25 research outputs found
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Session B9: Size Matters Even for the Ubiquitous Fish Speed Metric of BL/S
No full textPresenting Author Bio: Christos (Chris) Katopodis is a Professional Civil Engineer, International Consultant, Adjunct Professor (1995-2014) and President of Katopodis Ecohydraulics Ltd. The company develops integrated and innovative solutions which transcend relevant disciplines by bridging water related engineering and ecology, or ecohydraulics. Katopodis Ecohydraulics Ltd. brings worldwide experience and provides consulting services, including: a) expert advice on planning and design to address and mitigate environmental concerns, protect, pass or exclude fish, provide E-flow regimes (i.e. ecological, in-stream or environmental flows), assess or advance new technologies, develop guidelines, and enhance or restore habitat and river health; b) advice on regulatory issues, environmental assessments and mitigation options, particularly for fish and fish habitat; c) workshops and short training courses.Abstract: The use of BL/s, i.e. body lengths per second (dimensions of s-1), to express relative swim speeds for fish is very common. The physiological literature demonstrates the following: a) fish length is a strong predictor of swimming performance; b) longer fish achieve higher absolute swim speeds (dimensions of m/s) than shorter ones, at least for the same species; c) when swim speeds are expressed in BL/s, shorter fish have higher relative speeds than longer ones. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate swim speeds of large fish from small fish and vice versa, when using these absolute or relative swim speed metrics. It is important to recognize that regressions with data from small fish (e.g. juveniles) expressed in BL/s, would lead to overestimates of absolute swim speeds for large fish. It also follows that BL/s regressions with data from large fish, would lead to underestimates of absolute swim speeds for small fish. Yet, costs and complexity often lead to considerable data sets for small fish and limited tests with large fish, even though swim speed estimates are frequently needed for large fish. Regression strength for the same data sets, is higher when using dimensionless swim speed expressions, rather than BL/s. Such ecohydraulic analyses, demonstrate swimming performance similarity between small and large fish and provide better absolute swim speed estimates. Furthermore, ecohydraulic analyses point to efficient strategies for testing length classes, particularly when swim speeds for considerable numbers of sizes and species are needed
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Analysis of Ichthyomechanical Data for Fish Passage or Exclusion System Design
No full textFish speed and stamina, locomotion, and the mechanics of fish swimming, are key to the development and design of passage, exclusion, and guidance systems such as fishways (including culverts), fish screens, fish barriers (including sea lamprey velocity barriers), and fish louvers. The large amount of data available, although primarily from laboratory respirometer studies and unevenly distributed between species, offered an opportunity to consider its systematic application to the development, design, and testing of such devices. With this motive, comprehensive searches were made and literature on fish swimming performance tests was compiled, and published data were entered on spreadsheets. This data base includes the following information: scientific and common fish species name, swimming mode, fish length (l in m), swimming speed (U in m/s), endurance or time to fatigue (t in s), water temperature during testing, life stage (e.g. juvenile or adult), test method (e.g. constant or increasing velocity), number of fish tested, regressions of swimming speed versus fish length for specific endurance times as reported in the literature, publication reference (author and date), and relevant comments (Katopodis and Gervais 1991). The data base may be consulted for information on specific species, although many species either have very limited data or are not represented at all. The data base, which is available on request, is presently been revised and updated. Investigators with additional data which do not appear in primary publications, are encouraged to provide it for inclusion
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Session B4: How Fast do Fish Swim? A Global Assessment of What We Know and What We Don't Know
No full textPresenting Author Bio: Dr. Hans Tritico is an assistant professor of Engineering at the University of Mount Union. He is one of the five founding members of the engineering department and devotes much of his energy nurturing the next generation of engineers. His 14 years of research expertise are in stream restoration and fish passage engineer. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Michigan and Washington State University. He holds a joint Ph.D. in civil engineering and aquatic ecology from the University of Michigan. He is married and has two young children.Abstract: Central to the question of river connectivity is the question of fish swimming performance. As fish passage challenges move away from individual species concerns to more holistic ecosystem considerations the demand for swimming performance data across a wide range of species is growing. In order to establish a baseline for what is known, we have compiled a species list for which swimming performance is known using three leading databases: the Joint AFS-EWRI Fish Passage Reference Database, the USFS Fish Passage Resource Library, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Icthyomechanics Database. Between these three databases the swimming performance of 233 individual species have been catalogued. The most recent global fish species count from FishBase and the Catalogue of Fishes indicate that there are 32,900 known species of fish. We therefore are certain that we know