scholarly journals Microplastic ingestion and feeding ecology in three intertidal mollusk species from Lima, Peru

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre ◽  
Diego Marcelo Apaza-Vargas ◽  
Luis Luis Santillán

Microplastics (< 5 mm) are ubiquitous contaminants in the marine environment. The aims of the present study were to report the incidence of microplastic pollution in three mollusk species from the coast of Lima and to investigate the relationship between microplastic ingestion and feeding ecology. Specimens of three mollusk species Semimytilus algosus, Tegula atra and Chiton granosus were sampled from the intertidal rocky zone. For microplastic isolation, soft tissues were digested in 10% KOH, vacuum filtrated and analyzed under a microscope. Rigorous contamination prevention measures were taken into account. C. granosus was the most contaminated mollusk (6.92 ± 2.13 particles g-1). Red fibers were the overall most abundant microplastic. The feeding behavior of T. atra promotes microplastic exposure to C. granosus. More research is needed to fully understand the microplastic effects on mollusk species.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6861
Author(s):  
Xiya Liang ◽  
Pengfei Li ◽  
Juanle Wang ◽  
Faith Ka Shun Chan ◽  
Chuluun Togtokh ◽  
...  

Mongolia is a globally crucial region that has been suffering from land desertification. However, current understanding on Mongolia’s desertification is limited, constraining the desertification control and sustainable development in Mongolia and even other parts of the world. This paper studied spatiotemporal patterns, driving factors, mitigation strategies, and research methods of desertification in Mongolia through an extensive review of literature. Results showed that: (i) remote sensing monitoring of desertification in Mongolia has been subject to a relatively low spatial resolution and considerable time delay, and thus high-resolution and timely data are needed to perform a more precise and timely study; (ii) the contribution of desertification impacting factors has not been quantitatively assessed, and a decoupling analysis is desirable to quantify the contribution of factors in different regions of Mongolia; (iii) existing desertification prevention measures should be strengthened in the future. In particular, the relationship between grassland changes and husbandry development needs to be considered during the development of desertification prevention measures; (iv) the multi-method study (particularly interdisciplinary approaches) and desertification model development should be enhanced to facilitate an in-depth desertification research in Mongolia. This study provides a useful reference for desertification research and control in Mongolia and other regions of the world.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (03) ◽  
pp. 309-316
Author(s):  
Ozcan Cakmak ◽  
Ismet Emrah Emre

AbstractPreservation of the facial nerve is crucial in any type of facial procedure. This is even more important when performing plastic surgery on the face. An intricate knowledge of the course of the facial nerve is a requisite prior to performing facelifts, regardless of the technique used. The complex relationship of the ligaments and the facial nerve may put the nerve at an increased risk of damage, especially if its anatomy is not fully understood. There are several danger zones during dissection where the nerve is more likely to be injured. These include the areas where the nerve branches become more superficial in the dissection plane, and where they traverse between the retaining ligaments of the face. Addressing these ligaments is crucial, as they prevent the transmission of traction during facelifts. Without sufficient release, a satisfying pull on the soft tissues may be limited. Traditional superficial musculoaponeurotic system techniques such as plication or imbrication do not include surgical release of these attachments. Extended facelift techniques include additional dissection to release the retaining ligaments to obtain a more balanced and healthier look. However, these techniques are often the subject of much debate due to the extended dissection that carries a higher risk of nerve complications. In this article we aim to present the relationship of both the nerve and ligaments with an emphasis on the exact location of these structures, both in regard to one another and to their locations within the facial soft tissues, to perform extended techniques safely.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (6) ◽  
pp. S9 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Bowdan

Regulation of feeding is a fundamental element of homeostasis. This is reflected in the similarity of control mechanisms in a wide range of animals, including insects and humans. A close examination of feeding behavior can illuminate the physiological processes driving regulation. A simple, inexpensive method for recording fine details of feeding by caterpillars is described. Possible experiments, interpretation of the data, and the relationship of observations to the underlying physiology, are outlined.


Author(s):  
Raúl Payá Castiblanque

The aim of this research was to study the relationship between the different levels of direct participation of workers (passive, consultative or active-delegated) in risk prevention management with the levels of absenteeism in Spain. To this end, a transversal study was carried out using microdata from the Second European Survey of Companies on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2-Spain, 2014) with a master population of 3162 work centres. A multinomial logistic regression model was carried out, with the dependent variable being the levels of absenteeism and the independent variables, the participation indicators and preventive management, calculating the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) between all the independent and control variables, with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% IC). The results obtained showed how the active-delegative participation of workers in the design and adoption of psychosocial risk prevention measures reported 2.33 less probabilities of having a very high or fairly high level of absenteeism (aOR = 0.43; 95%IC:0.27–0.69). However, having documented aspects of preventive management (plan, risk assessment, planning measures) did not have any impact on absenteeism levels, which shows that we can fall into an unrealistic institutional mirage of security with active policies of co-education or co-management being necessary to reduce absenteeism.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno da S. PRUDENTE ◽  
Pedro CARNEIRO-MARINHO ◽  
Roberta de M. VALENTE ◽  
Luciano F. de A. MONTAG

