scholarly journals Migration of Non-Native Predator Asp (Leuciscus aspius) from a Reservoir Poses a Potential Threat to Native Species in Tributaries

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikola Pfauserová ◽  
Ondřej Slavík ◽  
Pavel Horký ◽  
Jitka Kolářová ◽  
Tomáš Randák
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Upstream Migration ◽  
Dam Construction ◽  
Movement Activity ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
The Status ◽  
River Fragmentation ◽  
The Impact

The introduction of non-native species and human-altered habitats are currently the main threats to freshwater ecosystems. Due to predation and competition, biological invaders can cause extinctions and imperil the status of native species, and this phenomenon is enhanced by habitat alteration, for example, dam construction. In addition to river fragmentation caused by dam construction, the impact of non-native species migrating from reservoirs on native assemblages in their tributaries should be considered from a long-term perspective. The present study focused on asp (Leuciscus aspius), an artificially introduced piscivorous cyprinid that became established in the Lipno Reservoir (Czech Republic). Asp regularly occur in a tributary, the Vltava River, where twenty-five individuals were captured, radio-tagged, and tracked for five consecutive years. Asp occurrence in the tributary was highest during spring due to the upstream migration of spawning fish, and this was interconnected with a movement activity peak in March when the temperature reached 6 °C. The fish migrated a maximum distance of 31 km, and the probability of asp occurrence in the tributary was sex-dependent, with more females than males. Some individuals occupied the Vltava River not only for spawning but remained until the temperatures dropped below 10 °C. This study shows how non-native predators use reservoirs for wintering but feed and spawn in tributaries.

Temporal changes in an alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) population

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell B. East ◽  
J. Daren Riedle ◽  
Day B. Ligon
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Unknown Origin ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Macrochelys Temminckii ◽  
The Status ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Data

Context Monitoring populations of long-lived species requires continuous long-term efforts. This is especially applicable for species that have experienced declines range-wide. Aims Our study assessed the current status of a population of wild Macrochelys temminckii and compared the present results to those from a survey conducted nearly a decade ago. Methods Trapping in 2010–2011 was conducted on two creeks within the refuge, during the months of May–July. Capture data were compared with data collected by similar methods in 1997–2001. Key results The population structure of M. temminckii was dominated by juveniles, with few large adults or small juveniles detected and a missing size class was evident. Retrospective analysis of 1997–2001 data revealed that the population was likely to be in decline even then, despite high capture rates. Conclusions The M. temminckii population showed significant declines that indicated that the population had experienced stressors of unknown origin. The status of M. temminckii at the refuge is concerning, given the protection afforded this remnant population. Implications Short-term data from 1997–2001 indicated a healthy M. temminckii population, whereas longer-term data showed that the population has declined, resulting in significant demographic changes. Continued monitoring will be necessary to develop management recommendations and track the impact of implemented management practices. Longer-term monitoring of long-lived vertebrates is required to identify population trends.

scholarly journals Imaginary Worlds: The Status of Simulation Modeling in Claims for Cost-Effectiveness In Diabetes Mellitus

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C Langley ◽  
Taeho Greg Rhee
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

Over the past 20 years a number of simulations or models have been developed as a basis for tracking and evaluating the impact of pharmacological and other interventions in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These models have typically tracked the natural course of these diseases generating long-term composite claims for cost-effectiveness. These claims can extend over the lifetime of the modeled patient cohort. Set against the standards of normal science, however, these claims lack credibility. The claims presented are all too often either immune to failure or are presented in a form that is non-testable. As such they fail to meet the key experimental requirements of falsification and replication. Unfortunately, there is a continuing belief that long-term or lifetime models are essential to decision-making. This is misplaced. The purpose of this review is to argue that there is a pressing need to reconsider the needs of health system decision makers and focus on modeled or simulated claims that are meaningful, testable, reportable and replicable in evaluating interventions in diabetes mellitus.   Type: Commentary

Silvio Berlusconi and the Italian presidency: accordions, triangles and constitutional change

Modern Italy ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Furlong
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Constitutional Change ◽  
Party Leaders ◽  
Political Role ◽  
The Status ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Silvio Berlusconi

This article considers the changed role of the Italian presidency and the impact and legacy of Silvio Berlusconi on this. After consideration of some of the methodological difficulties raised by these issues, the article looks at the role of the presidency up to 1992, when the presidency was interpreted in narrow terms set by the framers of the 1948 constitution and by the predominance of the party leaders of the period over the political direction of the State. The article considers how presidents from Sandro Pertini (1978–85) on, sought in different ways to expand the political role of their office. The article analyses the different ways that Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Giorgio Napolitano used their formal and informal powers both to maintain the status of the office and to promote political goals, and concludes with an assessment of the likely long-term impact of these changes and of Berlusconi's role in them.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Cures CLL: A Retrospective Analysis from the SFGM-TC Registry.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2991-2991
Author(s):  
Mauricette Michallet ◽  
Quoc-Hung Lê ◽  
Jean-Paul Vernant ◽  
Franck E. Nicolini ◽  
Jean-Luc Harousseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autologous Transplantation ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Allogeneic Transplantation ◽  
Cell Transplant ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cord Blood Cell ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Long Term Survivors