some information about the swimming capability of 0.7% of the world’s fish species. In order to establish what is unknown, a semi-automated journal search of each of the 33,000 species is underway. Full results of this assessment will be presented at the conference. Conservative early estimates are that some swimming performance data exists for at most 10% of the world’s fish species. There is a wide range between what we know with some confidence (0.7%) and what we’re confident that we don’t know (10%), indicating a need for the expansion of existing databases. This investigation focused solely at the species level. Similar investigations at the genus and family levels will likely provide estimates of abilities where species level data are incomplete. A regional study for fishes in the State of Ohio, U.S., indicates significant improvement in knowledge at coarser scales. Further resources dedicated to the development and maintenance of these databases would foster the growth of the global fish passage community
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Session B9: Movements of a Potamodromous Cyprinid Past an Experimental Weir with Variable Height and Plunge Pool Depth
No full textPresenting Author Bio: Susana Amaral is a PhD student on River Management and Restoration at Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon. Her research areas include river restoration, freshwater fish ecology and conservation, fish passage engineering, and ecohydraulics. She is interested in issues regarding the restoration of longitudinal connectivity of rivers and in the enhancement of fish passage through instream obstacles, with emphasis on the effects of turbulence on fish behaviour, swimming ability and jumping performance.Abstract: Fragmentation of river networks has been pointed out as one of the most serious threats to the sustainability of fish populations. Although far more numerous than dams, the impact of small weirs on fish movements have received much less attention. The presence of these barriers alters the water depth and velocity patterns and creates vertical drops that change the hydraulic environment, leading to connectivity losses with negative consequences to the persistence of fish communities. This study aims to evaluate the passage performance of a potamodromous cyprinid, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) when encountering small weirs of varying heights associated with variable plunge pool depths. A factorial design consisting of 16 configurations (4 replicates each), was carried out in an experimental flume with schools of 5 fish for each test (mean total length = 18.7cm ± 3.3 cm) at a flow discharge of 50 L.s-1. Different combinations of plunge pool depths (z=10, 20, 30, and 50 cm) and heights of the jump (h=5, 10, 15, and 25 cm; distance from the plunge pool surface to the top of the weir crest) were tested. Both variables and their interaction term (z x h) were significantly correlated with the number of successful weir negotiations by fish (PerMANOVA, p< 0.01). The highest number of passages (n=50) occurred for a combination of z=20 cm h=10 cm, and the lowest (n=1) for a combination of z=10 cm h=25 cm. Results showed that increased passage does not necessarily occur at higher water depths in association with lower height of the jump. Thus, successful negotiation seems to be a more complex phenomenon where both variables interact to set the most effective hydraulic conditions for fish. These outcomes are useful to define design criteria for the requalification of small barriers to improve fish passage and habitat connectivity
Patient's satisfactory outcomes after implementation of follow-up 'virtual clinics' in age-related macular degeneration treatment
No full texthttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08164622.2021.1878841?journalCode=tceo2
p38β - MAPK11 and its role in female cancers
No full textAbstract Background The p38MAPK family of Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases are a group of signalling molecules involved in cell growth, survival, proliferation and differentiation. The widely studied p38α isoform is ubiquitously expressed and is implicated in a number of cancer pathologies, as are p38γ and p38δ. However, the mechanistic role of the isoform, p38β, remains fairly elusive. Recent studies suggest a possible role of p38β in both breast and endometrial cancer with research suggesting involvement in bone metastasis and cancer cell survival. Female tissue specific cancers such as breast, endometrial, uterine and ovary account for over 3,000,000 cancer related incidents annually; advancements in therapeutics and treatment however require a deeper understanding of the molecular aetiology associated with these diseases. This study provides an overview of the MAPK signalling molecule p38β (MAPK11) in female cancers using an in-silico approach. Methods A detailed gene expression and methylation analysis was performed using datasets from cBioportal, CanSar and MEXPRESS. Breast, Uterine Endometrial, Cervical, Ovarian and Uterine Carcinosarcoma TCGA cancer datasets were used and analysed. Results Data using cBioportal and CanSAR suggest that expression of p38β is lower in cancers: BRCA, UCEC, UCS, CESC and OV compared to normal tissue. Methylation data from SMART and MEXPRESS indicate significant probe level variation of CpG island methylation status of the gene MAPK11. Analysis of the genes’ two CpG islands shows that the gene was hypermethylated in the CpG1 with increased methylation seen in BRCA, CESC and UCEC cancer data sets with a slight increase of expression recorded in cancer samples. CpG2 exhibited hypomethylation with no significant difference between samples and high levels of expression. Further analysis from MEXPRESS revealed no significance between probe methylation and altered levels of expression. In addition, no difference in the expression of BRCA oestrogen/progesterone/HER2 status was seen. Conclusion This data provides an overview of the expression of p38β in female tissue specific cancers, showing a decrease in expression of the gene in BRCA, UCEC, CESC, UCS and OV, increasing the understanding of p38β MAPK expression and offering insight for future in-vitro investigation and therapeutic application