Abstract Studies on feeding ecology of fishes are important to understand the relationship between species and environmental seasonal variations. In tropical rivers, these relationships are mainly modeled by hydrological patterns. Thereby, this study aimed to assess the influence of fluviometric variation and life stage (juveniles and adults) in the feeding ecology of Serrasalmus gouldingi in the lower Anapu River region, located in Eastern Amazon, Pará, Brazil. Specimens were collected bimonthly, considering four different hydrological periods. We assessed the diet composition, feeding intensity and niche breadth of the species. Thirty-two dietary items were identified and grouped into ten categories. A total of 279 stomachs were analyzed, showing a predominance of fish fragments, followed by fruits and seeds. The diet composition of S. gouldingi differed only between drought and flood season, although it did not differ between juveniles and adults. An increase in feeding intensity was recorded during the rise in the water level, with a lower feeding intensity observed during transitional season. Serrasalmus gouldingi showed lower niche breadth during flood season, attributed to the high consumption of fruits and seeds, presenting an omnivorous diet with high tendency towards piscivory. Although less evident than in other Amazon watersheds, the flood pulse in the lower Anapu River region is an important factor influencing the feeding ecology of the species.


Author(s):  
Franklin Sargunaraj ◽  
Justin R. St. Juliana ◽  
Cynthia J. Downs ◽  
Irina S. Khokhlova ◽  
Lee Koren ◽  
...  

Abstract Glucocorticoid hormone levels vary within a forager based upon environmental stressors such as illumination and riskier habitats, and a forager’s response to environmental variables depends upon its glucocorticoid levels. Here, we report on a laboratory experiment in which we manipulated cortisol in Allenbyi’s gerbils (Gerbillus andersoni allenbyi) to test the relationship between cortisol and behavior. We then quantified the resulting blood cortisol levels and feeding behavior in gerbils. Thirty gerbils were injected with 21-day slow-release cortisol pellets drawn from 5 different dosages. We quantified the physiological response to pellet implantation in gerbils by measuring cortisol level in blood serum using ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). We fed gerbils daily by mixing millet seeds into the sand inside rodent cages and measured the remaining seeds the following day to quantify feeding efforts. Some evidence supports that subcutaneous supplementation of glucocorticoids (GCs) in the gerbils led to higher blood serum levels. Cortisol levels varied according to time period of measurement. Gerbils that received lower dosages consumed most of the food presented to them when compared to those receiving the highest doses. In this manner, we delineate a pattern on cortisol hormone level variation over time following dosing and consequences in feeding behavior.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 908-908
Author(s):  
Caroline Smerdon ◽  
Hyun Kim

Abstract Objectives This study examined the relationship between malnutrition and malaria among children under five in Sierra Leone. It was predicted that children who displayed anthropometric indicators for malnutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight) would be at a higher risk for contracting malaria than children who did not. Methods Data on height, weight, malaria status and use of malaria prevention measures were collected from patients aged 1 month to 60 months at Magbenteh Community Hospital in Makeni, Sierra Leone using a survey in July 2019 (n = 153). Multivariate regression models were used in order to determine the association between nutritional status and risk of contracting malaria. Results Participants who were underweight were found to be 18.56% more likely to contract malaria (p-value = 0.029). Non-statistically significant positive correlations were also found between stunting and risk of contracting malaria (7.15% more likely, p-value = 0.446) and wasting and risk of contracting malaria (5.82% more likely, p-value = 0.528). Conclusions The outcomes of this study would contribute to a better understanding of the risk factors for malaria and the relationship between nutritional status and malaria. Understanding this relationship is essential for developing public health interventions in geographic locations where these conditions co-exist. Funding Sources N/A.


Author(s):  
Zhuang Hong ◽  
Lingzhong Xu ◽  
Jinling Zhou ◽  
Long Sun ◽  
Jiajia Li ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Older people are more vulnerable and likely to have falls and the consequences of these falls place a heavy burden on individuals, families and society. Many factors directly or indirectly affect the prevalence of falls. The aims of this study were to understand the prevalence and risk factors of falls among the elderly in Shandong, China; the relationship between economic level and falls was also preliminary explored. (2) Methods: Using a multi-stage stratified sampling method, 7070 elderly people aged 60 and over were selected in Shandong Province, China. General characteristics and a self-rated economic status were collected through face to face interviews. Chi-square tests, rank sum tests and two logistic regression models were performed as the main statistical methods. (3) Results: 8.59% of participants reported that they had experienced at least one fall in the past half year. There was a significant difference in experienced falls regarding gender, residence, marital status, educational level, smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, coronary disease, and self-reported hearing. The worse the self-rated economic status, the higher the risk of falling, (poor and worried about livelihood, OR = 3.60, 95%; CI = 1.76–7.35). (4) Conclusions: Women, hypertension, diabetes and self-reported hearing loss were identified as the risk factors of falls in the elderly. The difference of economic level affects the falls of the elderly in rural and urban areas. More fall prevention measures should be provided for the elderly in poverty.


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