scholarly journals Indicators of AEI Applied to the Delaware Estuary

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 169-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence W. Barnthouse ◽  
Douglas G. Heimbuch ◽  
Vaughn C. Anthony ◽  
Ray W. Hilborn ◽  
Ransom A. Myers

We evaluated the impacts of entrainment and impingement at the Salem Generating Station on fish populations and communities in the Delaware Estuary. In the absence of an agreed-upon regulatory definition of “adverse environmental impact” (AEI), we developed three independent benchmarks of AEI based on observed or predicted changes that could threaten the sustainability of a population or the integrity of a community.Our benchmarks of AEI included: (1) disruption of the balanced indigenous community of fish in the vicinity of Salem (the “BIC” analysis); (2) a continued downward trend in the abundance of one or more susceptible fish species (the “Trends” analysis); and (3) occurrence of entrainment/impingement mortality sufficient, in combination with fishing mortality, to jeopardize the future sustainability of one or more populations (the “Stock Jeopardy” analysis).The BIC analysis utilized nearly 30 years of species presence/absence data collected in the immediate vicinity of Salem. The Trends analysis examined three independent data sets that document trends in the abundance of juvenile fish throughout the estuary over the past 20 years. The Stock Jeopardy analysis used two different assessment models to quantify potential long-term impacts of entrainment and impingement on susceptible fish populations. For one of these models, the compensatory capacities of the modeled species were quantified through meta-analysis of spawner-recruit data available for several hundred fish stocks.All three analyses indicated that the fish populations and communities of the Delaware Estuary are healthy and show no evidence of an adverse impact due to Salem. Although the specific models and analyses used at Salem are not applicable to every facility, we believe that a weight of evidence approach that evaluates multiple benchmarks of AEI using both retrospective and predictive methods is the best approach for assessing entrainment and impingement impacts at existing facilities.

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1574-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyleisha J. Foote ◽  
Pascale M. Biron ◽  
James W.A. Grant

Owing to declines in salmonid populations, in-stream restoration structures have been used for over 80 years to increase abundance of fish. However, the relative effectiveness of these structures remains unclear for some species or regions, partly due to contrasting conclusions from two previous meta-analyses. To update and reconcile these previous analyses, we conducted a meta-analysis using data available from 1969 to 2019 to estimate the effect of in-stream structures on salmonid abundance (number and density) and biomass. Data from 100 stream restoration projects showed a significant increase in salmonid abundance (effect size 0.636) and biomass (0.621), consistent with previous reviews and studies, and a stronger effect was found in adults than in juvenile fish. Despite a shift towards using more natural structures (wood and boulders) since the 1990s, structures have not become more effective. However, most projects monitor for less than 5 years, which may be insufficient time in some systems for channel morphology to adjust and population changes to be apparent. Process-based techniques, which give more space for the river, allow more long-term, self-sustaining restoration.


Author(s):  
Laura F. Huenneke ◽  
William H. Schlesinger

The Jornada Basin of southern New Mexico has long been an important location for the study of productivity in desert ecosystems. Researchers have studied the magnitude and sustainability of plant production since the founding of the USDA Jornada Experimental Range (JER) in 1912. The consistent administration and research focus of the JER and of the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC) have facilitated a number of long-term studies of vegetation dynamics and productivity. These long-term data sets are especially critical for understanding arid ecosystems, where interannual and decadal scale variation in climate is great and plant performance is strongly constrained by the physical environment. Long-term data, including the net primary productivity (NPP) data that are the focus of this chapter, are also essential for understanding the progression or rather, degradation of ecosystem structure that has been called desertification. Through the years a variety of approaches have been used to evaluate plant production in the Jornada Basin. These approaches span the range from applied or management-oriented techniques, focused primarily on assessing patterns of palatable forage production, to more basic empirical studies based on dimension analysis or similar measurements of plant growth, to estimates based on photosynthetic measurements, to remote sensing and modeling approaches. NPP was a particular focus of the work performed during the International Biological Programme or IBP (1970s) and is still a major emphasis in the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) era. Thus, the Jornada provides a unique opportunity to compare the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches applied to a complex system. Ecosystem science has provided a set of general hypotheses about the factors regulating NPP in arid and semiarid ecosystems (reviewed by Noy-Meir 1973; Hadley and Szarek 1981; Ludwig 1986, 1987). These premises include the following: 1. Plant productivity is low relative to that of other ecosystems (Lieth 1975). 2. NPP is regulated primarily by localized water availability and hence should be correlated closely with precipitation (Le Houerou 1984; Le Houerou et al. 1988). This premise is related to Noy-Meir’s (1973) definition of deserts as “water-controlled ecosystems with infrequent, discrete, and largely unpredictable water inputs.”