Dietary and Lifestyle Interventions to Mitigate Oxidative Stress in Male and Female Fertility: Practical Insights for Infertility Management—A Narrative Review
No full textBackground/Objectives: Infertility in both men and women can be significantly influenced by oxidative stress (OS), which occurs due to an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s antioxidant defenses. In women, OS disrupts oocyte maturation, implantation, and the viability of the embryo; in men, it impairs sperm quality, reduces motility, and damages DNA integrity. This review explores existing research on how dietary and lifestyle interventions can reduce OS and enhance reproductive health outcomes. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of clinical, translational, and molecular studies exploring the mechanisms by which OS affects fertility, as well as the efficacy of nutritional and behavioral strategies. The interventions evaluated include weight management, regular exercise, micronutrient supplementation, antioxidant-rich diets, smoking and alcohol cessation, and stress-reduction techniques. Results: Specific dietary components such as zinc, selenium, vitamins C and E, and polyphenols have been found to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhance gamete function. OS is additionally reduced through lifestyle modifications, including minimizing harmful exposures, managing stress, and participating in moderate physical activity. Biomarkers such as ROS levels, total antioxidant capacity, 8-OHdG, and DNA fragmentation index are essential for assessing the effectiveness of interventions. Conclusions: Fertility in both sexes can be improved, and oxidative stress significantly reduced, through a multimodal approach incorporating dietary and lifestyle changes. There are encouraging opportunities to improve reproductive health through customized approaches that are informed by biomarker profiles. To incorporate these treatments into regular fertility care, future studies should concentrate on standardized procedures and long-term results
Pan‑cancer analysis of transmembrane protease serine 2 and cathepsin L that mediate cellular SARS‑CoV‑2 infection leading to COVID-19
No full textSevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus‑2 (SARS‑CoV2) is the cause of a new disease (COVID‑19) which has evolved into a pandemic during the first half of 2020. Older age, male sex and certain underlying diseases, including cancer, appear to significantly increase the risk for severe COVID‑19. SARS‑CoV‑2 infection of host cells is facilitated by the angiotensin‑converting enzyme 2 (ACE‑2), and by transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and other host cell proteases such as cathepsin L (CTSL). With the exception of ACE‑2, a systematic analysis of these two other SARS‑CoV2 infection mediators in malignancies is lacking. Here, we analysed genetic alteration, RNA expression, and DNA methylation of TMPRSS2 and CTSL across a wide spectrum of tumors and controls. TMPRSS2 was overexpressed in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD), rectum adenocarcinoma (READ), uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma and uterine carcinosarcoma, with PRAD and READ exhibiting the highest expression of all cancers. CTSL was upregulated in lymphoid neoplasm diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, oesophageal carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lower grade glioma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, skin cutaneous melanoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, and thymoma. Hypo‑methylation of both genes was evident in most cases where they have been highly upregulated. We have expanded on our observations by including data relating to mutations and copy number alterations at pan‑cancer level. The novel hypotheses that are stemming out of these data need to be further investigated and validated in large clinical studies
Conjunctival melanoma and electrochemotherapy: preliminary results using 2D and 3D cell culture models in vitro
No full textPurpose: To investigate the cytotoxic effect of bleomycin, mitomycin C (MMC) and Fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with electroporation (EP) on human conjunctival melanoma (CM) and normal conjunctival cell lines using 2D and 3D cell culture systems in vitro. Methods: Two CM (CRMM1, CRMM2) and one normal conjunctival epithelial cell line (HCjE-Gi) were treated with various EP conditions and increasing concentrations of 5-FU, MMC and bleomycin. Cell survival was assessed by MTT viability assay. All cell lines were seeded to create spheroids and were treated with bleomycin on day 3 and day 8 combined with EP. Spheroids were collected, fixed in buffered formalin and subsequently paraffin embedded for histological assessment of the effects of the treatment on cell viability. Results: CM cell lines were resistant to electroporation alone and showed a reduction in cell number only when treated with 1000 Volts/cm and 8 pulses. HCjE-Gi cells showed higher sensitivity to electric pulses over 750 Volts/cm. MMC and 5-FU demonstrated a higher cytotoxicity for the HCjE-Gi cell line. The CM cell lines were resistant to MMC and 5-FU. Bleomycin (1 μg/ml) alone had no significant effect on the HCjE-Gi even when combined with EP conditions ≥750 Volts/cm. In contrast, it significantly (p -, paired t-test) reduced cell viability in the CM cell lines. Spheroids treated with bleomycin and EP showed a reduction in tumour mass and proliferation rates after treatment. Conclusion: Our in vitro study using 2D and 3D models indicates that the application of EP may effectively enhance chemotherapy with bleomycin in CM. This may offer new viable perspectives for CM treatment
