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In this study, we conducted an analysis of a multifrequency acoustics dataset acquired from scientific echosounders in the West African water. Our objective was to explore the spatial arrangement of marine organism aggregations. We investigated various attributes of these intricate biological entities, such as thickness, relative density, and depth, in relation to their surroundings. These environmental conditions were represented at a fine scale using a towed multiparameter system. This study is closely intertwined with two key domains: Fisheries acoustics techniques and functional data analysis. Fisheries acoustics techniques facilitate the collection of high-resolution spatial and temporal data concerning marine organisms at various depths and spatial scales, all without causing any disturbance. On the other hand, spatial-functional data analysis is a statistical approach for examining data characterised by functional attributes distributed across a spatial domain. This analysis encompasses dimension reduction techniques, as well as supervised and unsupervised methods, which take into consideration spatial dependencies within extensive datasets. We began by applying multivariate statistical techniques and subsequently employed Functional Data Analysis (FDA). In the modeling section, we introduced the spatial dimension with the spatial coordinates as covariates in the General Additive Model (GAM) and Functional Generalized Spectral Additive Model (FGSAM) models, aiming to underscore its relevance in those contexts. In an exploratory phase, Multivariate Functional Principal Component Analysis provided detailed insights into the variations of parameters at different depths, a capability not offered by traditional Principal Component Analysis. When it came to regression tasks, we explored the interactions between descriptors of Sound Scattering Layers and key environmental variables, both with and without considering spatial dimensions. Our findings revealed significant distinctions between northern and southern Sound Scattering Layers, as well as between coastal and high-sea regions. The use of the spatial locations enhanced the performance of GAM and FGSAM, particularly in the case of salinity, reflecting the influence of water mixing and seawater temperature. The multifaceted effects of environmental variations on Sound Scattering Layers underscore the importance of spatial-functional statistical analysis in ecological studies involving complex, spatially functional objects. Beyond the scope of this specific case study, the application of functional data analysis shows promise for a wide array of ecological studies dealing with extensive spatial datasets. • Integrated high-resolution marine data in functional data analysis. • Environmental effect on multifrequency acoustics data revealing spatial intricacies. • Multivariate functional PCA unveils environmental depth variation outperforming PCA. • Integrating spatial coordinates enhances model quality. • FDA interest demonstrated for ecological study and massive spatial data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of acoustic backscattered signals from the seabed bottom to the sea surface is used worldwide for fish stocks assessment and marine ecosystem monitoring. Huge amounts of raw data are collected yet require tedious expert labeling. This paper focuses on a case study where the ground truth labels are non-obvious: echograms labeling, which is time-consuming and critical for the quality of fisheries and ecological analysis. We investigate how these tasks can benefit from supervised learning algorithms and demonstrate that convolutional neural networks trained with non-stationary datasets can be used to stress parts of a new dataset needing human expert correction. Further development of this approach paves the way toward a standardization of the labeling process in fisheries acoustics and is a good case study for non-obvious data labeling processes. • Non-uniform expert labeling of complex data is a common issue, typically illustrated in fisheries acoustics and noisy raw datasets. • A common labeling process is a first step toward comparable computational methods in fisheries acoustics. • A method to automate and standardize the labeling process in fisheries acoustics with machine learning is presented. • Convolution neural networks are identified as good features extractor and can benefit from non stationary fisheries acoustics datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased public awareness of the health impacts of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) has led to increased demand and deployment of indoor air cleaners. Yet, questions still remain about the effectiveness of indoor air cleaners on indoor PM 2.5 concentrations and personal exposure to potentially hazardous components of PM 2.5. Metals in PM 2.5 have been associated with adverse health outcomes, so knowledge of their sources in urban indoor and outdoor areas and how exposures are influenced by indoor air cleaners would be beneficial for public health interventions. We collected 48-h indoor, outdoor, and personal PM 2.5 exposure samples for 43 homes with asthmatic children in suburban Shanghai, China during the spring months. Two sets of samples were collected for each household, one set with a functioning air filter placed in the bedroom ("true filtration") and the other with a non-functioning ("sham") air cleaner. PM 2.5 samples were analyzed for elements, elemental carbon, and organic carbon. The major sources of metals in PM 2.5 were determined by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to be regional aerosol, resuspended dust, residual oil combustion, roadway emissions, alloy steel abrasion, and a lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) source. Under true filtration, the median indoor to outdoor percent removal across all elements increased from 31% to 78% and from 46% to 88% across all sources. Our findings suggest that indoor air cleaners are an effective strategy for reducing indoor concentrations of PM 2.5 metals from most sources, which could translate into improved health outcomes for some populations. Image 1 • Six sources of elements in indoor, outdoor, and personal exposure PM 2.5 were found. • Air cleaner can reduce indoor concentrations of elements from most PM 2.5 sources. • Personal exposure to some elements and sources was reduced by the air cleaner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers recommend collecting repeated or prolonged natural language samples to supplement direct assessments and anecdotal reports in language studies for autistic children. Several studies have used the Language Environment Analysis® (LENA) system to collect language samples from autistic children. However, there has been little research that investigates the reliability of using the LENA system for autistic children in an educational setting such as a classroom. The current study compared language data disaggregated by the LENA system from 40 autistic children in educational settings with data from human coders. Specifically, we calculated three separate correlational and reliability analyses between the LENA system and human coders. Results showed that although the aggregated coefficients could be interpreted as fair, LENA systems should be used with caution due to high variability between the LENA system and human coders. Implications for future research and limitations are also discussed. • Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system. • LENA reliability analysis. • Measuring autistic children's language in educational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the early 2000s, Senegal set up several Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along its coastal zone with the purpose of biodiversity conservation and to support sustainable management of fisheries. However, the impact of MPAs may vary according to the type of fisheries. In Senegal, the sardinella fishery accounts for 70% of total catches. This fishery is of crucial importance for national food security and employment. Given this importance, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of MPAs, often being considered as a tool for fisheries management. An analytical, dynamic and spatial bio-economic model of sardinella fishery, considering fish and fisher migration, has been developed and scenarios over forty years have been analyzed. The results show that the fishery is economically overexploited and that Senegal could lose about 11.6 billion CFA over forty years of exploitation, i.e. 290 million CFA per year. To achieve an optimal level of exploitation, it would be necessary to halve the current fishing capacity. Implementing MPAs for 10, 20 and 30% of the Senegalese exclusive economic zone lead to slight increases in biomass (1%) and rent (5–11%). In addition, spatio-temporal closures can lead to increased exploitation in unclosed areas, due to the absence of enforcement. Achieving target 11 of the Aichi Convention, i.e., 10% of coastal and marine areas protected per country, will have a reserve effect on the resource but also only lead to weak improvements in economic indicators for the Senegalese fishery. Finally, because the sardinella resource is shared among many countries of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), a sub-regional cooperation is necessary for a sustainable management. Highlights • The Sardinella fishery is economically overexploited and that the society loses about 290 million CFA per year. • To reach an optimal level of exploitation, the current fishing capacity should be halved. • Spatio-temporal closure measures or MPAs lead inevitably to overcapacity in unclosed areas. • The objective 11 of the Aichi Convention will have a reserve effect on the resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to high costs and difficulties in implement control, fisheries are less regulated than terrestrial activities. In areas of weak governance, self-regulation is often the rule. Understanding the underlying bio-economic mechanisms that drive such fishery systems is crucial for decision making on how to support real fishermen communities. Fishing effort reallocation occurs when economic yield drops, suggesting a feedback between fishermen's mobility and local overexploitation. The nature of this feedback is addressed here by using a bio-economic modelling approach applied to a Senegalese fishery. The white grouper is a highly valued commercial fish that has suffered intense exploitation in Senegal and was predicted to collapse due to a lack of fishery regulation combined with high demand. Surprisingly, our analysis of landings and associated price variability suggests that a slow recovery of this fishery is now underway. Motivated by this finding, two models were implemented that account for artisanal fishermen's mobility and variable prices. Both models provided the same insight: fishing effort mobility combined with variable fish prices induced a shift from local overexploitation to sub-regional sustainable exploitation. Considering that fishing effort mobility has steeply increased in recent years, this mechanism might have significantly contributed to the recent observed trends in prices and landings for this fishery. More generally, these bio-economic models suggest that spatial reallocation of fishing effort acts as emergent governance in under regulated areas that allows, in some cases, the recovery of an overexploited