284 research outputs found
A phytosociological survey of aquatic vegetation in the main freshwater lakes of Greece
No full textAims: This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of European freshwater lake ecosystems with updated and new information on aquatic plant communities, by conducting national-scale phytosociological research of freshwater lake vegetation in Greece. Moreover, it investigates the relationship between aquatic plant communities and lake environmental parameters, including eutrophication levels and hydro-morphological conditions. Study area: Lakes in Greece, SE Europe. Methods: 5,690 phytosociological relevés of aquatic vegetation were sampled in 18 freshwater lake ecosystems during 2013–2016. The relevés were subjected to hierarchical cluster and indicator species analyses in order to identify associations and communities of aquatic vegetation, as well as to describe their syntaxonomy. Multiple regression analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between vegetation syntaxa and environmental parameters of lakes, i.e. physico-chemical parameters and water level fluctuation. Results: Ninety-nine plant taxa belonging to 30 different families were recorded. Forty-six vegetation types were identified and described by their ecological characteristics, diagnostic taxa and syntaxonomical status. Thirteen vegetation types, the largest number belonging to the vegetation class Charetea, are considered to be new records for Greece. The distribution of the vegetation types recorded in the 18 freshwater lakes was found to depend on environmental parameters and levels of eutrophication. Conclusions: An updated aquatic vegetation inventory was produced for Greek lakes, and primary results showed that the presence/absence of aquatic plant communities and the community composition in freshwater lakes can be utilized to assess the pressure of eutrophication on lake ecosystems. Taxonomic reference: Euro+Med (2006–). Abbreviations: MNT = Mean number of taxa; WFD = Water Framework Directive
Multiple-Facet Diversity Patterns of Aquatic Vegetation in Lakes along a Trophic Gradient
No full textThe EU Water Framework Directive foresees the ecological assessment of surface waters against identified pressures. Nutrient loading is the main pressure impairing the ecological quality of lake ecosystems, and aquatic macrophytes are considered good indicators of ecological response. In this study, we statistically assessed different aspects of aquatic plant (macrophyte) diversity in response to different trophic levels in Mediterranean lakes. We used 5690 relevés of aquatic vegetation, distributed over 305 transects, sampled in 18 freshwater lake ecosystems during 2013–2016. Our results show a significant decrease in taxonomic alpha diversity in lakes with a total phosphorus content above 100 μg/L. Syntaxonomic diversity followed the species richness pattern as well. Functional richness decreased along the trophic gradient, while functional dispersion was higher in lakes with high trophic levels. Taxonomic and functional beta partitioning presented changes in assembly processes leading to greater community homogeneity in lakes with higher trophic levels. In summary, we found no redundancy between taxonomic and functional diversity indices. These results provide novel insights into aquatic plant assembly processes of impacted freshwater lakes needed to forward conservation and restoration practices
Correction: Micronutrient intake and telomere length: findings from the UK Biobank (European Journal of Nutrition, (2024), 63, 8, (2871-2883), 10.1007/s00394-024-03460-5)
No full texthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03460-5. In the original version of this article, e-mail address of the corresponding author Vasiliki Bountziouka was incorrectly given as [email protected] but should have been [email protected]. © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024
Optimal Phased-Array Signal Combination For Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Measurement In Breast Cancer Using Multiple Quantum Coherence MR Spectroscopy At 3T
No full textAcknowledgements The author would like to thank Dr Matthew Clemence (Philips Healthcare Clinical Science, UK) for clinical scientist support, Ms Bolanle Brikinns, Ms Louisa Pirie, Ms Linda Lett, and Ms Kate Shaw for patient recruitment support, Ms Dawn Younie for logistic support, Mr Roger Bourne and Ms Mairi Fuller for providing access to the patients as well as Mrs Beverly MacLennan, Mrs Nichola Crouch, Mr Mike Hendry, and Ms Laura Reid for radiographer support. This project was funded by Friends of Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiotherapy (ANCHOR). Vasiliki Mallikourti’s PhD study is supported by The Princess Royal Tenovus Scotland Medical Research Scholarship.Peer reviewe
