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Browsing Peer Reviewed Scientific Papers by Title
Peer Reviewed Scientific Papers
Bayesian survey-based assessment of North Sea plaice (Pleuronectes platessa): extracting integrated signals from multiple surveys
Bogaards, J A; Kraak, S B M; Rijnsdorp, A D (Oxford University Press, 2009)
Dependence on a relatively small sample size is generally viewed as a big disadvantage for survey-based assessments. We propose an integrated catch-at-age model for research vessel data derived from multiple surveys, and illustrate its utility in estimating trends in North Sea plaice abundance and fishing mortality. Parameter estimates were obtained by Bayesian analysis, which allows for estimation of uncertainty in model parameters attributable to measurement error. Model results indicated constant fishing selectivity over the distribution area of the North Sea plaice stock, with decreased selectivity at older age. Whereas separate analyses of survey datasets suggested different biomass trends in the southeast than in the western and central North Sea, a combined analysis demonstrated that the observations in both subareas were compatible and that SSB has been increasing over the period 1996- 2005. The annual proportion of fish that dispersed in a northwesterly direction was estimated to increase from about 10% at age 2 to 33% at age 5 and older. We also found higher fishing mortality rates than reported in ICES assessments, which could be the consequence of inadequate specification of catchability-at-age in this study or underestimated fishing mortality by the conventional ICES assessment, which relies on official landings figures.
Biased stock assessment when using multiple, hardly overlapping, tuning series if fishing trends vary spatially
Kraak, S B M; Daan, N; Pastoors, M A (Oxford University Press, 2009)
Fishing-effort distributions are subject to change, for autonomous reasons and in response to management regulations. Ignoring such changes in a stock-assessment procedure may lead to a biased perception. We simulated a stock distributed over two regions with inter-regional migration and different trends in exploitation, and tested the performance of Extended Survivors Analysis (XSA) and a statistical catch-at-age model in terms of bias, when spatially restricted tuning series were applied. If we used a single tuning index that covered only the more heavily fished region, estimates of fishing mortality and spawning-stock biomass were seriously biased. If two tuning series each exclusively covering one region were used (without overlap but together covering the whole area), estimates were also biased. Surprisingly, a moderate degree of overlap of spatial coverage of the two tuning indices was sufficient to reduce bias of the XSA assessment substantially. However, performance was best when one tuning series covered the entire stock area.
Bioactive agents from marine mussels and their effects on human health
Grienke, U.; Silke, J.; Tasdemir, D. (Elsevier, 2014)
The consumption of marine mussels as popular seafood has increased steadily over the past decades. Awareness of mussel derived molecules, that promote health, has contributed to extensive research efforts in that field. This review highlights the bioactive potential of mussel components from species of the genus Mytilus (e.g. M. edulis) and Perna (e.g. P. canaliculus). In particular, the bioactivity related to three major chemical classes of mussel primary metabolites, i.e. proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, is evaluated. Within the group of proteins the focus is mainly on mussel peptides e.g. those obtained by bio-transformation processes, such as fermentation. In addition, mussel lipids, comprising polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are discussed as compounds that are well known for prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Within the third group of carbohydrates, mussel polysaccharides are investigated. Furthermore, the importance of monitoring the mussel as food material in respect to contaminations with natural toxins produced by microalgae is discussed
Chemical aspects of ocean acidification monitoring in the ICES marine area.
Hydes, D.J.; McGovern, E.; Walsham, P. (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 2013)
It is estimated that oceans absorb approximately a quarter of the total anthropogenic releases of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year. This is leading to acidification of the oceans, which has already been observed through direct measurements. These changes in the ocean carbon system are a cause for concern for the future health of marine ecosystems. A coordinated ocean acidification (OA) monitoring programme is needed that integrates physical, biogeochemical, and biological measurements to concurrently observe the variability and trends in ocean carbon chemistry and evaluate species and ecosystems response to these changes. This report arises from an OSPAR request to ICES for advice on this matter. It considers the approach and tools available to achieve coordinated monitoring of changes in the carbon system in the ICES marine area, i.e. the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea.
Chemical characteristics of water masses in the Rockall Trough
McGrath, Triona; Nolan, Glenn; McGovern, Evin (Elsevier, 2011)
Direct observations of physical and chemical data in the Rockall Trough during February of 2008, 2009 and 2010 are presented. Results are compared to a similar WOCE transect, AR24, completed in November/December 1996. Temperature and salinity data have been used to identify the water masses present in the Trough, and have been combined with nutrient (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate) and oxygen data to produce a table outlining the chemical characteristics of each of the water masses. Eastern North Atlantic Water (ENAW) moving north through the Trough gains nutrients from a branch of the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Mediterranean Water (MW) was identified as a warm saline core, with characteristically low oxygen and low preformed nutrients along the Irish continental shelf break near 53°N. Found at a similar density level at the southern entrance to the Trough, Sub Arctic Intermediate Water (SAIW) has relatively high oxygen and preformed nutrients, likely entrained from the subpolar gyre when it was formed. LSW was identified as a prominent water mass between 1500–2000 m deep, with characteristically high oxygen content. Lower silicate, and to a lesser extent preformed nitrate, in 2009 coincide with a freshening of Labrador Sea Water (LSW) relative to other years, and could indicate a stronger influence from the Labrador Current when it was formed. Finally, traces of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) were found as far north as 53°N, indicated by a sharp increase in nutrient concentrations, particularly silicate in the deepest parts of the Trough.