species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union intends to enable its citizens to interact across borders in relevant areas of society and culture to further integrate neighboring regions. Medicine has not been at the core of recent EU-funded efforts in central Europe, partially due to significant differences in health care administration, delivery, reimbursement, and culture. However, impeding changes in social structure and centralization of specialized care warrant changes in preclinical administration of medical care, which are already transforming practices across developed countries in central Europe. Moreover, demographic and social changes are transforming not only patients but also health care providers, thus leading to an increased need for specialized medical personnel, particularly in regions close to formerly secluding borders. The EU-funded cooperation project presented in this article is located in the Euroregion Pomerania, which consists of northeastern Germany and northwestern Poland. This project emerged because of the need to solve practical emergency medicine-related problems for many years, which brought partners together. Unfortunately, administrative and medical interaction has not become significantly easier with Poland joining the Schengen area in 2007 and, subsequently, initial international contracts regarding, among other things, emergency medicine being negotiated and signed thereafter. Three different interdependent areas of cooperation within the project deal with key aspects of an improved and eventually integrated cooperation. An accepted clarification of administrative and legal foundations - or the lack and thus the need thereof - needs to be defined. Specialized language and simulation-based education and practice sessions employing modern technology throughout will be introduced to the entire region. Finally, the pre-existing and developing acceptance and sustainability aspects of personnel involved in the aforementioned actions and stakeholders on both sides of the border will be evaluated. In essence, the project focuses on a multimodal improvement of professional cooperation of key providers of emergency medicine services in the Euroregion Pomerania. Thereby, it aims to improve infrastructure; interpersonal and professional skills of involved personnel, administrative, and cultural relations; and eventually identification of specialized personnel with their workplace and region to secure and retain important medical workforce in an otherwise remote area on both sides of a formerly secluded border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small pelagics are the main fish resource in North West Africa. In Senegal, these are mainly sardinellas ( Sardinella aurita and S. maderensis ) and bonga shad ( Ethmalosa fimbriata ). The fisheries, mainly encircling gillnets and purse seines, are predominantly performed by artisanal fishers and are of great importance for the Senegalese economy and for food security in the region. However, in recent years, the main conditions for these fisheries have changed and recent observations have shown strong declines in profit. An analysis over the last twenty years (1993–2013) show that the fisheries lost profit between 65% and 100% while operating costs increased by 25% and 90%, for encircling gillnet and purse seine, respectively. While the fuel price dominates as determining factor during the survey period, important other drivers during the last five years were a decrease in fish biomass and an increase in fishing effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-component framework of episodic memory (EM) development posits that the contributions of medial temporal lobe (MTL) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) to successful encoding differ across the lifespan. To test the framework’s hypotheses, we compared subsequent memory effects (SME) of 10–12 year-old children, younger adults, and older adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Memory was probed by cued recall, and SME were defined as regional activation differences during encoding between subsequently correctly recalled versus omitted items. In MTL areas, children’s SME did not differ in magnitude from those of younger and older adults. In contrast, children’s SME in PFC were weaker than the corresponding SME in younger and older adults, in line with the hypothesis that PFC contributes less to successful encoding in childhood. Differences in SME between younger and older adults were negligible. The present results suggest that, among individuals with high memory functioning, the neural circuitry contributing to successful episodic encoding is reorganized from middle childhood to adulthood. Successful episodic encoding in later adulthood, however, is characterized by the ability to maintain the activation patterns that emerged in young adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small pelagic fishes are the main fish resource in North West Africa. In senegal this resource is mainly represented by Sardinella aurita and S. maderensis and the fishery is mostly composed by artisanal fishing units using purse seines and encircling gill nets. It is of great importance for the Senegalese economy and food security. Since the 1970′s this fishery has been largely subsidized. For many reasons, fishery subsidies are subject to severe criticism in scientific literature and from international institutions and NGO's. To assess fisheries subsidies impact, we use a bioeconomic model to simulate the dynamics of sardinella exploitation by testing different scenarios. The results show that the fishery is economically overexploited and that subsidies contribute to this poor economic performance. In the current situation, the total cut of subsidies would allow