Abstract This retrospective study concerned 471 B-CLL patients registered in the SFGM-TC registry from Apr 1,984 to Feb 2,005, who underwent either autologous transplantation (n=313, 138 F and 175 M, median age = 54, 236 PBSC and 77 BM) or allogeneic transplantation (n=158, 78 F and 80 M, median age = 49, 76 PBSC, 81 BM and 1 cord blood cell transplant from 17 related and 141 unrelated donors). Among alloT patients, 50 were ABO incompatible and 70 sex-mismatched. The median interval diagnosis-transplantation was 32 months for autoT and 51 months for alloT. Just before conditioning 302 autoT and 143 alloT were evaluated for the disease status: 100 and 26 patients were in CR, 170 and 55 were in PR, 4 and 13 in stable disease (SD), 28 and 49 in progressive disease (PD) for autoT and alloT respectively. Among alloT patients, 73 received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) and 85 standard conditioning (72 Cyt+TBI, 33 Fluda+TBI, 23 Fluda+Bu+ATG, 8 Cyt+Bu and 21 other). Before autoT the conditioning consisted of 224 Cyt+TBI, 45 BEAM and 44 other. After alloT, 71 patients developed an aGVHD ≥ grade II and 60 developed a cGVHD (25 limited and 35 extensive). The non-relapse mortality at 1 year was 29%. With a mean follow-up of 28 months for autoT and 40 months for alloT, the probabilities of 3-year, 5-year and 8-year overall survival were 80%, 66%, 45.5% after autoT and 52%, 48% and 35% after alloT respectively. An analysis aimed to determine the percentage of long-term survivors, or patients censored on the final plateau of survival curves was performed on alloT and autoT groups. A mixture model, gfcure with Splus statistical package determined the percentages of long-term survivors and its adequacy was verified graphically. The percentage of long-term survivors for the autoT group was 1.2%, with a mean survival length for uncured population of 160 months. Fig A shows that both curves were close and consequently shows good adequacy and the absence of a final plateau. The percentage of long-term survivors for alloT was 34.03% (figure1). Fig B shows rather good adequacy. The study of the impact of usual prognosis factors (age, time diagnosis-transplant, sex match, HLA match, CMV status, type of conditioning, BM or PBSC, ABO compatibility and disease status before transplantation) on the percentage of long-term survivors showed that only the status of disease at transplant had a significant impact: (CR vs SD or PD, HR: 0.11 [0.02–0.5] p=0.01 and PR vs SD or PD, HR: 0.30 [0.09–0.96] p=0.04). This study pointed out the possibility of curing B-CLL patients who responded to conventional chemotherapy with allogeneic transplantation rather than with autologous transplantation. Figure Figure Figure Figure

scholarly journals Impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems: a global-scale analysis of ecologically relevant river flow alterations

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 783-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Döll ◽  
J. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Discharge ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Water Withdrawals ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. River flow regimes, including long-term average flows, seasonality, low flows, high flows and other types of flow variability, play an important role for freshwater ecosystems. Thus, climate change affects freshwater ecosystems not only by increased temperatures but also by altered river flow regimes. However, with one exception, transferable quantitative relations between flow alterations and ecological responses have not yet been derived. While discharge decreases are generally considered to be detrimental for ecosystems, the effect of future discharge increases is unclear. As a first step towards a global-scale analysis of climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystems, we quantified the impact of climate change on five ecologically relevant river flow indicators, using the global water model WaterGAP 2.1g to simulate monthly time series of river discharge with a spatial resolution of 0.5 degrees. Four climate change scenarios based on two global climate models and two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios were evaluated. We compared the impact of climate change by the 2050s to the impact of water withdrawals and dams on natural flow regimes that had occurred by 2002. Climate change was computed to alter seasonal flow regimes significantly (i.e. by more than 10%) on 90% of the global land area (excluding Greenland and Antarctica), as compared to only one quarter of the land area that had suffered from significant seasonal flow regime alterations due to dams and water withdrawals. Due to climate change, the timing of the maximum mean monthly river discharge will be shifted by at least one month on one third on the global land area, more often towards earlier months (mainly due to earlier snowmelt). Dams and withdrawals had caused comparable shifts on less than 5% of the land area only. Long-term average annual river discharge is predicted to significantly increase on one half of the land area, and to significantly decrease on one quarter. Dams and withdrawals had led to significant decreases on one sixth of the land area, and nowhere to increases. Thus, by the 2050s, climate change may have impacted ecologically relevant river flow characteristics more strongly than dams and water withdrawals have up to now. The only exception refers to the decrease of the statistical low flow Q90, with significant decreases both by past water withdrawals and future climate change on one quarter of the land area. However, dam impacts are likely underestimated by our study. Considering long-term average river discharge, only a few regions, including Spain, Italy, Iraq, Southern India, Western China, the Australian Murray Darling Basin and the High Plains Aquifer in the USA, all of them with extensive irrigation, are expected to be less affected by climate change than by past anthropogenic flow alterations. In some of these regions, climate change will exacerbate the discharge reductions, while in others climate change provides opportunities for reducing past reductions. Emissions scenario B2 leads to only slightly reduced alterations of river flow regimes as compared to scenario A2 even though emissions are much smaller. The differences in alterations resulting from the two applied climate models are larger than those resulting from the two emissions scenarios. Based on general knowledge about ecosystem responses to flow alterations and data related to flow alterations by dams and water withdrawals, we expect that the computed climate change induced river flow alterations will impact freshwater ecosystems more strongly than past anthropogenic alterations.