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
W.J. Fokkens ◽  
B.N. Landis ◽  
C. Hopkins ◽  
S. Reitsma ◽  
A.R. Sedaghat

We look back at the end of what soon will be seen as an historic year, from COVID-19 to real-world introduction of biologicals influencing the life of our patients. This review describes the important findings in Rhinology over the past year. A large body of evidence now demonstrates loss of sense of smell to be one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 infection; a meta-analysis of 3563 patients found the mean prevalence of self-reported loss to be 47%. A number of studies have now shown long-term reduced loss of smell and parosmia. Given the high numbers of people affected by COVID-19, even with the best reported recovery rates, a significant number worldwide will be left with severe olfactory dysfunction. The most prevalent causes for olfactory dysfunction, besides COVID-19 and upper respiratory tract infections in general, are trauma and CRSwNP. For these CRSwNP patients a bright future seems to be starting with the development of treatment with biologics. This year the Nobel prize in Medicine 2021 was awarded jointly to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch which has greatly enhanced our understanding of nasal hyperreactivity and understanding of intranasal trigeminal function. Finally, a new definition of chronic rhinitis has been proposed in the last year and we have seen many papers emphasizing the importance of endotyping patients in chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis in order to optimise treatment effect.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Potì ◽  
Daniele Santi ◽  
Giorgia Spaggiari ◽  
Francesca Zimetti ◽  
Ilaria Zanotti

Several studies have demonstrated that polyphenol-enriched diets may have beneficial effects against the development of degenerative diseases, including atherosclerosis and disorders affecting the central nervous system. This activity has been associated not only with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but also with additional mechanisms, such as the modulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota function. However, long-term studies on humans provided controversial results, making the prediction of polyphenol impact on health uncertain. The aim of this review is to provide an overview and critical analysis of the literature related to the effects of the principal dietary polyphenols on cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. We critically considered and meta-analyzed randomized controlled clinical trials involving subjects taking polyphenol-based supplements. Although some polyphenols might improve specific markers of cardiovascular risk and cognitive status, many inconsistent data are present in literature. Therefore, definitive recommendations for the use of these compounds in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline are currently not applicable. Once pivotal aspects for the definition of polyphenol bioactivity, such as the characterization of pharmacokinetics and safety, are addressed, it will be possible to have a clear picture of the realistic potential of polyphenols for disease prevention.


2006 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 1153-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ojeda-Martinez ◽  
J. T. Bayle-Sempere ◽  
P. Sánchez-Jerez ◽  
A. Forcada ◽  
C. Valle

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 2011
Author(s):  
Giovanni Marasco ◽  
Luigina Vanessa Alemanni ◽  
Antonio Colecchia ◽  
Davide Festi ◽  
Franco Bazzoli ◽  
...  