Phased-array combination of 2D MRS for lipid composition quantification in patients with breast cancer
No full textAcknowledgements: The author would like to thank Dr Matthew Clemence (Philips Healthcare Clinical Science, UK) for support, Ms Bolanle Brikinns, Ms Louisa Pirie, Ms Linda Lett, and Ms Kate Shaw, for patient recruitment support, Ms Dawn Younie for logistic support, Mr Roger Bourne and Ms Mairi Fuller for providing access to the patients as well as Mrs Beverly MacLennan, Mrs Nicola Crouch, Mr Mike Hendry, and Ms Laura Reid for radiographer support. Funding: This project was funded by Friends of Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiotherapy (ANCHOR), Tenovus Scotland, and NHS Grampian Endowment. Vasiliki Mallikourti’s PhD study is supported by The Princess Royal Tenovus Scotland Medical Research Scholarship.Peer reviewe
Rezension: "Digitale Transformation der Musikausbildung. Kognitive Entscheidungsprozesse an Hochschulen in Österreich und der Schweiz" von Vasiliki Papadopoulou
No full textMit ihrem Werk Digitale Transformation der Musikausbildung - Kognitive Entscheidungsprozesse an Hochschulen in Österreich und der Schweiz legt Vasiliki Papadopoulou eine sorgfältig konzipierte und empirisch abgesicherte Studie vor, die einen substantiellen Beitrag zur Auseinandersetzung mit der Digitalisierung im Kontext künstlerischer Hochschulbildung leistet. Die Autorin überzeugt durch eine klar strukturierte Argumentation, eine fundierte theoretische Herangehensweise sowie eine präzise Analyse der Entscheidungsmuster an sowohl öffentlichen als auch privaten Kunst- und Musikhochschulen in Österreich und der Schweiz. Besonders bemerkenswert ist, dass sie nicht nur strukturelle Rahmenbedingungen, sondern auch individuelle Haltungen und Handlungsmuster in den Blick nimmt, die Transformationsprozesse wesentlich mitgestalten.Vasiliki Papadopoulou\u27s Digitale Transformation der Musikausbildung ̶ Kognitive Entscheidungsprozesse an Hochschulen in Österreich und der Schweiz is a carefully designed and empirically validated study that makes a substantial contribution to the debate on digitalization in the context of artistic higher education. The author impresses with her clearly structured argumentation, a well-founded theoretical approach and a precise analysis of decision-making patterns at both public and private art and music universities in Austria and Switzerland. It is particularly noteworthy that she focuses not only on structural framework conditions, but also on individual attitudes and patterns of action that play a key role in shaping transformation processes
Iterative learning control as a framework for human-inspired control with bio-mimetic actuators
No full textThe synergy between musculoskeletal and central nervous systems empowers humans to achieve a high level of motor performance, which is still unmatched in bio-inspired robotic systems. Literature already presents a wide range of robots that mimic the human body. However, under a control point of view, substantial advancements are still needed to fully exploit the new possibilities provided by these systems. In this paper, we test experimentally that an Iterative Learning Control algorithm can be used to reproduce functionalities of the human central nervous system - i.e. learning by repetition, after-effect on known trajectories and anticipatory behavior - while controlling a bio-mimetically actuated robotic arm.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Learning & Autonomous Contro
An Ultrasonically Powered and Controlled Ultra-High-Frequency Biphasic Electrical Neurostimulator
No full textThis paper presents the design of a neurostimulator performing biphasic ultra-high-frequency electrical stimulation while being driven from ultrasound energy. Unlike conventional constant current or constant voltage stimulators or state-of-the-art ultra-high-frequency stimulators, the system does not convert the input AC signal into regulated DC for storing power and supplying the elements of the circuits. Instead, it uses the received ultrasonic signal frequency (≥1 MHz) for electrically stimulating the tissue directly, and it achieves biphasic stimulation with external control and without storing extra power. This results in a highly efficient and miniature circuit, which has the potential to be used in bioelectronic medicine for stimulating small peripheral nerves deep inside the body. The operation of the circuit was first simulated in LTSpice using a lumped elements model for the impedance of the piezoelectric receivers and the load. Finally, a prototype was tested in vitro with commercial transducers and platinum-iridium electrodes as load.Accepted author manuscriptBio-Electronic
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