scholarly journals Livestock and wild herbivores in the western Himalaya: competition or co-existence?

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 10084
Author(s):  
Zarreen Syed ◽  
Mohd Shahnawaz Khan
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Compensatory Mechanisms ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
The Status ◽  
Insufficient Time

Pastoralism is among the major land use practices in the Himalaya and the main source of livelihood for local communities.  In naturally occurring herbivore populations, the co-occurrence of native species has evolved through evolutionary processes over millions of years which has enabled coexistence.  In the modern scenario, however, the intrusion of livestock into the wild habitats impose additional pressure on the limited resources, given that there has been insufficient time for resource partitioning to evolve.  Realizing the need to develop a better understanding of wild herbivores and livestock interactions, the present review was compiled.  The review demonstrates that a group of similar species using similar habitats and feeding on similar foods leads to more competition.  Also, goat/sheep impose a potential threat to the resource of wild herbivores and such resource exploitation by livestock is not compatible with their conservation.  Further, wild herbivores shift their habitat to avoid the risk of being exposed to competition or predation.  Livestock grazing and associated activities affect the wild herbivores’ habitat use and foraging behaviour, and these are changes that may also affect their survival in the future.  There is a prime need to find out the threshold of livestock population which can sustain itself without compromising livestock production and wildlife.  High conflict areas need to be identified and compensatory mechanisms should evolve. It is also necessary for ecology to be integrated with an understanding of the social dynamics that influence the status of the resources.

scholarly journals Central, peripheral, and renal hemodynamics in patients with hypertensive disease during long-term monotherapy with enalapril alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (according to the data of RU-003 study)

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
A. O. Konradi ◽  
R. Kh. Afaunov ◽  
O. V. Mamontov ◽  
A. A. Pushkarev ◽  
A. N. Krutikov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Blood Flow Rate ◽  
Renal Hemodynamics ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Hypertensive Disease ◽  
The Status ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
The Impact

The study was undertaken to examine the impact of long-term therapy with enapril alone and in its fixed combination with hydrochlorothiazide (renitec/co-renitec, MSD) on the time course of changes in central, peripheral, and renal hemodynamic parameters and on the status of cardiopulmonary reflex in patients with hypertensive disease. The study included 35 patients with Stages I-II arterial hypertension. Therapy with renitec/co-renitec was performed for 6 months, starting with its dose of 10 mg, followed by titration up to 40 mg and switching to a combined therapy. A decrease in blood pressure in the groups of patients receiving therapy with enalapril alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide was found to be associa ted mainly with diminished peripheral vascular resistance, which was followed by a higher volume blood flow rate in the forearm-and a better sensitivity of the cardiopulmonary baroreflex. Moreover, long-term use of enalapril both alone and in combination with thiazide diuretic was attended by improved renal hemodynamics.

scholarly journals Pilferer, murderer of innocents or prey? The potential impact of killer shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus) on crayfish

