The effects of wave exposure and host cover on coral-associated fauna of a centuries-old artificial reef in the Caribbean

An increasing number of artificial reefs (ARs) are constructed to compensate for the loss of natural reefs (NRs), but little is known about their benthic community composition. Here, we compared the densities of coral-associated fauna (CAF) between a centuries-old manmade structure and the nearest NR at St. Eustatius, eastern Caribbean. Overall, no significant difference in the density of CAF (coral-dwelling barnacles, crabs, worms) was found between the NR and the AR, nor between the exposed and sheltered sides of each. Significantly different densities of CAF related to host cover were observed among corals on both the AR and the NR. Per host species, the AR did not show such differences in density between exposed and sheltered sides, although these differences were observed on the NR. Thus, turbulence and host cover regulate the density of CAF, while differences also depend on host species composition. Furthermore, from an ecological engineering perspective, the present AR resembles the NR in overall design, but not in relief rugosity and surface structure, which are also considered important contributors to the difference in species assemblages of the host corals and their CAF, even after many decades of community development

Environmental impact of brine from desalination plants on marine benthic diatom diversity

Benthic diatoms are sensitive indicators of environmental conditions at the seabed. In this study, benthic diatom communities at two brine outfall sites of reverse osmosis (RO) seawater desalination plants in Larnaca and Dhekelia, Cyprus, were investigated using a classical, microscopy-based approach and environmental DNA metabarcoding. In general, the diversity of diatoms measured by both methods (microscopy and eDNA metabarcoding), increased by distance from the brine discharge. Increased TOC and nutrient enrichment at brine outfalls contributed to decreased diatom diversity at the Larnaca outfalls, but the diatom diversity at Dhekelia was not driven by abiotic factors. The diatom communities at the outfalls were shown to be distinct and showed temporal variation across the sampling seasons with eDNA metabarcoding, but this was the case only for Dhekelia with microscopy. The results highlight the effect of local biogeography and different brine mixing methods on diatom diversity. The results revealed that conventional morphological methods and eDNA metabarcoding rarely leads to similar conclusions. However, the complementary results emphasise that more information can be derived when combining the methods for biodiversity impact assessments.</p

Total antioxidant capacity in Mediterranean β-thalassemic patients

Beta thalassemia major (BT) is an inherited blood disorder caused by reduced or absent synthesis of the hemoglobin beta chains, associated with profound anemia, jaundice, splenomegaly, expanded bone marrow volume, siderosis and cardiomegaly. Because of repeated blood transfusions, BT patients are subjected to peroxidative tissue injury due to secondary iron overload

Does combined training of biofeedback and neurofeedback affect smoking status, behavior, and longitudinal brain plasticity?

Introduction: Investigations of biofeedback (BF) and neurofeedback (NF) training for nicotine addiction have been long documented to lead to positive gains in smoking status, behavior and to changes in brain activity. We aimed to: (a) evaluate a multi-visit combined BF/NF intervention as an alternative smoking cessation approach, (b) validate training-induced feedback learning, and (c) document effects on resting-state functional connectivity networks (rsFCN); considering gender and degree of nicotine dependence in a longitudinal design.Methods: We analyzed clinical, behavioral, and electrophysiological data from 17 smokers who completed five BF and 20 NF sessions and three evaluation stages. Possible neuroplastic effects were explored comparing whole-brain rsFCN by phase-lag index (PLI) for different brain rhythms. PLI connections with significant change across time were investigated according to different resting-state networks (RSNs).Results: Improvements in smoking status were observed as exhaled carbon monoxide levels, Total Oxidative Stress, and Fageström scores decreased while Vitamin E levels increased across time. BF/NF promoted gains in anxiety, self-esteem, and several aspects of cognitive performance. BF learning in temperature enhancement was observed within sessions. NF learning in theta/alpha ratio increase was achieved across baselines and within sessions. PLI network connections significantly changed across time mainly between or within visual, default mode and frontoparietal networks in theta and alpha rhythms, while beta band RSNs mostly changed significantly after BF sessions.Discussion: Combined BF/NF training positively affects the clinical and behavioral status of smokers, displays benefit in smoking harm reduction, plays a neuroprotective role, leads to learning effects and to positive reorganization of RSNs across time.Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02991781

Animal carcass processing, cooking and consumption at Early Neolithic Revenia-Korinou, northern Greece

The open-air settlement of Revenia-Korinou has yielded the largest Early Neolithic (7th millennium BC) faunal assemblage to date from Greece. The assemblage, recovered from numerous pits, is heavily dominated by domestic sheep, goats, pigs and cattle. Here we focus on the evidence for butchery and consumption of animals, to explore how carcass products were cooked (in the absence of cooking pots) and what if any role they played in commensal politics. Evidence for dismembering and filleting is sparse, implying butchery of domestic animal carcasses into large segments (including more or less complete limbs) for cooking, apparently in ovens or pits rather than on open fires. Subsequently limb bones were intensively smashed to extract marrow and probably grease, perhaps by boiling in organic containers. Dismembering, filleting and marrow extraction were most intensive for cattle, but bone grease was more systematically exploited in the case of sheep/goats, implying differences between taxa in contexts of consumption. Significant differences between pits in taxonomic composition and the incidence of gnawing and burning suggest that each represents short-term and/or localized discard, perhaps by a small residential group. Within individual pits, matching unfused diaphyses and epiphyses and joins between fragments broken in antiquity confirm rapid burial, but bones separated by dismembering seem to have been dispersed across the settlement before discard. The distribution of carcass products, both cooked and uncooked, played a role in shaping relationships between small residential units and the wider community at Early Neolithic Revenia-Korinou