Combined oral toxicity of azaspiracid-1 and yessotoxin in female NMRI mice
Aasen, J A B; Espenes, A; Miles, C O; Samdal, I A; Hess, P; Aune, T (Elsevier, 2011)
For many years, the presence of yessotoxins (YTXs) in shellfish has contributed to the outcome of the traditional mouse bioassay and has on many occasions caused closure of shellfisheries. Since YTXs do not appear to cause diarrhoea in man and exert low oral toxicity in animal experiments, it has been suggested that they should be removed from regulation. Before doing so, it is important to determine whether the oral toxicity of YTXs is enhanced when present together with shellfish toxins known to cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, mice were given high doses of YTX, at 1 or 5 mg/kg body weight, either alone or together with azaspiracid-1 (AZA1) at 200 μg/kg. The latter has been shown to induce damage to the small intestine at this level. The combined exposure caused no clinical effects, and no pathological changes were observed in internal organs. These results correspond well with the very low levels of YTX detected in internal organs by means of LCMS/MS and ELISA after dosing. Indeed, the very low absorption of YTX when given alone remained largely unchanged when YTX was administered in combination with AZA1. Thus, the oral toxicity of YTX is not enhanced in the presence of sub-lethal levels of AZA1.
Comparative effects of the marine algal toxins azaspiracid-1, -2, and -3 on Jurkat T lymphocyte cells
Twiner, M.; El-Ladki, R.; Kilcoyne, J.; Doucette, G.J. (ACS Publications, 2012)
Azaspiracids (AZA) are polyether marine toxins of dinoflagellate origin that accumulate in shellfish and represent an emerging human health risk. Although monitored and regulated in many European and Asian countries, there are no monitoring programs or regulatory requirements in the United States for this toxin group. This did not prove to be a problem until June 2009 when AZAs were identified in US seafood for the first time resulting in human intoxications and further expanding their global distribution. Efforts are now underway in several laboratories to better define the effects and mechanism(s) of action for the AZAs. Our investigations have employed Jurkat T lymphocyte cells as an in vitro model to characterize the toxicological effects of AZA1, AZA2, and AZA3. Cytotoxicity experiments employing a metabolically based dye (i.e., MTS) indicated that AZA1, AZA2, and AZA3 each elicited a lethal response that was both concentration- and time-dependent, with EC50 values in the sub- to low nanomolar range. On the basis of EC50 comparisons, the order of potency was as follows: AZA2 > AZA3 > AZA1, with toxic equivalence factors (TEFs) relative to AZA1 of 8.3-fold and 4.5-fold greater for AZA2 and AZA3, respectively. Image analysis of exposed cells using Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC) imaging and fluorescent imaging of cellular actin indicated that the morphological effects of AZA1 on this cell type are unique relative to the effects of AZA2 and AZA3. Collectively, our data support the growing body of evidence suggesting that natural analogues of AZA are highly potent and that they may have multiple molecular targets.
Complex pattern of genetic structuring in the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) of the River Foyle system in northwest Ireland: disentangling the evolutionary signal from population stochasticity
Ensing, Dennis; Prodöhl, Paulo A.; McGinnity, Philip; Boylan, Patrick; O'Maoiléidigh, Niall; Crozier, Walter W. (Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2011)
Little is known about the microevolutionary processes shaping within river population genetic structure of aquatic organisms characterized by high levels of homing and spawning site fidelity. Using a microsatellite panel, we observed complex and highly significant levels of intrariver population genetic substructure and Isolation-by-Distance, in the Atlantic salmon stock of a large river system. Two evolutionary models have been considered explaining mechanisms promoting genetic substructuring in Atlantic salmon, the member-vagrant and metapopulation models. We show that both models can be simultaneously used to explain patterns and levels of population structuring within the Foyle system. We show that anthropogenic factors have had a large influence on contemporary population structure observed. In an analytical development, we found that the frequently used estimator of genetic differentiation, FST, routinely underestimated genetic differentiation by a factor three to four compared to the equivalent statistic Jost's Dest (Jost 2008). These statistics also showed a near-perfect correlation. Despite ongoing discussions regarding the usefulness of "adjusted" FST statistics, we argue that these could be useful to identify and quantify qualitative differences between populations, which are important from management and conservation perspectives as an indicator of existence of biologically significant variation among tributary populations or a warning of critical environmental damage.
Critical Role of the Matricellular Protein SPARC in Mediating Erythroid Progenitor Cell Development in Zebrafish
Ceinos, Rosa M.; Torres, Eva; Chamorro, Ruben; Novoa, Beatriz; Figueras, Antonio; Ruane, N. M.; Rotllant, Josep (Karger, 2012)
Sparc (Osteonectin) is a multifunctional matricellular glycoprotein expressed by many differentiated cells. Members of this family mediate cell-matrix interactions rather than acting as structural components of the extracellular matrix and therefore can influence many remodelling events, including haematopoiesis. We have investigated the role of sparc in embryonic haematopoiesis, using a morpholino antisense oligonucleotidebased knockdown approach. Knockdown of sparc function resulted in specific erythroid progenitor cell differentiation defects that were highlighted by changes in gene expression and morphology, which could be rescued by injection of sparc mRNA. Furthermore, a comparison of blood phenotypes of sparc and fgfs knockdowns with similar defects and the sparc rescue of fgf21 blood phenotype places sparc downstream of fgf21 in the genetic network regulating haematopoiesis in zebrafish. These results establish a role for an extracellular matrix protein (Sparc) as an important regulator of embryonic haematopoiesis during early development in zebrafish.
