Unlocking the potential of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate resilience and beyond: Hundred evidences.

Unlocking the full potential of ponds (small water bodies) and pondscapes (network of ponds) as Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is critical pursuit for enhancing ecosystems and societal resilience to climate change and other societal challenges. Despite scattered initiatives for pond/pondscape creation, restoration and management-each considered here a distinct NbS-there is a significant knowledge gap in utilising ponds/pondscapes as effective NbS. We aimed to assess these NbS in terms of their objectives, outcomes, effectiveness, multifunctionality, delivery of potentially conflicting effects, and the implementation process while considering their Nature's Contributions to People (NCPs, i.

The potential of ecosystem-based management to integrate biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision in aquatic ecosystems.

Global aquatic biodiversity keeps declining rapidly, despite international efforts providing a variety of policies and legislations that identify goals for, and give directions to protecting the world's aquatic fauna and flora. With the H2020 project AQUACROSS, we have made an unprecedented effort to unify policy strategies, knowledge, and management concepts of freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems to support the achievement of the targets set by the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. AQUACROSS has embraced the concept of ecosystem-based management (EBM), which approaches environmental management from a social-ecological system perspective to protect biodiversity and to sustainably harvest ecosystem services.

Protecting aquatic biodiversity in Europe: How much do EU environmental policies support ecosystem-based management?

The sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems requires better coordination between policies span-ning freshwater, coastal and marine environments. Ecosystem-based management (EBM) has been promoted as a holistic and integrative approach for the safekeeping and protection of aquatic biodiversity. The paper assesses the degree to which key European environmental policies for the aquatic environment, namely the Birds and Habitats Directives, Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, individually support EBM and can work synergistically to implement EBM.

Short-term amiodarone therapy after reversion of persistent atrial fibrillation reduces recurrences at 18 months.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of 3 months vs. 18 months of amiodarone treatment after atrial fibrillation (AF) conversion in patients who experienced the first episode of persistent AF.

Methods: We included 51 patients who experienced the first episode of persistent AF receiving amiodarone (600 mg) daily for 4-6 weeks.

Smoke-free environments: age, sex, and educational disparity in 25 Argentinean cities.

Background: There is scarce evidence of secondhand smoke (SHS) and disparity in developing countries. We evaluated the relationship between socio-demographic variables and secondhand smoke-related factors in Argentina.

Methods: We conducted a randomized telephone survey (2008/2009) in 25 Argentinean cities.

Integrating economic and biophysical data in assessing cost-effectiveness of buffer strip placement.

The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires Member States to set water quality objectives and identify cost-effective mitigation measures to achieve "good status" in all waters. However, costs and effectiveness of measures vary both within and between catchments, depending on factors such as land use and topography. The aim of this study was to develop a cost-effectiveness analysis framework for integrating estimates of phosphorus (P) losses from land-based sources, potential abatement using riparian buffers, and the economic implications of buffers.

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia may be related to an immunologic disorder involving cardiac beta andrenergic receptors.

Background: The mechanisms underlying inappropriate sinus tachycardia are not fully known. An autonomic imbalance seems to play a role, but no attempts have been made to investigate a relationship between this arrhythmia and the antiautonomic membrane receptor antibodies found in other heart disorders and arrhythmias.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and the functional and biochemical effects of circulating antiautonomic receptor antibodies in patients with inappropriate sinus tachycardia.

Low urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Objective: To assess urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in patients admitted to the hospital because of congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay in 33 hospitalized patients with CHF and in 146 healthy ambulatory volunteers. Individuals with hepatic or renal failure were excluded from the sample.

Pharmacologic reversion of persistent atrial fibrillation with amiodarone predicts long-term sinus rhythm maintenance.

Objective: The study analyzed the role of different variables that determine long-term sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation who are treated with amiodarone.

Background: It has been recognized that different factors influence long-term sinus rhythm preservation after the conversion of persistent atrial fibrillation. Although the duration of the arrhythmia appears to be the most important factor, consistent information regarding the role of the mode of arrhythmia conversion (pharmacologic or electric) is still lacking.