New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) in Boulder Creek, Colorado: environmental factors associated with fecundity of a parthenogenic invader

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.J. McKenzie ◽  
W.E. Hall ◽  
R.P. Guralnick

New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1853)) are non-native snails that are increasingly spreading in freshwater systems in North America. Most invasive populations are parthenogenic and threaten native freshwater diversity. We observed variability of P. antipodarum fecundity each month for 16 months at a recently invaded site in Boulder Creek, Colorado. We collected 100 snails each month and dissected them to count embryos in the brood sac. We used a general linear model analysis to examine water-quality variables as predictors of the monthly variability in P. antipodarum fecundity. After dissecting 1600 snails, we observed four male individuals (<1%), brood sizes ranging from 0 to 70 embryos per snail, reproductively mature females at 3.2 mm in length or greater, and a significant relationship between snail length and embryo counts (r2 = 0.38, p < 0.001). The model with the highest level of support for predicting variability in snail fecundity included water temperature, snail shell length, water hardness (calcium carbonate), and nutrient levels (total phosphate) (adjusted r2 = 0.53, p < 0.01). These variables may be important for snail growth and promote increased rates of reproduction in this parthenogenic, invasive snail. These results can further inform efforts to model geographic areas at high risk of P. antipodarum establishment and rapid demographic growth.

Author(s):  
Ivo Sukop

The present work gives the results of the research of macrozoobenthos some running waters drai­na­ge areas of the Dyje River (southern Moravia – Czech Republic). Altogether, 762 taxa of macrozoobenthos were determined from the running waters of southern Moravia. Porifera (3), Hydrozoa (3), Turbellaria (8), Nematoda (14), Nematomorpha (1), Oligochaeta (60), Hirudinea (18), Bryozoa (5), Mollusca (44), Isopoda (2), Amphipoda (4), Decapoda (2), Hydracarina (17), Ephemeroptera (65), Plecoptera (55), Odonata (26), Heteroptera (3), Plannipennia (2), Trichoptera (128), Coleoptera (59), Diptera (243). Some taxa of macrozoobenthos are extinct unfortunately in running waters of Southern Moravia at present time. Another ones appear newly, for example snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum from New Zealand or Dreissena polymorpha from Pontic region. The data presented in this paper may serve as a basis for future monitoring of water quality and zoobenthos composition in connection with presumption of climate changes.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 51-60
Author(s):  
DENNIS VOSS ◽  
HANS-JOACHIM PUTZ ◽  
SAMUEL SCHABEL

The need for deinking mills to reduce their fresh water consumption has resulted in higher loads of various contaminants in the process water. Lower recovered paper quality also leads to higher contamination levels in the mills. This higher load has an influence on achievable target brightness. The objective of the work was to determine and explain the main reasons for relatively poor deinked pulp quality or poor deinking potential based on the influence of recovered paper composition and process water quality. The process water parameters significantly affect the deinking potential of recovered paper. The test results showed the negative effects of increased water hardness. For standard recovered paper mixtures, flotation selectivity is higher with increasing flotation pH-value. Good results were realized for standard recovered paper with low hardness, low surface tension, and high pH-value. The results for recovered paper containing flexo newsprint could be slightly improved with low hardness, low surface tension, and low pH-value. The results of the test program using design of experiments showed interacting effects of pH-value and surface tension on luminosity and flotation selectivity.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 325-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Anderson ◽  
S. J. Turner ◽  
G. D. Lewis

Faecal enterococci ecology outside the host is of great relevance when using these organisms as indicators of water quality. As a complement to New Zealand epidemiological studies of bathing water quality and health risk, a study of the environmental occurrence of these organisms has been undertaken. Specific concerns over the use of enterococci derive from the unique situation in New Zealand which has few chlorinated sewage effluents, a high ratio of grazing animals to humans, and significant inputs of animal processing effluents into the environment. Human and animal faecal wastes are the main sources, with 106–107cfu/100ml found in human sewage. Analysis of domestic and feral animal faeces found enterococci in the range of 101–106cfu/g with considerable variation between species. The latter observations support the notion that a considerable proportion of the load in urban/rural catchments and waterways (typically 102–103 enterococci cfu/100ml) is derived from non-human sources. Previous studies of enterococci quiescence in marine/fresh waters indicate that they enter a non-growth phase, exposure to sunlight markedly reducing culturability on selective and non-selective media. Enterococci were also found to survive/multiply within specific non-faecal environments. Enterococci on degrading drift seaweed at recreational beaches exceeded seawater levels by 2–4 orders of magnitude, suggesting that expansion had occurred in this permissive environment with resultant potential to contaminate adjacent sand and water. These studies suggest that multiple sources, environmental persistence, and environmental expansion of enterococci within selected niches add considerable complexity to the interpretation of water quality data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 914-914
Author(s):  
A. Boteanu ◽  
A. García Fernández ◽  
N. De la Torre ◽  
M. Pavia Pascual ◽  
O. Sanchez Pernaute ◽  
...  

