is an important and unique aquatic sinkhole in Cayo Coco (Jardines del Rey Tourist Destination) that has brackish to saline water. Two samplings were made in 1998 and 2009, and 4 metabolism community experiments in 2009. Some limnological parameters were measured in both samplings (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen major ions, hydrogen sulfide, nutrients and others). Community metabolism was measured through incubated oxygen concentration in clear and dark oxygen bottles. Results showed that the sinkhole limnology depends on rainfall and light incidence year, with some stratification episodes, due to halocline or oxycline presence, rather than thermocline. The sinkhole water was oligotrophic (total nitrogen of 41.5 ± 22.2 μmol l−1 and total phosphorus of 0.3 ± 0.2 μmol l−1) and with low productivity (gross primary productivity of 63.0 mg C m−2 d−1). Anoxia and hypoxia were present at the bottom with higher levels of hydrogen sulfide, lower pH and restricted influence of the adjacent sea (2 km away). To protect the Cenote Jennifer, tourist exploitation should be avoided and more resources to ecological and morphological studies should be allocated, and eventually use this aquatic system only for specialized diving. For conservation purposes, illegal garbage disposal in the surrounding forest should end.

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. CMC.S8976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousif Ahmad ◽  
Gregory Y.H. Lip

Atrial fibrillation is the commonest arrhythmia worldwide and is a growing problem. AF is responsible for 25% of all strokes, and these patients suffer greater mortality and disability. Warfarin has traditionally been the only successful therapy for stroke prevention, but its limitations have resulted in underutilisation. Major progress has been made in AF research, leading to improved management strategies. Better risk stratification permits identification of truly low-risk patients who do not require anticoagulation and we are able to simplify ourevaluation of a patient's bleeding risk. The advent of novel anticoagulants means warfarin is no longer the only choice for stroke prophylaxis. These drugs circumvent many of warfarin's inconveniences, but only long-term study and use will conclusively demonstrate how they compare to warfarin. The landscape of stroke prevention in AF has changed with effective alternatives to warfarin available for the first time in 60 years—but each new option brings new considerations.


NeoReviews ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. e819-e836
Author(s):  
Amy G. Feldman ◽  
Ronald J. Sokol

Cholestatic jaundice is a common presenting feature of hepatobiliary and/or metabolic dysfunction in the newborn and young infant. Timely detection of cholestasis, followed by rapid step-wise evaluation to determine the etiology, is crucial to identify those causes that are amenable to medical or surgical intervention and to optimize outcomes for all infants. In the past 2 decades, genetic etiologies have been elucidated for many cholestatic diseases, and next-generation sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing now allow for relatively rapid and cost-effective diagnosis of conditions not previously identifiable via standard blood tests and/or liver biopsy. Advances have also been made in our understanding of risk factors for parenteral nutrition–associated cholestasis/liver disease. New lipid emulsion formulations, coupled with preventive measures to decrease central line–associated bloodstream infections, have resulted in lower rates of cholestasis and liver disease in infants and children receiving long-term parental nutrition. Unfortunately, little progress has been made in determining the exact cause of biliary atresia. The median age at the time of the hepatoportoenterostomy procedure is still greater than 60 days; consequently, biliary atresia remains the primary indication for pediatric liver transplantation. Several emerging therapies may reduce the bile acid load to the liver and improve outcomes in some neonatal cholestatic disorders. The goal of this article is to review the etiologies, diagnostic algorithms, and current and future management strategies for infants with cholestasis.


1947 ◽  
Vol 25c (3) ◽  
pp. 105-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. O. Savile

A study of the species of Entyloma on North American composites suggests that almost every form can be assigned to one of two phyletic groups. E. polysporum contains most of the forms with densely crowded, rather large teliospores and no conidia. E. Davisii on Rudbeckia hirta and, probably, a fungus on Lepachys columnaris are segregated from it. E. Compositarum contains most of the forms with smaller, uncrowded spores and abundant conidia. E. arnicale and possibly one or two other forms may be regarded as segregates from this species.Emended descriptions of E. polysporum and E. Compositarum are given to clarify the differences between these two species. Corrections are also made in the identification of some exsiccati specimens.Comparisons are made with European forms to the extent that material has been available, but far more study of European specimens is needed to allow assessment of some species.Species concepts for these fungi are discussed, and criteria are suggested for adequate morphological studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Amvrosios G. Georgiadis ◽  
Nikolaos D. Charisiou ◽  
Ioannis V. Yentekakis ◽  
Maria A. Goula

The removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from gas streams with varying overall pressure and H2S concentrations is a long-standing challenge faced by the oil and gas industries. The present work focuses on H2S capture using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), in an effort to shed light on their potential as adsorbents in the field of gas storage and separation. MOFs hold great promise as they make possible the design of structures from organic and inorganic units, but also, they have provided an answer to a long-time challenging issue, i.e., how to design extended structures of materials. Moreover, the functionalization of the MOF’s surface can result in increased H2S uptake. For example, the insertion of 1% of a fluorinated linker in MIL-101(Cr)-4F(1%) allows for enhanced H2S capture. Although noticeable efforts have been made in studying the adsorption capacity of H2S using MOFs, there is a clear need for gaining a deeper understanding in terms of their thermal conductivities and specific heats in order to design more stable adsorption beds, experiencing high exothermicity. Simply put, the exothermic nature of adsorption means that sharp rises in temperature can negatively affect the bed stability in the absence of sufficient heat transfer. The work presented herein provides a detailed discussion by thoroughly combining the existing literature on new developments in MOFs for H2S removal, and tries to provide insight into new areas for further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia Dei Zotti ◽  
Annie Qiu ◽  
Francesca La Carpia ◽  
Chiara Moriconi ◽  
Krystalyn E. Hudson

Loss of humoral tolerance to red blood cells (RBCs) can lead to autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a severe, and sometimes fatal disease. Patients with AIHA present with pallor, fatigue, decreased hematocrit, and splenomegaly. While secondary AIHA is associated with lymphoproliferative disorders, infections, and more recently, as an adverse event secondary to cancer immunotherapy, the etiology of primary AIHA is unknown. Several therapeutic strategies are available; however, there are currently no licensed treatments for AIHA and few therapeutics offer treatment-free durable remission. Moreover, supportive care with RBC transfusions can be challenging as most autoantibodies are directed against ubiquitous RBC antigens; thus, virtually all RBC donor units are incompatible. Given the severity of AIHA and the lack of treatment options, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that facilitate the breakdown in tolerance would provide insight into new therapeutics. Herein, we report a new murine model of primary AIHA that reflects the biology observed in patients with primary AIHA. Production of anti-erythrocyte autoantibodies correlated with sex and age, and led to RBC antigen modulation, complement fixation, and anemia, as determined by decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin values and increased reticulocytes in peripheral blood. Moreover, autoantibody-producing animals developed splenomegaly, with altered splenic architecture characterized by expanded white pulp areas and nearly diminished red pulp areas. Additional analysis suggested that compensatory extramedullary erythropoiesis occurred as there were increased frequencies of RBC progenitors detectable in the spleen. No significant correlations between AIHA onset and inflammatory status or microbiome were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a murine model that replicates observations made in humans with idiopathic AIHA. Thus, this is a tractable murine model of AIHA that can serve as a platform to identify key cellular and molecular pathways that are compromised, thereby leading to autoantibody formation, as well as testing new therapeutics and management strategies.


1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 325 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Muir ◽  
WD Johnson

Studies of the chemical characteristics of the Cudgegong River, N.S.W., were made in December 1974, November and December 1975 and January and June 1976. The concentrations of the major ions showed correlation with the geology of the catchment and the river's discharge. The order of dominance for ions in most of the river was found to be Mg2+ > Na+ > Ca2+ and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42-, but in the uppermost reaches of the river the order was Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ and Cl- > HCO3- > SO42-. The origin and variation of ions, mineral weathering and ion-ion associations are discussed.


1917 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-168
Author(s):  
Herbert L. Hawkins

During the past seven years I have published several papers based upon preliminary investigations on the anatomy of the Holectypoida, an order of the Euechinoidea which, by general consent, is regarded as transitional between the Regular and Irregular sections of the class. Continued study, aided by increased mental and technical experience, has revealed an ever-increasing number of interesting features in the order, and has made possible more definite and confident surmises as to its affinities with other groups. The series of contributions here commenced is intended to amplify, and in some cases to correct, the statements made in my earlier papers. With very few exceptions the actual descriptions that are given in the former work still seem to be essentially correct, but every fresh examination, even of the same specimens, testifies to the incompleteness of most of the observations hitherto published. New material, better or differently preserved, often draws attention to features overlooked or discarded as unimportant in the examples already studied. No apology is needed for the publication of incomplete descriptions of natural objects, since complete knowledge is as yet nowhere attained. When inaccuracies of observation have been detected, their nature and cause will be stated frankly, accompanied, verbally or not, by suitable contrition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 786-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Pandey ◽  
Asheesh Kumar ◽  
Hari Prakash Veluswamy ◽  
Jitendra Sangwai ◽  
Praveen Linga

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