Defining value per unit effort in mixed métier fisheries
Davies, S.; Minto, C.; Officer, R.; Lordan, C. (Elsevier, 2015)
Value achieved from time spent at sea is a central driver of fishing decisions and fishing behaviors. Value per unit effort (VPUE) is an important indicator of economic performance in itself and a useful metric within integrated mixed fisheries models. A time series of Irish first sale prices and total per trip landings values (VPT) highlight heterogeneity in fish prices and VPTs achieved by the Irish fleet spatially and temporally, as well as variability with species targeting. This investigation compared models to standardize fishing trip VPUE accounting for species targeting (métier groupings), engine power (a kW proxy for vessel size), seasonal and annual variability, fishing effort, and individual vessels (encompassing variability in vessel characteristics and skipper effects). Linear mixed effects models incorporating random vessel effects and within-group variance between métier groupings performed best at describing the variability in the dataset. All investigated factors were important in explaining variability, and thus important in standardizing VPUE. Models incorporating fishing days (days with reported fishing activity) and engine power as separate variables resulted in improved AIC values. Therefore, fishing days were considered to be the most appropriate effort measure to generate VPUE. The effort unit traditionally applied in measures of per unit effort, fishing hours, performed comparatively poorly in relation to VPT.
Definition, dynamics and stability of métiers in the Irish otter trawl fleet
Davie, Sarah; Lordan, Colm (Elsevier, 2011)
The Irish otter trawl fleet operates in a complex multi-species multi-gear fishery, spanning a wide geographic area, and involving around 275 trawlers. Factorial and clustering methods were applied to 2003 fishing trip data to define thirty-three métiers. Definitions were based on six trip characteristics taken from logbooks, namely: fishing gear, mesh size, vessel length, species composition, area, and month. Métiers exploiting demersal species or species groups are characterised by single vessel bottom otter trawls, typically with mesh sizes of 70 mm or more, operating year round. This includes nine Nephrops dominated métiers highlighting the importance of this species to the fleet. Many demersal métiers are characterised by groups of species, such as mixed whitefish or slope species. Métiers exploiting pelagic species are often focussed on single species, and are typically seasonal, mid-water trawling (often paired) with mesh sizes less than 70 mm. Pelagic métiers account for the majority of landings by over an order of magnitude in several cases. Demersal métiers account for the majority of fishing trips and effort, (primarily Nephrops métiers), and vessels (primarily mixed species métiers). The new métier definitions were found to be appropriate remained relevant despite declining fleet landings and effort between 2003 and 2006. Species compositions within these métiers have generally remained similar to the proportions defined in 2003. These robust métier definitions present opportunities to improve fisheries sampling, assessment and management. Although métiers pose complexity challenge for such applications they can be used the building blocks for appropriate management units.
Demographics and landscape features determine intrariver population structure in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): the case of the River Moy in Ireland
Dillane, E; McGinnity, P; Coughlan, J P; Cross, M C; deEyto, E; Kenchington, E; Prodöhl, P; Cross, T F (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008)
Contemporary genetic structure of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the River Moy in Ireland is shown here to be strongly related to landscape features and population demographics, with populations being defined largely by their degree of physical isolation and their size. Samples of juvenile salmon were collected from the 17 major spawning areas on the river Moy and from one spawning area in each of five smaller nearby rivers. No temporal allele frequency differences were observed within locations for 12 microsatellite loci, whereas nearly all spatial samples differed significantly suggesting that each was a separate population. Bayesian clustering and landscape genetic analyses suggest that these populations can be combined hierarchically into five genetically informative larger groupings. Lakes were found to be the single most important determinant of the observed population structure. Spawning area size was also an important factor. The salmon population of the closest nearby river resembled genetically the largest Moy population grouping. In addition we showed that anthropogenic influences on spawning habitats, in this case arterial drainage, can affect relationships between populations. Our results show that Atlantic salmon biodiversity can be largely defined by geography and thus knowledge of landscape features (for example, as characterised within Geographical Information Systems) has the potential, to predict population structure in other rivers without an intensive genetic survey, or at least to help direct sampling. This approach of combining genetics and geography, for sampling and in subsequent statistical analyses, has wider application to the investigation of population structure in other freshwater/anadromous fish species and possibly in marine fish and other organisms.
Diatom assemblages and their associated environmental factors in upland peat forest rivers
O'Driscoll, Connie; de Eyto, Elvira; Rodgers, Michael; O'Connor, Mark; Asam, Zaki-ul-Zaman; Xiao, Liwen (Elsevier, 2012)
The acid-sensitive upland blanket peat catchments are important habitats for diatom assemblages. In this study, the distribution patterns of epilithic diatom assemblages in the streams of upland forested blanket peat in north-west of Ireland are presented and the associated environmental factors are discussed. A total of 43 sites in 16 rivers were sampled. Multivariate analysis highlighted alkalinity and conductivity as the main physicochemical drivers of riverine diatom assemblages. Contrary to expectations nutrients were not found to have a major influence on the diatoms. A major flood event had a significant impact on the diatom assemblage, and one year after the event, long stalked diatom taxa were still largely absent from the river, indicating that floods could be one of the important factors affecting diatom assemblages. However, the ecological status of the affected sites, as determined by the EQR, did not alter from before to after the flood. The results of this study could be applied to similar acid-sensitive upland peat forest catchments and used as the benchmark to assess the impact of forest operations and peat degradation on ecological status.