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Roje ◽  
Kateřina Švagrová ◽  
Lukáš Veselý ◽  
Arnaud Sentis ◽  
Antonín Kouba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Signal Crayfish ◽  
Dikerogammarus Villosus ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Marbled Crayfish ◽  
Invasive Amphipod ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Freshwater ecosystems worldwide are facing the establishment of non-native species, which, in certain cases, exhibit invasive characteristics. The impacts of invaders on native communities are often detrimental, yet, the number and spread of non-native invasive species is increasing. This is resulting in novel and often unexpected combinations of non-native and native species in natural communities. While the impact of invaders on native species is increasingly well-documented, the interactions of non-native invaders with other non-native invaders are less studied. We assessed the potential of an invasive amphipod, the killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894), to cope with other established invaders in European waters: North American crayfish of the Astacidae family—represented by signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852), and the Cambaridae family—represented by marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis Lyko, 2017. The main goal of this study was to investigate if killer shrimp, besides their role as prey of crayfish, can significantly influence their stocks by predating upon their eggs, hatchlings and free-moving early juveniles. Our results confirmed that killer shrimp can predate on crayfish eggs and hatchlings even directly from females abdomens where they are incubated and protected. As marbled crayfish have smaller and thinner egg shells as well as smaller juveniles than signal crayfish, they were more predated upon by killer shrimp than were signal crayfish. These results confirmed that the invasive killer shrimp can feed on different developmental stages of larger freshwater crustaceans and possibly other aquatic organisms.

scholarly journals Tobacco control within and beyond WHO MPOWER: outcomes from Taiwan SimSmoke

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Sanna ◽  
Wayne Gao ◽  
Ya-Wen Chiu ◽  
Hung-Yi Chiou ◽  
Yi-Hua Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Smoking Prevalence ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Retail Price ◽  
Attributable Mortality ◽  
The Status ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Per Capita Consumption

IntroductionAdult smoking prevalence in Taiwan rapidly declined from 26.5% in 2005 to 20.0% in 2015. Nevertheless, future projections on smoking-attributable deaths and current per capita consumption do not paint an equally bright picture.MethodsWe used SimSmoke, a tobacco control simulation model to assess the impact of tax increases and other policies by predicting past and projecting over future decades smoking rates and smoking-attributable mortality.ResultsThe model accurately depicts the decline in smoking prevalence observed in Taiwan from 2000 to 2015. Nonetheless, under the ‘status quo’ scenario, smoking-attributable mortality is projected to continue growing, peaking at 26 602 annual deaths in 2039 and cumulative deaths >1 million by 2044. By comparing projections with current policies with a counterfactual scenario based on the 2000 policy levels, SimSmoke estimates that tobacco control in Taiwan has been able to reduce smoking prevalence by 30% in 2015 with 450 000 fewer smoking-attributable deaths by 2060. Modified scenarios show that doubling the retail price of cigarettes and fully implementing the remaining MPOWER measures would avert approximately 45 000 lives by 2040 and 130 000 by 2060.ConclusionsTobacco will be a leading cause of death in Taiwan for the coming decades, showing yet again the long-term consequences of smoking on public health. The MPOWER package, even if adopted at the highest level with a large tax increase, is unlikely to reduce smoking prevalence to the endgame goal of 5% in the next five decades.

scholarly journals The Impact of Physiotherapy in the Water Assisted by Dolphins for Motor Skills of Patient after Haemorrhagic Stroke (Case Analysis)

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelina Rimkutė ◽  
Eglė Radzevičienė ◽  
Brigita Kreivinienė
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Haemorrhagic Stroke ◽  
The Status ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
Therapeutic Activities ◽  
The Impact

Background. Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality and long-term disability worldwide. In terms of innovative technologies which help to recover from stroke one of the newest and least researched methods is physiotherapy in the water assisted by dolphins. Such an innovative case study was conducted in Lithuania. A great variety of scientifc literature on animal assisted therapies and interventions can be found worldwide, however, concerning research on human-animal interaction mechanisms a scientifc gap is still existing as presented in various journals of different felds (Beetz et al., 2012). The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of healing exercises in the water assisted by dolphins for motor skills of patients with haemorrhagic stroke. Methods. The study was carried out at the Dolphin Therapy Centre of the Lithuanian Sea Museum. The study lasted two weeks. The sample was a man diagnosed with a haemorrhagic stroke. The research data was collected on motor skills in the water, leg muscle strength, coordination, balance and gait. The patient participated in ten therapeutic activities in the water, assisted by dolphins (length of one activity – 30 minutes). The physiotherapist working with the patient applied balance and coordination exercises in the water. The status of the patient was evaluated four times: before activities with dolphins, after fve activities with dolphins, after ten activities with dolphins, and follow up in three weeks after ending the activities with dolphins. Results. The muscle strength of legs increased signifcantly in the foot group and slightly in the lower limb muscle group. The greatest result in balance was registered after ten therapeutic activities with dolphins in the water. The greatest improvement in coordination and walking occurred later. Assessing motor skills in the water, a signifcant positive change in equilibrium was observed. Conclusions. The results of the study showed that physiotherapy exercises in the water assisted by dolphins might help to achieve improvements in motor skills.Keywords: haemorrhagic stroke, motor skills in the water, balance, gait, therapeutic activities for assisting dolphins, physiotherapy in water.

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