(1) Introduction: Liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often burdened by life-threatening complications, such as post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score can accurately evaluate liver function and the long-term prognosis of HCC patients, including PHLF. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the ALBI grade in predicting PHLF in HCC patients undergoing LR. (2) Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched through January 17th, 2021. Studies reporting the ALBI grade and PHLF occurrence in HCC patients undergoing LR were included. The Odds Ratio (OR) prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was pooled, and the heterogeneity was expressed as I2. The quality of the studies was assessed using QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies). (3) Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. A total of 5377 patients who underwent LR for HCC were considered, of whom 718 (13.4%) developed PHLF. Patients with ALBI grades 2 and 3 before LR showed increased rates of PHLF compared to ALBI grade 1 patients. The pooled OR was 2.572 (95% CI, 1.825 to 3.626, p < 0.001), with substantial heterogeneity between the studies (I2 = 69.6%) and no publication bias (Begg’s p = 0.764 and Egger’s p = 0.851 tests). All studies were at a ‘low risk’ or ‘unclear risk’ of bias. Univariate meta-regression analysis showed that heterogeneity was not dependent on the country of study, the age and sex of the participants, the definition of PHLF used, the rate of patients in Child–Pugh class A or undergoing major hepatectomy. (4) Conclusions: In this meta-analysis of published studies, individuals with ALBI grades of 2 and 3 showed increased rates of PHLF compared to ALBI grade 1 patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Algattas ◽  
Pradeep Setty ◽  
Ezequiel Goldschmidt ◽  
Eric W. Wang ◽  
Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 15-23
Author(s):  
Barrie J. Wills

A warm welcome to our "World of Difference" to all delegates attending this conference - we hope your stay is enjoyable and that you will leave Central Otago with an enhanced appreciation of the diversity of land use and the resilient and growing economic potential that this region has to offer. Without regional wellbeing the national economy will struggle to grow, something Central Government finally seems to be realising, and the Central Otago District Council Long Term Plan 2012-2022 (LTP) signals the importance of establishing a productive economy for the local community which will aid in the economic growth of the district and seeks to create a thriving economy that will be attractive to business and residents alike. Two key principles that underpin the LTP are sustainability and affordability, with the definition of sustainability being "… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 558-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kartik Bhatia ◽  
Hans Kortman ◽  
Christopher Blair ◽  
Geoffrey Parker ◽  
David Brunacci ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe role of mechanical thrombectomy in pediatric acute ischemic stroke is uncertain, despite extensive evidence of benefit in adults. The existing literature consists of several recent small single-arm cohort studies, as well as multiple prior small case series and case reports. Published reports of pediatric cases have increased markedly since 2015, after the publication of the positive trials in adults. The recent AHA/ASA Scientific Statement on this issue was informed predominantly by pre-2015 case reports and identified several knowledge gaps, including how young a child may undergo thrombectomy. A repeat systematic review and meta-analysis is warranted to help guide therapeutic decisions and address gaps in knowledge.METHODSUsing PRISMA-IPD guidelines, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to April 2019 and individual patient data meta-analysis, with 2 independent reviewers. An additional series of 3 cases in adolescent males from one of the authors’ centers was also included. The primary outcomes were the rate of good long-term (mRS score 0–2 at final follow-up) and short-term (reduction in NIHSS score by ≥ 8 points or NIHSS score 0–1 at up to 24 hours post-thrombectomy) neurological outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in patients < 18 years of age. The secondary outcome was the rate of successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3).RESULTSThe authors’ review yielded 113 cases of mechanical thrombectomy in 110 pediatric patients. Although complete follow-up data are not available for all patients, 87 of 96 (90.6%) had good long-term neurological outcomes (mRS score 0–2), 55 of 79 (69.6%) had good short-term neurological outcomes, and 86 of 98 (87.8%) had successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3). Death occurred in 2 patients and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in 1 patient. Sixteen published thrombectomy cases were identified in children < 5 years of age.CONCLUSIONSMechanical thrombectomy may be considered for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (ICA terminus, M1, basilar artery) in patients aged 1–18 years (Level C evidence; Class IIb recommendation). The existing evidence base is likely affected by selection and publication bias. A prospective multinational registry is recommended as the next investigative step.


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