Diel Surface Temperature Range Scales with Lake Size
Woolway, R.I.; Jones, I.D.; Maberly, S.C.; French, J.R.; Livingstone, D.M; Monteith, D.T; Simpson, G.L.; Thackeray, S.J.; Andersen, M.R.; Battarbee, R.W.; DeGasperi, C.L.; Evans, C.D.; de Eyto, E.; Feuchtmayr, H.; Hamilton, D.P.; Kernan, M.; Krokowski, J.; Rimmer, A.; Rose, K.C.; Rusak, J.A.; Ryves, D.B.; Scott, D.R.; Shilland, E.M.; Smyth, R.L.; Staehr, P.A.; Thomas, R.; Waldron, S.; Weyhenmeyer, G.A. (PLoS ONE, 2016)
Ecological and biogeochemical processes in lakes are strongly dependent upon water temperature. Long-term surface warming of many lakes is unequivocal, but little is known about the comparative magnitude of temperature variation at diel timescales, due to a lack of appropriately resolved data. Here we quantify the pattern and magnitude of diel temperature variability of surface waters using high-frequency data from 100 lakes. We show that the near-surface diel temperature range can be substantial in summer relative to long-term change and, for lakes smaller than 3 km2, increases sharply and predictably with decreasing lake area. Most small lakes included in this study experience average summer diel ranges in their near-surface temperatures of between 4 and 7°C. Large diel temperature fluctuations in the majority of lakes undoubtedly influence their structure, function and role in biogeochemical cycles, but the full implications remain largely unexplored.
Differences in habitat selection of male and female megrim(Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, Walbaum) to the west of Ireland. A result of differences in life-history strategies between the sexes?
Lordan, C; McGrath, D; Gerritsen, H.D. (Elsevier, 2010)
The sex ratio in the catches of megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, Walbaum) varied systematically with depth on three independent trawl survey series off the west coast of Ireland. Female megrim dominated the shallow catches, while males were more common in catches from deeper waters. The size difference between the sexes alone cannot explain this pattern because it remained evident when fish length was taken into account. Therefore size-specific habitat preferences or size-selective fishing mortality cannot fully explain the observed trend in the sex ratio of megrim. Female megrim grow to a larger size, at a faster rate than males and it is likely that their differences in habitat preferences are related to this. Shallower waters are warmer during the growing season and are likely to provide better conditions for fast growth. An understanding of the mechanisms behind these patterns is an important consideration in the management and conservation of this fish stock, which might be particularly vulnerable because the commercial landings are to a large extent dominated by female megrim
Dissolved azaspiracids are absorbed and metabolized by blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)
Jauffrais, T.; Kilcoyne, J.; Herrenknecht, C.; Truquet, P.; Séchet, V.; Miles, C.O.; Hess, P. (Elsevier, 2013)
The relationship between azaspiracid shellfish poisoning and a small dinoflagellate, Azadinium spinosum, has been shown recently. The organism produces AZA1 and -2, while AZA3 and other analogues are metabolic products formed in shellfish. We evaluated whether mussels were capable of accumulating dissolved AZA1 and -2, and compared the toxin profiles of these mussels at 24 h with profiles of those exposed to live or lysed A. spinosum. We also assessed the possibility of preparative production of AZA metabolites by exposing mussels to semi-purified AZA1. We exposed mussels to similar concentration of AZAs: dissolved AZA1 + 2 (crude extract) at 7.5 and 0.75 μg L−1, dissolved AZA1+2 (7.5 μg L−1) in combination with Isochrysis affinis galbana, and lysed and live A. spinosum cells at 1 × 105 and 1 × 104 cell mL−1 (containing equivalent amounts of AZA1 + 2). Subsequently, we dissected and analysed digestive glands, gills and remaining flesh. Mussels (whole flesh) accumulated AZAs to levels above the regulatory limit, except at the lower levels of dissolved AZAs. The toxin profile of the mussels varied significantly with treatment. The gills contained 42–46% and the digestive glands 23–24% of the total toxin load using dissolved AZAs, compared to 3–12% and 75–90%, respectively, in mussels exposed to live A. spinosum. Exposure of mussels to semi-purified AZA1 produced the metabolites AZA17 (16.5%) and AZA3 (1.7%) after 4 days of exposure, but the conversion efficiency was too low to justify using this procedure for preparative isolation.
Distribution patterns of ichthyoplankton communities in different ecosystems of the Northeast Atlantic.
Dransfeld, L; Dwane, O; Zuur, A F (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009)
Results are presented of an extensive ichthyoplankton survey that covered the continental slope, the offshore banks and oceanic regions west of Ireland. Oceanographic measurements revealed domes of cold, less saline water over the Porcupine, Rockall and Faroese Banks, constituting Taylor columns. The most species-rich stations were those found on and close to the offshore banks and the shelf edge. Larvae found in these areas were mainly from demersal fish species, including some commercial species such as haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, lemon sole Microstomus kitt (Walbaum, 1792), ling Molva molva (L.) and witch Glyptocephalus cynoglossus (L.). The deep water stations of the Rockall Trough and the north and west stations off the Rockall and Hatton Banks were characterized by a low number of species and high numbers of individuals of mesopelagic species such as Maurolicus muelleri and Benthosema glaciale. Results from multivariate statistical analysis confirmed that species compositions varied significantly at different sites and were related to environmental conditions, whereby sites of similar temperature, salinity and bottom depth harboured similar species assemblages. Generalized additive mixed modelling was used to model the relationship between species richness and environmental variables and confirmed that there was a significant negative relationship between species richness and bottom depth indicating that the offshore banks and the slope stations present favourable habitats for a large number of species.
The drivers of sea lice management policies and how best to integrate them into a risk management strategy: An ecosystem approach to sea lice management.
