Unravelling large-scale patterns and drivers of biodiversity in dry rivers.

More than half of the world's rivers dry up periodically, but our understanding of the biological communities in dry riverbeds remains limited. Specifically, the roles of dispersal, environmental filtering and biotic interactions in driving biodiversity in dry rivers are poorly understood. Here, we conduct a large-scale coordinated survey of patterns and drivers of biodiversity in dry riverbeds.

Predicting Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: The Significance of Tumor Markers in the Peritoneal Washing.

Purpose: Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignant tumor worldwide. Many attempts have been made over the years to investigate the relationship between tumor markers and the risk of recurrence. This study aims to explore the predictive value of tumor markers measured in peritoneal washing during staging laparoscopy, regarding peritoneal carcinomatosis and mortality within 1 year.

Air temperature more than drought duration affects litter decomposition under flow intermittency.

Stream intermittency - periodic sequences of water flow cessation and resumption - occurs throughout the year, across seasons. Even though temperature is a known regulator of litter decomposition in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, comparative experiments on drought durations at distinct temperatures on microbial-mediated decomposition in streams experiencing intermittency are still lacking. Here, three drought temperatures (5, 15 and 25 °C) and two durations (short: 2.

Hydrological contraction patterns and duration of drying period shape microbial-mediated litter decomposition.

The length and number of streams experiencing intermittency is expected to increase in response to human population growth, associated water use, and climate change. In these streams, habitat contraction may occur at distinct rates giving rise to drying periods of distinct duration. To date, the impact of drought installation rate and duration have been mostly overlooked.

Salt pulses effects on in-stream litter processing and recovery capacity depend on substrata quality.

Human activities have greatly extended and intensified freshwater salinization, which threatens the structure and functioning of streams and rivers. Research on salt effects on in-stream processes has been strongly biased towards chronic salinization at constant levels. The aim of this study was to assess microbial mediated decomposition of two leaf species contrasting in quality (alder and oak) and associated descriptors, during salt-pulsed contamination (salinization period) and after cessation of salt additions (recovery period).

Morphophenotypic Classification of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: the Biliary/Stem Cell Subgroup and Worst Outcome-Implications on Patient Selection.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and the third cause of cancer-related death. Current clinical/pathological criteria contribute to risk stratification, but are far from the desired on individualized medicine. Recently, HCC classifications have been published based on immunohistochemical and morphological features.

Leaf litter microbial decomposition in salinized streams under intermittency.

Human-induced salinization of freshwaters constitutes a growing global problem, whose consequences on streams functioning are largely unknown. Climate change projections predict enhanced evaporation, as well as an increase in extreme events and in variability of precipitation. This will result in more frequent, extended and severe drought periods that may aggravate water salinization of streams and rivers.

Are fungal strains from salinized streams adapted to salt-rich conditions?

Anthropogenic salinization of freshwater is a global problem with largely unknown consequences for stream functions. We compared the effects of salt addition (6 g l NaCl) in microcosms on leaf mass loss and microbial parameters in single- and multispecies assemblages of fungal strains (, HELU; , TEMA; , FLCU) isolated from a reference (R) or salinized (S) stream. Fungal growth and interactions were also assessed.

Surgical treatment of giant gist with acute gastrointestinal bleeding: Case report.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors represent about 1% of the tumors of digestive tract. Their presentation consists often of indolent symptoms. However, they can present as surgical emergencies in rare cases.

Does short-term salinization of freshwater alter the behaviour of the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei, Steindachner 1864)?

Stream salinization is a great environmental hazard being aggravated by anthropogenic disturbances. Harmful conditions, as increasing salinity in freshwater systems, may negatively affect river fish fauna and possibly influence fish behaviour, such as boldness and/or cerebral lateralization. Salinity has been proven to affect behavioural expression, despite the tolerance of some species.

Stream salinization and fungal-mediated leaf decomposition: A microcosm study.

Salinization is of major global concern due to its effect on stream biota, and ecosystem functions and services. In small streams, litter decomposition is a key ecosystem-level process driven by decomposers, mainly fungi (aquatic hyphomycetes), which link litter and invertebrates. Here we assessed the effects of an environmentally relevant range of salt additions (0, 2, 4, 8, 16gL NaCl) on (1) fungal growth and species-specific reproductive output and (2) fungal mediated-decomposition of Quercus robur leaves.