the State in the long term to save about 56 billion XOF and to increase the economic rent present value by 206 %. The main losers in this case are ship owners who will face a decrease of 30 % of profits. The suppression of subsidies could also contribute to a better regulation of artisanal fishing capacity. However, subsidies cuts lead to better long-term economic results if associated with fishing capacity control. Nevertheless, the implementation of such a measure will necessarily come up against the cultural nature of artisanal fishing in Senegal, mainly composed of family-type fishing units embedded in a community context where fishing plays an identity and subsistence role and the latter meaning that people prioritize short term gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: From a scenario of political and technological changes in work and health education, the purpose of this study was to understand the ethics discourse in nurses' education process in Brazilian nursing schools. A research was performed with a qualitative approach, characterized as a case study, involving six schools of a region in the south of Brazil. The data were collected by focal groups involving 50 teachers. The results were organized in three categories: (1) experience and motivation to teach ethics and bioethics, (2) indicators of change identified in global and local contexts and (3) challenges in the education of ethics, values and related themes. The teachers have highlighted complex elements related to scientific, educational and professional contexts, and pointed out the need for a critical perspective on the professional scenario and on their own situations as nurses and educators. The analyzed discourse brings to light the topic of ethics, seen as peculiar to the present day and in intimate connection with the daily routine of clinical, pedagogical and political professional practices. The findings suggest that the reflections on nurses' ethics education should not be limited to discussing content and pedagogical strategies but should be extended to include a commitment to the adoption of values in professional practice and to the process of the construction of a professional identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: From a scenario of political and technological changes in work and health education, the purpose of this study was to understand the ethics discourse in nurses' education process in Brazilian nursing schools. A research was performed with a qualitative approach, characterized as a case study, involving six schools of a region in the south of Brazil. The data were collected by focal groups involving 50 teachers. The results were organized in three categories: (1) experience and motivation to teach ethics and bioethics, (2) indicators of change identified in global and local contexts and (3) challenges in the education of ethics, values and related themes. The teachers have highlighted complex elements related to scientific, educational and professional contexts, and pointed out the need for a critical perspective on the professional scenario and on their own situations as nurses and educators. The analyzed discourse brings to light the topic of ethics, seen as peculiar to the present day and in intimate connection with the daily routine of clinical, pedagogical and political professional practices. The findings suggest that the reflections on nurses' ethics education should not be limited to discussing content and pedagogical strategies but should be extended to include a commitment to the adoption of values in professional practice and to the process of the construction of a professional identity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of new conduction defects after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on the evolution of left ventricular (LV) function during 1-year follow-up. Background: New left bundle branch block (LBBB) or need for permanent pacing due to atrioventricular (AV) block are frequent after TAVI. Methods: A total of 90 consecutive patients treated with TAVI and who had 12-month echocardiographic follow-up were included in the study. In 39 patients, a new conduction defect (new LBBB or need for permanent pacemaker activity.) persisted 1 month after TAVI. In 51 patients, no persistent new conduction defect was observed. Two-dimensional echocardiography using parasternal short-axis, apical 4-chamber, and apical 2-chamber views was performed before TAVI and at 1-year follow-up to determine LV volumes and ejection fraction based on Simpson''s rule. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was applied using standard LV short-axis images to assess the effect of new conduction defects on time-to-peak radial strain of different LV segments as a parameter of LV dyssynchrony. Results: New conduction defects resulted in marked heterogeneity in time-to-peak strain between the 6 analyzed short-axis segments. During 1-year follow-up after TAVI, there was a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients without new LBBB (53 ± 11% pre TAVI to 59 ± 10% at follow-up; p < 0.001), whereas there was no change in LVEF in patients with a new conduction defect (52 ± 11% pre TAVI to 51 ± 12% at follow-up, p = 0.740). Change in LV end-systolic volume was also significantly different between patient groups (−1.0 ± 14.2 vs. −11.2 ± 15.7 ml, p = 0.042). New conduction defect and LVEF at baseline were independent predictors of reduced LVEF at 12-month follow-up after TAVI. Conclusions: LVEF improves after TAVI for treatment of severe aortic stenosis in patients without new conduction defects. In patients with a new conduction defect after TAVI, there is no improvement in LVEF at follow-up. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Chagas disease is one of the most serious parasitic diseases of Latin America, with a social and economic impact far outweighing the combined effects of other parasitic diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis. In the chronic phase of this disease, the destruction of enteric nervous system components leads to megacolon development. Besides neurons, the enteric nervous system is constituted by enteric glial cells, representing an extensive but relatively poorly described population within the gastrointestinal tract. Several lines of evidence suggest that enteric glial cells represent an equivalent of central nervous system astrocytes. Previous data suggest that enteric glia and neurons are active in the enteric nervous system during intestinal inflammatory and immune responses. To evaluate whether these cells act as antigen-presenting cells, we investigated the expression of molecules responsible for activation of T cells, such as HLA-DR complex class II and costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), by neurons and enteric glial cells. Our results indicate that only enteric glial cells of chagasic patients with megacolon express HLA-DR complex class II and costimulatory molecules, and hence they present the attributes necessary to act as antigen-presenting cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present a neonate with heterotopic nasopharyngeal brain tissue causing airway obstruction. Preoperative imaging showed extension of the mass along major neurovascular pathways into the cranial vault. Preoperative identification of intracranial extension is essential for planning surgery to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks or possible meningitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using trophodynamic models, the present study evaluated how a decade fishing closure inside and outside two marine protected areas (MPAs) in Senegal has influenced on the ecosystem trophic network. Scientific surveys in the Bamboung MPA (68 km2, mangrove) were conducted since 2003, one year before fishery closure. The resulting dataset was used to generate a time series of abundance indices, and Ecopath mass-balanced models were constructed for the 2003, 2008–2012, and 2015–2016 periods (one fished and two unfished periods, respectively). These three Bamboung MPA models were subsequently used to evaluate the effects of fishing closure. Based on the biomass trophic spectrum of the 2015–2016 model, the trophic structure of the Bamboung MPA was compared to that constructed in the same period of an area that was still fished (Bolong de Sankago). Using a model based on ecosystem trophic levels (EcoTroph) we simulated fishery activity in the Bamboung MPA from 2008, to assess possible poaching in the MPA. Then, the effect of fishing closure was also evaluated on the continental shelf for the Joal-Fadiouth MPA (174 km2; sandy coast/mangrove), and comparing the trophic structure inside and outside of this second MPA. The results showed that the Bamboung MPA had high biomass, especially for higher trophic level species. After a decade of fishing closure, a 2-fold increase in predator biomass and a 1.5-fold decrease in prey biomass was recorded. The models showed that poaching effects exist both studied MPA. So official fishing closure had after a decade a lower effect in both MPAs. For the Joal-Fadiouth MPA, low-mobility species had high biomass, suggesting that high habitat diversity and fishery closure had a positive effect. However, the biomass of large species from high-trophic-levels was still low inside this MPA. The obtained results could serve as a reference for future studies in this MPA. In conclusion, fishery closure increased the total biomass in the MPAs over the medium and long-term; however, the trophic network might also be modified by high natural variability in the annual recruitment of some stocks. [Display omitted] • After a decade of fishing closure, a 2-fold increase in predator biomass and a 1.5-fold decrease in prey biomass was recorded in the Bamboung MPA. • Due to poaching effects, the official fishing closure had after a decade a lower effect in both MPAs. • For the Joal-Fadiouth MPA, low-mobility species had high biomass, suggesting that high habitat diversity and fishery closure had a positive effect. • The fishery closure increased the total biomass in the MPAs over the medium and long-term. • However, the trophic network might also be modified by high natural variability in the annual recruitment of some stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers insight into teacher agency in professional development programmes, focusing on a national policy initiative in Sweden aiming to provide in-depth professional development for mathematics teachers. Data was produced from video observations from two collegial discussions with one group of teachers, during the professional development programme. We closely analyse forms of agency in the collegial discussions in relation to the affordances of the professional development materials. The analysis shows a complex relationship between possibilities for independent judgement as constructed in curriculum materials, teachers' agency, and the coach's role in collegial discussions. Contrary to previous research, the findings indicate that opportunities for facilitating enactment in professional development materials do not necessarily lead to teacher agency. The results of the study are discussed in relation to the Swedish educational context. • Design of professional development materials is not decisive for teacher agency. • Social relationships and the role of the coach support enactment of agency. • Strategies for enactment in materials do not promote agency in discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]