Jackson, D; Moberg, O; Stenevik Djupevåg, E M; Kane, F; Hareide, H (John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2018)
The control of sea lice infestations on cultivated Atlantic salmon is a major issue in many regions of the world. The numerous drivers which shape the priorities and objectives of the control strategies vary for different regions/jurisdictions. These range from the animal welfare and economic priorities of the producers, to the mitigation of any potential impacts on wild stocks. Veterinary ethics, environmental impacts of therapeutants, and impacts for organic certification of the produce are, amongst others, additional sets of factors which should be considered. Current best practice in both EU and international environmental law advocates a holistic ecosystem approach to assessment of impacts and risks. The issues of biosecurity and ethics, including the impacts on the stocks of species used as cleaner fish, are areas for inclusion in such a holistic ecosystem assessment. The Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses (DPSIR) process is examined as a decision-making framework and potential applications to sea lice management are outlined. It is argued that this is required to underpin any integrated sea lice management (ISLM) strategy to balance pressures and outcomes and ensure a holistic approach to managing the issue of sea lice infestations on farmed stock on a medium to long-term basis.
Effects of cooking and heat treatment on concentration and tissue distribution of okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-2 in mussels (Mytilus edulis)
McCarron, P; Kilcoyne, J; Hess, P (Elsevier, 2008)
Using high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry the influence of conventional steaming and other heat treatments on the level of azaspiracids, okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-2 in mussels (Mytilus edulis) was investigated. A prior study looking at the influence of steaming on the concentration and distribution of azaspiracids showed significant increases in concentration as a result. Described is a follow-up study using two separate mussel samples, where the contribution of water loss during steaming to increases of toxin levels was examined. In addition to water loss it was demonstrated that heating of fresh azaspiracid contaminated mussels resulted in significant increases in the quantity of the desmethyl analogue (azaspiracid-3) measured. A systematic heat treatment experiment confirmed these findings and showed that azaspiracid-3 was the most thermally instable of the three regulated azaspiracid analogues. In parallel, the same studies were carried out for okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-2 also naturally present in the samples used. Concentration increases correlated with water loss during steaming. More so than for azaspiracids, increased distribution of okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-2 from the digestive glands to the remainder tissues was observed as a result of the processes examined. This suggests that analysis of whole flesh tissues, as opposed to dissected digestive glands, is more appropriate for regulatory purposes, particularly if cooked samples are being analysed. The findings of the studies reported here have importance in terms of the methodology applied in regulatory phycotoxin monitoring programmes. Therefore, options for sample pre-treatment are discussed.
The effects of growth phase and light intensity on toxin production by Dinophysis acuminata from the northeastern United States
Tong, M; Kulis, D M; Fux, E; Smith, J L; Hess, P; Zhou, Q; Anderson, D M (Elsevier, 2011)
For many years, the study of toxic Dinophysis species was primarily restricted to field populations until it was recently demonstrated that some of these organisms can be mixotrophically cultured in the laboratory with the ciliate prey, Myrionecta rubra, which had previously been fed with cryptophytes of the genus Teleaulax and Geminigera. Here we investigated the influence of growth phase and light intensity on the production of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins and pectenotoxins (PTXs) in cultures of Dinophysis acuminata from the northeastern United States. The cell toxin content of okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), and the okadaic acid diol ester (OA-D8) varied significantly with growth phase under all light treatments, at 6 °C. Each toxin quota remained low during middle and late exponential phases, but significantly increased by mid-plateau phase. DTX1 and OA-D8 were variable through plateau phase, while OA and PTX2 significantly decreased as the culture aged. Although maximum toxin content was not achieved until middle plateau phase, the rate of toxin production was generally greatest during exponential growth. The low and relatively constant cellular toxin levels observed during exponential and early-plateau phase indicate a balance between toxin production and growth, whereas in the middle-plateau phase, toxin production continues even though the cells are no longer capable of dividing, leading to higher toxin quotas. Light was required for Dinophysis growth and the production of all toxins, however, there was no significant difference in growth rates or toxin quotas between the higher light treatments ranging from 65 to 300 μmol photons/sq.m/s. These results demonstrate that DSP production in D. acuminate is constitutive, and that specific toxins are differentially produced or accumulated during the cells' growth phase, possibly in response to changes to their environment.


The Southview SDA Church in Minneapolis MN, is known as a warm and inviting family. This growing congregation is one of the most diverse churches in North America with over 550 members from families that represent over 30 nations around the world. We are a church that is committed to Uplifting Jesus, Building Community, and Enriching Lives. With worship on the weekends and many mid- week programs and LifeGroups you are sure to find something exciting to help you feel at home. Everyone is welcome and we hope to meet you soon.
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I was standing at the end of my rainbow, but nowhere to go and no heart of gold in sight.
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The Karnataka Congress on Monday wrote to party president Rahul Gandhi inviting him to contest the Lok Sabha polls from the state.
"The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee takes pride to invite you to kindly contest from Karnataka in the coming Lok Sabha election.
"Our state has stood by the Congress party whenever we were in troubled times. The present scenario in India is that our party will emerge stronger in the ensuing elections," Rao said.
by winning the Lok Sabha bypolls in 1978, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had contested and won from Ballari in 1999, trouncing Sushma Swaraj.


CHICAGO (AP) � The odds of obesity appear stacked against black and Hispanic children even before birth, new research suggests.
The findings help explain disproportionately high obesity rates in minority children. Family income is often a factor but so are cultural customs and beliefs, the study authors said.