Background:Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be at risk to develop a severe course of COVID-19 due to the immune dysregulation or the influence of immunomodulating drugs on the course of the infection. For a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with IRD and due to the high incidence of COVID-19 in Madrid from the beginning of this pandemic infection in Spain, the Society of Rheumatology from Madrid (SORCOM) established a registry (REUMA-COVID SORCOM) shortly after the beginning of the pandemic in Spain.Objectives:To determine factors associated with severity of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases in MadridMethods:The REUMA-COVID SORCOM registry is a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study conducted in Madrid, a SORCOM initiative. All rheumatology departments from Madrid were invited to participate. The study includes patients with IRD presenting with a confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and November 10, 2020. We consider severe infection death or need of hospitalization. Inclusion criteria was having an IRD and at least 1 of the following 4 criteria: (1) a biologically confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis based on a positive result of a SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on a nasopharyngeal swab; (2) Detection of IgM or IgG anti SARS-CoV2 in a symptomatic or asymptomatic patients (3)typical thoracic computed tomography (CT) abnormalities (ground-glass opacities) in epidemic areas; (4) COVID19–typical symptoms in an epidemic zone of COVID-19.Results:As of November 10, 2020, 417 patients with IRD were included in the REUMA-COVID SORCOM registry. 5 patients were discharged for incomplete data. Of 412 patients (mean age 57 years, 87.4% Caucasian race, 66.3% female) 174 need hospitalization (42.2%) and 33 patients died (18.4% mortality in hospitalized patients). 82.3% had comorbidities. 234 (56.8%) patients were classified as inflammatory arthropathy, 133 (32.3%) had connective tissue diseases (CTD). 41.1% of the patients had a large history of IRD (> 10 years). 10.4% of patients had previously pulmonary involvement. The study includes 143 patients taking Methotrexate, 89 patients taking anti-TNFα therapy and 27 Rituximab. In the univariant analysis, no differences were seen in the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients taking methotrexate. 63% of the all patients taking Rituximab included in the registry need hospitalization and 22% of them died. Hypertension, COPD or cardiovascular disease was associated with hospitalization.Independent factors associated with COVID-19 hospitalization in the multivariate analysis was: age (>62 years), male sex, IMC >30, previous cardiovascular comorbidities and the IRD disease duration (> 10 years). Independent factors associated with COVID-19 related death was: age (> 62 years), having a CTD diagnose, pulmonary involvement before infection and chronical GC treatment.Conclusion:Patients with IRD represent a population of particular interest in the pandemic context because the baseline immunological alteration and the treated with immunosuppressants agents they receive, comorbidities and the well-known risk of severe infection. Older age, male sex, cardiovascular comorbidities were factors associated with high risk of hospitalization in IRD patients. CTD diseases, previously pulmonary involvement and chronical GC treatment with more than 10mg/day were associated with high risk of death. Neither anti TNF-α treatment nor Methotrexate were risk factor for hospitalization or death COVID-19 related in IRD patients.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
pp. 875512252110117
Author(s):  
Jesus Ruiz Ramos ◽  
Laura Gras-Martin ◽  
Ana María Juanes Borrego ◽  
Marta Blazquez-Andion ◽  
Mireia Puig Campmany ◽  
...  

Background: Drug-related problems (DRPs) are a frequent reason for emergency departments (EDs) visits. However, data about the risk factors associated with EDs revisits are limited. Objective: To develop and validate a predictive model indicating the risk factors associated with EDs revisit within 30 days of the first visit. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients who attended an ED for DRPs related to cardiovascular drugs. A 30-day prediction model was created in a derivation cohort by logistic regression. An integer score proportional to the regression coefficient was assigned to the variables with P < .100 in the multivariate analysis. Results: 581 patients (mean age: 80.0 [12.6] years) were included, 133 (22.9%) revisited the ED within 30 days from discharge. Six factors (chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, visit to an ED in the preceding 3 months, high anticholinergic burden, DRPs associated with heparin, and safety-related DRPs) were identified as risk factors and combined into a final score, termed the DREAMER score. The model reached an area under the receiver operating curve values of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.67-0.77) in the referral cohort and 0.71 (95% CI = 0.65-0.74) in the validation cohort ( P = .273). Three risk categories were generated, with the following scores and estimated risks: low risk (0-8 points): 11.6%; intermediate risk (9-14 points): 21.3%; and high risk (>14 points): 41.2%. Conclusion and Relevance: The DREAMER score identifies patients at high risk for ED revisit within 30 days from the first visit for a DRPs, being a useful tool to prioritize interventions on discharge.


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A15.1-A15
Author(s):  
Kirsten Lovelock ◽  
Trang Khieu

The physical and psychological outcomes of work related stress place a burden on individuals, their families, workplaces and communities. Work related stress is a health and socio-economic and political problem. It reduces work performance; drives higher rates of absenteeism or sick leave; can increase rates of injury; prompt high staff turnover; and, can prompt poor health behaviours such as excessive drinking or taking of drugs. The research record focussing on work related stress in New Zealand (NZ) is small and uneven, but growing. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of work-related stress among workers by a set of demographic characteristics. The study used data from the Health and Safety Attitudes and Behaviour Survey (HSABS) 2016. A total of 2190 workers in the four high risk industries (agriculture, forestry, construction and manufacturing) were interviewed about their perceptions towards work-related stress. Weighting was conducted to control inherent biases. Differences between workers were examined by age, sex, ethnicity, qualifications and migrant factors (e.g. being born in NZ or arriving in NZ within five years). Overall, 11% of workers responded that they had experienced with work-related stress in the last 12 months. Work-related stress was more statistically prevalent among people from 25 to 34 years of age or those having a bachelor’s degree. Also, people being females or Maori or not born in NZ or first arrived in NZ in the last five years were more likely to have work-related stress. Findings from the study could allow better targeted and informed psychosocial health interventions to be implemented at workplace.


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