Cooking pots of the late neolithic period from the sites of Stavroupoli and Toumba Kremastis Koiladas

This thesis focuses on the study of cooking pots from two Neolithic settlements of North Greece, Stavroupoli (central Macedonia) and Toumba Kremastis Koiladas (western Macedonia). The pottery comes from excavation assemblages of different character associated with different contexts of use. At Stavroupoli the cooking pots were found in the residential areas. At Toumba Kremastis Koiladas, in addition to the residential area, studied pottery comes also from the boundaries of the settlement, outside the residential area. Along with pottery, finds linked to a series of practices of a social, economic and ideological nature were found in that area. The study of cooking pots from areas of the two settlements in which ordinary everyday practices in residential area, but also different activities outside it were carried out, aimed to seek information on the preparation and consumption of food in different contexts and through these activities on the social life of their inhabitants, as well as the possible differences and similarities between the two sites.Η παρούσα εργασία εστιάζει στη μελέτη των μαγειρικών σκευών από δύο νεολιθικούς οικισμούς της Βόρειας Ελλάδας, της Σταυρούπολης (κεντρική Μακεδονία) και της Τούμπας Κρεμαστής Κοιλάδας (δυτική Μακεδονία). Η κεραμική προέρχεται από ανασκαφικά σύνολα διαφορετικού χαρακτήρα που συνδέονται με διαφορετικά πλαίσια χρήσης. Στη Σταυρούπολη τα μαγειρικά σκεύη βρέθηκαν στους χώρους κατοίκησης. Στην Τούμπα Κρεμαστής Κοιλάδας, εκτός από τον χώρο κατοίκησης, η μελετημένη κεραμική προέρχεται και από τα όρια του οικισμού, από μία περιοχή που βρέθηκαν λάκκοι και τάφροι. Μαζί με την κεραμική, βρέθηκαν ευρήματα που συνδέονται με μια σειρά πρακτικών κοινωνικού, οικονομικού και ιδεολογικού χαρακτήρα. Η μελέτη μαγειρικών σκευών από τους χώρους κατοίκησης των οικισμών της Σταυρούπολης και της Τούμπας Κρεμαστής Κοιλάδας όπου πραγματοποιούνταν συνηθισμένες καθημερινές πρακτικές, αλλά και από την περιοχή εκτός των ορίων του οικισμού της Τούμπας Κρεμαστής Κοιλάδας όπου πραγματοποιούνταν διαφορετικές δραστηριότητες, είχε ως στόχο την αναζήτηση πληροφοριών για την παρασκευή και κατανάλωση φαγητού σε διαφορετικά πλαίσια και επακόλουθα για την κοινωνική ζωή των κατοίκων τους, καθώς και τις πιθανές διαφορές και ομοιότητες μεταξύ των δύο θέσεων

Floating microplastic abundance and composition off the eastern coast of Lesvos island (NE Aegean) in autumn 2017

Microplastic pollution is a major environmental issue nowadays. Despite the increasing microplastic awareness globally, over the last decade, it still threatens the marine environment. The Aegean Sea (Northeast Mediterranean Sea) where the present study refers to has not been previously examined thoroughly for macro- and microplastic abundance and composition. In this study, seven sampling transects were conducted at Mytilene Strait off the Εastern coast of Lesvos island, in which floating plastic debris were collected with a Manta net. Overall, thirteen samples were collected at three different coastal areas close to the urban area of Mytilene; namely offshore the Waste Water Treatment Plant, the Power Plant area and the Varia suburb where a small fishing port operates. The samples were analysed and the distribution, the size, the abundance and the shape of microplastic items was determined. Results revealed a high concentration of 75,218 items km-2 nearshore (<2km). Fragments were found in higher abundance (586 items) in all samples, followed by filaments (148 items), foams (60 items) and films (44 items), while pellets were present in only two samples. Sizes of small-sized particles were varying from <1mm, 1-5mm and 5-15mm. Polymer identification by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed that dominant polymers were polyethylene and polypropylene and in some areas polyvinyl acetate

A centuries-old manmade reef in the Caribbean does not substitute natural reefs in terms of species assemblages and interspecific competition

With increasing maritime activities in the proximity of coral reefs, a growing number of manmade structures are becoming available for coral colonisation. Yet, little is known about the sessile community composition of such artificial reefs in comparison with that of natural coral reefs. Here, we compared the diversity of corals and their competitors for substrate space between a centuries-old manmade structure and the nearest natural reef at St. Eustatius, eastern Caribbean. The artificial reef had a significantly lower species richness and fewer competitive interactions than the natural reef. The artificial reef was dominated by a cover of crustose coralline algae and zoantharians, instead of turf algae and fire corals on the natural reef. Significant differences in species composition were also found between exposed and sheltered sites on both reefs. Our study indicates that even a centuries-old manmade reef cannot serve as a surrogate for natural reefs