In a separate study, researchers found signs of inflammation in obese children as young as 3 years old. High levels were more common in blacks and Hispanics.
These inflammatory markers have been linked with obesity in adults and are thought to increase chances for developing heart disease. Their significance in early childhood is uncertain, but the study�s lead author said she never thought they�d be found in children so young.
�We think that fat cells in the body cause inflammation and that inflammation causes vessel damage,� said University of North Carolina researcher Asheley Cockrell Skinner.
The results suggest that 3-year-olds with inflammation might already have artery changes that could make them prone to later heart problems, although that needs to be examined in future research, she said.
Both studies were released today in the journal Pediatrics.
Reginald Washington, a Denver pediatric heart specialist who has worked with the American Academy of Pediatrics on obesity issues, called both studies important.
In the racial disparities study, risk factors examined included: mothers smoking during pregnancy; unusually rapid weight gain in young infants; starting solid food before 4 months; mothers� routinely pressuring young kids to eat more; children sleeping less than 12 hours daily between 6 months and 2 years; and allowing very young kids to have sugary drinks, fast food and/or TVs in their rooms.
�It�s striking,� said lead author Elsie Taveras of Harvard Medical School.
The results might reflect cultural beliefs or influence from grandparents on feeding practices, but the good news, she said, is that almost every risk factor studied can be changed.
The separate inflammation study involved data on more than 16,000 children ages 1 to 17 who had blood tests during 1999-2006 national health surveys.
Markers including a substance called C-reactive protein, or CRP, were measured. CRP levels of at least 1 milligram per deciliter of blood have been linked with heart disease risks in adults.
The results are preliminary and do not mean that parents of obese kids should rush out and have their kids� CRP levels tested, Washington said. That�s partly because it�s not clear whether lowering CRP levels in obese kids, through weight loss for example, would make any difference, he said.


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Citizens United and the Mark Left on Campaign Finance Law
WKMS | By Tracy Ross,
Melanie Davis-McAfee
Published September 18, 2018 at 12:31 PM CDT
wikipedia.com
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, enacted in March 2002, aimed to limit the amount of financial support interest groups and national political parties could provide to a specific campaign. In 2010, a historic court ruling overturned the reform act. Dr. Kevin Qualls, associate professor in MSU's Department of Mass Communications and Journalism, visits Sounds Good to talk about the significant change created in campaign finance law.
Citizens United is a conservative political advocacy group whose stated mission is to "restore our government to citizens' control...through a combination of education, advocacy, and grassroots organization." Citizens United took the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, led by the late Senator John McCain and Senator Russ Feingold, to the Supreme Court on the grounds that it encroached on the group's rights laid out in the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The 5 to 4 Supreme Court decision to overturn the reform act has shaped a new era of financial campaign law.
The major issue of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission was a perceived limitation of the first amendment right to free speech. In this case, Citizens United claimed that, according to the right to free speech, the U.S. government is prohibited from restricting independent expenditures for communications by non-profit corporations, for-profit corporations, labor unions, and other civil organizations. Dr. Kevin Qualls explains that using the first amendment as the basis for a case allows agencies to bypass drawn out legal procedures saved for federal organizations. "If you're dealing with a federal agency," Dr. Kevin Qualls states, "...you have to go through all the agency procedures on appeal. Unless there's a fundamental right involved -- if a fundamental right is involved, you can go straight to court."
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was founded on a system in which individuals gave limitied, disclosed contributions to parties, PACs (Political Action Committees), and candidates. After the Citizens United vs. FEC case, individuals and organizations were able to give hundreds of thousands, and even millions, of dollars to parties, PACs, and candidates without disclosure. This has created a surge of 'dark money,' or money that is untraced, within the U.S. political campaign system.
'Dark money' is largely a result of a new phenomena called 'synthetic grassroots movements,' or 'astro-turfing.' Synthetic grassroots movements use titles that are indicative of citizen action or importance, such as Citizens United, Alliance to Keep Americans Working, etc., while being entirely funded by corporate interest. These pseudo-non-profit organizations' contributions have significant influence over the outcome of an election. "Or, as we're seeing right now," Qualls explains, "the nomination of someone for the Supreme Court. This is the first time I've ever seen this happen."
Dr. Qualls gives an example of a corporate organization currently working to influence the Supreme Court nomination out of their own interest. "The NRA is not even forming a group, they're not making some citizens' group, they're actually doing it in their own name. They have a seven figure campaign right now going on in several districts across the country, telling people to tell your senator to confirm Kavanaugh because he will protect your second amendment rights." Since the Supreme Court is currently split fairly evenly on second amendment right issues, the next appointed justice can make a larger impact based on their political standing.
The U.S. Consititution, written in the late 18th century, is frequently found under modern scrutiny. With the advancement of technology, politics, and society as a whole, there are disagreements regarding how to best analyze the over 200 year old document in a present-day context. "I think the problem for all of us," Dr. Qualls states, "is that [corporate implementation of first amendment rights] distorts the political process in that money goes into it, we don't know from where the money comes, and it's used in groups that disguise who they really are by astroturfing and financing things that change public policy."
"I hear people talk about Citizens United all the time...it is still a very big deal, it has snowballed into what we're seeing today. I'm not sure that many people really appreciate what impact that has had in our political process, and continues to have, and that maybe that's something we should consider -- is whether we should overturn that decision and return politics more to something that truly is natural grassroots," Dr. Qualls concludes.