Seasonal Variability May Affect Microbial Decomposers and Leaf Decomposition More Than Warming in Streams.

Ongoing climate change is expected to affect the diversity and activity of aquatic microbes, which play a key role in plant litter decomposition in forest streams. We used a before-after control-impact (BACI) design to study the effects of warming on a forest stream reach. The stream reach was divided by a longitudinal barrier, and during 1 year (ambient year) both stream halves were at ambient temperature, while in the second year (warmed year) the temperature in one stream half was increased by ca.

Inguinal hernia containing bladder and ureteroneocystostomy: a rare cause for acute renal graft dysfunction.

A 77-year-old man presented with acute graft dysfunction 25 years after a renal transplant in the left iliac fossa. He also had an asymptomatic left inguinal hernia. Renal ultrasound showed a significant pyelocalicial dilation of the kidney graft and the patient was submitted to a percutaneous nephrostomy.

Effects of warming on stream biofilm organic matter use capabilities.

The understanding of ecosystem responses to changing environmental conditions is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of global warming. Microbial biofilm communities in streams play a key role in organic matter cycling which might be modulated by shifts in flowing water temperature. In this study, we performed an experiment at the Candal stream (Portugal) longitudinally divided into two reaches: a control half and an experimental half where water temperature was 3 °C above that of the basal stream water.

Effects of essential oils from Eucalyptus globulus leaves on soil organisms involved in leaf degradation.

The replacement of native Portuguese forests by Eucalyptus globulus is often associated with deleterious effects on terrestrial and aquatic communities. Several studies have suggested that such a phenomenon is linked with the leaf essential oils released into the environment during the Eucalyptus leaf degradation process. However, to date, the way these compounds affect leaf degradation in terrestrial systems i.

Incubation temperature and substrate quality modulate sporulation by aquatic hyphomycetes.

Frequency and amplitude of temperature oscillations can profoundly affect structure and function of ecosystems. Unless the rate of a biological process changes linearly within the range of these fluctuations, the cumulative effect of temperature differs from the effect measured at the average temperature (Jensen's inequality). Here, we measured numbers and types of spores released by aquatic hyphomycetes from oak and alder leaves that had been exposed in a Portuguese stream for between 7 and 94 days.

Aquatic hyphomycete strains from metal-contaminated and reference streams might respond differently to future increase in temperature.

Aquatic hyphomycetes, a group of polyphyletic fungi, have been reported in streams contaminated with metals. This tolerance to metal contamination however can result in limited performance and limited ability to cope with additional environmental change. The predicted increase in water temperature, as a consequence of global warming, will have an additional effect on many streams.

Contamination by uranium mine drainages affects fungal growth and interactions between fungal species and strains.

The presence of aquatic hyphomycetes has been reported for several heavy metal-contaminated waters. Tolerance probably is one adaptation to coping with heavy metals. To help clarify this issue strains of two species of aquatic hyphomycetes (Tricladium splendens Ingold and Varicosporium elodeae Kegel) were isolated from a reference stream and a stream contaminated with heavy metals and grown on malt extract agar prepared with reference and contaminated water to characterize colony morphology, growth rate, growth inhibition and interaction among species and strains.

Biological testing of a digested sewage sludge and derived composts.

Aiming to evaluate a possible loss of soil habitat function after amendment with organic wastes, a digested sewage sludge and derived composts produced with green residues, where biologically tested in the laboratory using soil animals (Eisenia andrei and Folsomia candida) and plants (Brassica rapa and Avena sativa). Each waste was tested mimicking a field application of 6ton/ha or 12ton/ha. Avoidance tests did not reveal any impact of sludge and composts to soil biota.

Effects of Eucalyptus plantations on detritus, decomposers, and detritivores in streams.

Vast areas of the Iberian Peninsula are covered by monocultures of the exotic tree Eucalyptus globulus. Given that (1) leaf litter produced in the riparian areas is the main energy source for small streams, and (2) trees differ in their nutrient content, chemical defenses, and physical attributes, eucalypt plantations have the potential to affect the biology of streams. Research teams from the University of Coimbra and the University of the Basque Country have been addressing the potential effects of eucalypt plantations at several levels of study.