Government & Politics Citizens Unitedcampaign financeCampaign Finance LawCampaign LawPolitical Campaign LawBipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Tracy Ross
Tracy started working for WKMS in 1994 while attending Murray State University. After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from MSU he was hired as Operations/Web/Sports Director in 2000. Tracy hosted All Things Considered from 2004-2012 and has served as host/producer of several music shows including Cafe Jazz, and Jazz Horizons. In 2001, Tracy revived Beyond The Edge, a legacy alternative music program that had been on hiatus for several years. Tracy was named Program Director in 2011 and created the midday music and conversation program Sounds Good in 2012 which he hosts Monday-Thursday. Tracy lives in Murray with his wife, son and daughter.
See stories by Tracy Ross
Melanie Davis-McAfee graduated from Murray State University in 2018 with a BA in Music Business. She has been working for WKMS as a Music and Operations Assistant since 2017. Melanie hosts the late-night alternative show Alien Lanes, Fridays at 11 pm with co-host Tim Peyton. She also produces Rick Nance's Kitchen Sink and Datebook and writes Sounds Good stories for the web.
See stories by Melanie Davis-McAfee
Campaign Finance System Of Big Money Now Overshadows Watergate-Era Reforms
Tennessee Bill Excludes Churches from Disclosing 'Morality' Campaign Spending
Ethics Commission OKs Crowdfunding for Legislative Campaigns

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Every year during the first weekend in December we head out in search of the perfect tree to call our own. This year my husband came up with the most wonderful idea of cutting down a tree instead of going to our local Home Depot Farm. I thought of how perfect and nostalgic it would be and oh the pictures we could take. Little did I know about how this little adventure would actually turn out.
We jumped in the van and drove 30 minutes down the road to a local tree farm. I had to be the most excited person there. This would be a first for me and I would be sharing this special moment with my most favorite people in the world. Grinning from ear to ear, like a crazed elf, I head down to the trees. My grin quickly turned into a frown.
You see to me the perfect Christmas tree is a noble or fraser fir and non of these trees were anything like it. The prettiest ones they had were leyland cypress and they were all too little and the branches were too weak to hold up my ornaments. The other type of tree they had, and they had a ton, were the virginia pine. These were for a lack of a better word ugly. They were shaggy, the needles could put an eye out and they were prickly to the touch.
My daughter with a leyland cypress! The tree is her height for peat sack.
The boys were running all over place weaving in and out of the trees, jumping over stumps and having pure fun. My daughter wasn't happy with the selection, which left me and the mister to make a decision. Do we just get a tree and be unhappy just for the sack of nostalgia and the drive out there or do we pack up the crew and head to Home Depot?
Needless to say we packed the crew up and drove a few minutes down the road and stopped at one of those cute little side of the road tree shops. The people there were really nice and hilarious, my type of people. We spotted the perfect, to us, fraser fir that was from North Carolina and just cut down less than a week ago. Sold...and my husbands' favorite part was that they tied it to the roof of the van (I mean he wouldn't shut up about it)!
What we learned was that if you want a fir tree just buy it pre-cut cause here in TN the only local trees are virginia or white pines and leyland cypress.
After we decked our tree out with twinkle lights and ornaments, which I will share next week, I read this book to the kids. It has a lovely message of Gods love.
This is one tradition we want to do next year! Glad you eventually found the right one!
Can't wait to see your tree and you have a really adorable and beautiful family!
This was such a cute post. Although you weren't able to find the perfect tree at the farm, you still made memories and your boys had fun running off some energy. Love the picture of your adorable little family. L, is almost as tall as her momma!!! Happy Holidays, D!!!
Aww I love it. This makes for the perfect holiday story. We still haven't gotten our tree yet. Guess we should get on that!
I love the photos! Cute family! I'm glad you guys got what you wanted. We had to buy a fake Christmas tree if we wanted it to look like the ones in the States. Did you see my post with my mom-in-law's tumbleweed Christmas tree? She stuck it in a brass pot with sand and decorated it for Christmas. I've gotten used to our South African Christmases not being like the ones I grew up with in Germany and the States. Have a blessed Christmas!


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Lagos Business School Pan Atlantic University
Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University
Lagos Business School (LBS) is the graduate business school of Pan-Atlantic University. LBS offers academic programmes, executive programmes and short courses (customised to specific company needs, as well as open-enrolment courses) in management. Its offerings have been accredited globally and ranked among the best in Africa, as it systematically strives to improve the practice of management on the continent.
LBS is the first business school in West, East and Central Africa regions to be accredited by The Association of MBAs (AMBA) putting it among the exclusive group of only 2% of business schools in 70 countries to achieve this accreditation. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has also accredited LBS, the first institution to be so recognised in all of West Africa. This accreditation affirms Lagos Business School's undeniable commitment, over the last 29 years, to world-class standards in teaching, learning, research, academic and professional management.
LBS is listed among the top 50 global business schools on The Economist magazine's 2018 Executive MBA ranking. In 2020, the Financial Times of London listed LBS among the top 50 in Custom Executive Education. The School has been ranked every year, since 2007 by the Financial Times of London, among the top global providers of open enrolment executive education and in custom executive education since 2015.
Besides the quality bar set at world-standards, LBS programmes also stand out because of the emphasis on professional ethics and service to the community.
2, Ahmed Onibudo Street
www.lbs.edu.ng


text:
ship, pier, italy, immigration, goodbye, emigration, dock, departure, crowd, boat, augustus
Crowd watching the departing Augustus
Black and white photograph of a crowd of people watching the departing passenger ship the Augustus. The vantage point of the photograph suggests that the photograph was taken from the departing ship, most likely by Maria Battiston. Streamers can be seen in the right foreground.
The MS Augustus was built for the Italian Line shipping company in 1950. On March 4, 1952, the Augustus sailed from Genoa to South America on her maiden voyage. The ship was put in a normal route from Genoa and stopped at Halifax eight times between 1958 and 1961. According to the archives at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia the Augustus also stopped at the following ports: New York, Boston, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Palma De Mallorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa, Palermo, Naples, Patras, Venice and Trieste.
From the Battiston Family Collection of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21


text:
Israel (/ˈɪzri.əl, -reɪ-/; Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל Yīsrāʾēl [jisʁaˈʔel]; Arabic: إِسْرَائِيل ʾIsrāʾīl), officially the State of Israel (מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl [mediˈnat jisʁaˈʔel]; دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل Dawlat Isrāʾīl), is a country in Western Asia. Situated between the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea, it is bordered by Lebanon to the north, by Syria to the northeast, by Jordan to the east, by Egypt to the southwest, and by the Palestinian territories — the West Bank along the east and the Gaza Strip along the southwest — with which it shares legal boundaries. Tel Aviv is the economic and technological center of the country, while its seat of government is in its proclaimed capital of Jerusalem, although Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is unrecognized internationally.[19][fn 5]
Country in Western Asia
For other uses, see Israel (disambiguation).
The neutrality of this article is disputed. (January 2023)
מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל (Hebrew)
دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل (Arabic)
Anthem: הַתִּקְוָה
Hatīkvāh
"The Hope"
Israel within internationally recognized borders shown in dark green; Israeli-occupied territories shown in light green
Map of Israel (Green Line)
(limited recognition)[fn 1][fn 2]
31°47′N 35°13′E
Official languages
Recognized languages
Arabic[fn 3]
(2022)[12]
73.6% Jews
21.1% Arabs
5.3% others
73.6% Judaism
18.1% Islam
1.9% Christianity
1.6% Druze
Unitary parliamentary republic
Isaac Herzog
• Knesset Speaker
• Chief Justice
Esther Hayut
Independence out of British Palestine
• Declaration
• Admission to the United Nations
• Basic Laws
20,770–22,072 km2 (8,019–8,522 sq mi)[a] (149th)
• Water (%)
2.71 (as of 2015)[13]
• 2023 estimate
9,670,880[14][fn 4] (92nd)
7,412,200[15][fn 4]
438/km2 (1,134.4/sq mi) (35th)
GDP (PPP)
2022 estimate
$496.84 billion[16] (49th)
• Per capita
$52,173[16] (29th)
GDP (nominal)
34.8[fn 4][17]
0.919[18]
very high · 22nd
New shekel (₪) (ILS)
UTC+2:00 (IST)
UTC+3:00 (IDT)
יי-חח-שששש (AM)
dd-mm-yyyy (CE)
Driving side
ISO 3166 code
^ 20,770 km2 is Israel within the Green Line. 22,072 km2 includes the Golan Heights (c. 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi)) and East Jerusalem (c. 64 km2 (25 sq mi)), which Israel effectively annexed but are widely recognized as occupied territory.
The area of modern Israel and the West Bank is of great significance to the Abrahamic religions. In ancient history, it was where Canaanite and Israelite civilizations emerged, while in the early first millennium BCE the kingdoms of Israel and Judah emerged, before falling to the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian empires, respectively.[20][21] During the classical era, the region was ruled by the Achaemenid, Macedonian, Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires. In the 2nd century BCE, an independent Hasmonean kingdom emerged, before Rome conquered the area a century later. In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of the Levant established caliphal rule. The First Crusade of the 11th century brought the founding of Crusader states, the last ending in the 13th century at the hands of the Mamluks, who lost the area to the Ottoman Empire at the onset of the 16th century. In late 19th century, Jews began immigrating to the area as part of the Zionist movement. Following World War I, the allied powers assigned the Mandate for Palestine to Britain, which during the war made a declaration of support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. After World War II and the Holocaust, the newly formed United Nations adopted the Partition Plan for Palestine, recommending the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states, and placing Jerusalem under international control. Following a civil war within Mandatory Palestine between Yishuv and Palestinian Arab forces, Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948 at the termination of the British Mandate.
A day later, several surrounding Arab countries intervened, leading to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which concluded with the 1949 Armistice Agreements that saw Israel in control of most of the former mandate territory, while the West Bank and Gaza were held by Jordan and Egypt respectively. Over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were expelled from or fled the territory Israel would come to control, with fewer than 150,000 Palestinian Arabs remaining within Israel. During and immediately after the war, around 260,000 Jews emigrated or fled from the Arab world to Israel.[22][fn 6] Israel has since fought wars with several Arab countries,[23] and since the 1967 Six-Day War has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—the longest military occupation in modern history—though whether Gaza remains occupied following the Israeli disengagement is disputed. Israel has effectively annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, though these actions have been rejected as illegal by the international community, and established settlements within the occupied territories, which are also considered illegal under international law. While Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, and has normalized relations with a number of other Arab countries, it remains formally at war with Syria and Lebanon, and efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have thus far stalled.
The country has a parliamentary system, proportional representation, and universal suffrage. The prime minister serves as head of government, while the Knesset is the unicameral legislature.[24] Israel is a highly developed country and an OECD member,[25][26] performing very high in measures of education, life expectancy, wealth per adult, happiness and per capita income.[27][28] With a population of over nine million people, it has the world's 28th-largest economy by nominal GDP.[16]
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Israel, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.