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The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring (MEDLEM) database contains more than 3,000 records (with more than 4,000 individuals) of large elasmobranch species from 21 different countries around the Mediterranean and Black seas, observed from 1666 to 2017. The principal species included in the archive are the devil ray (1,868 individuals), the basking shark (935 individuals), the blue shark (622 individuals), and the great white shark (342 individuals). In the last decades, other species such as the thresher shark (187 individuals), the shortfin mako (180 individuals), and the spiny butterfly ray (138) were reported with increasing frequency. This was possibly due to increased public awareness on the conservation status of sharks, and the consequent development of new monitoring programs. MEDLEM does not have homogeneous reporting coverage throughout the Mediterranean and Black seas and it should be considered as a database of observed species presence. Scientific monitoring efforts in the south-eastern Mediterranean and Black seas are generally lower than in the northern sectors and the absence of some species in our database does not imply their actual absence in these regions. However, the available data allowed us to analyse the frequency and spatial distribution of records, the size frequencies for a few selected the available data allowed us to analyse the frequency and spatial distribution of records, the size frequencies for a few selected species, the overall area coverage, and which species are involved as bycatch by different fishing gears. © 2020 Mediterranean Marine Science.

The purpose of this study was to compare three different intervals for a between sets rest period during a common isokinetic knee extension strength-testing protocol of twenty older Brazilian men (66.30 ± 3.92 yrs). The volunteers underwent unilateral knee extension (Biodex System 3) testing to determine their individual isokinetic peak torque at 60, 90, and 120°s(-1). The contraction speeds and the rest periods between sets (30, 60 and 90 s) were randomly performed in three different days with a minimum rest period of 48 hours. Significant differences between and within sets were analyzed using a One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Although, at angular velocity of 60°s(-1) produced a higher peak torque, there were no significant differences in peak torque among any of the rest periods. Likewise, there were no significant differences between mean peak torque among all resting periods (30, 60 and 90s) at angular velocities of 90 and 120°s(-1). The results showed that during a common isokinetic strength testing protocol a between set rest period of at least 30 s is sufficient for recovery before the next test set in older men. Key PointsThe assessment of muscular strength using isokinetics muscle contraction in older individuals is very important for exercise prescription and rehabilitation.The minimal time between intraset isokinetics knee extension assessment in older individuals need to be more investigated, however 30 s appear to besufficient time for strength recover.

EXERCISE ON AN ISOKINETIC DEVICE INVOLVES THREE DISTINCT MOVEMENT PHASES: acceleration, constant velocity, and deceleration. Inherent in these phases are unique occurrences that may confound test data and, thereby, test interpretation. Standard methods of data reduction like windowing and other techniques consist of removing the acceleration and deceleration phases in order to assure analysis under constant velocity conditions. However, none of these techniques adequately quantify the velocity overshoot (VO) movement artifact which is a result of the devices resistance imposed to the limb. This study tested the influence of VO on isokinetic data interpretation. A computational algorithm was developed to accurately identify each movement phase and to delineate the VO segment. Therefore, the VO was then treated as a fourth and independent phase. A total of sixteen healthy men (26.8 ± 4.7 yrs, 1.76 ± 0.05 m, and 79.2 ± 9.4 kg) performed two sets of ten maximal concentric extension repetitions of their dominant knee (at 60°·s(-1) and 180°·s(-1)), on separate days and in a counterbalanced order, on a Biodex System 3 Pro dynamometer. All the phases of the isokinetic exercise were measured in terms of their biomechanical descriptors and according to the developed algorithm, the windowing method, and a data reduction technique that eliminates the first and last 10° of the total range of motion. Results showed significant differences (p0.05) between the constant velocity phases found by each method: the largest segment was obtained with the windowing method; the second one, with the algorithm; and the smallest, with data reduction technique. The point of peak torque was not affected by none of the techniques, but significant differences (p0.05) were found between the data including and not including the VO phase, concerning total work, time interval, and average length of load range: VO represents more than 10% of the amount calculated in constant velocity phase. As a consequence, the correct removal of VO was suggested as a required procedure to adequately interpret isokinetic tests. Therefore, the use of the proposed algorithm is advisable in order to perform analysis according to the isokinetic definition. Key pointsIsokinetic test interpretation must be focused on the constant velocity range; traditional analysis usually removes the acceleration and deceleration phases but does not give particular attention to velocity overshoot range.The study of effects of velocity overshoot artifact requires a specific method for accurately delineate its interval and investigate its impact over biomechanical descriptors; this paper proposed a computational algorithm for identifying the velocity overshoot interval.Velocity overshoot has significant impact over biomechanical descriptors analyzed during isokinetic knee extension tests at 60°·s(-1) and 180°·s(-1); the algorithm proposed is an advisable method for performing isokinetic tests analysis according to the isokinetic definition.

La cattura accidentale è universalmente considerata una delle principali cause di mortalità prodotte dalla attività umana su specie di interesse conservazionistico. All'interno della Comunità europea, gli Stati membri sono tenuti a controllare e mitigare questo fenomeno, al fine di assicurare un uso realmente sostenibile dell'ecosistema marino. Tra maggio 2009 e settembre 2010, l'Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) ha coordinato un programma di monitoraggio di catture accidentali di cetacei durante la pesca con il traino pelagico (BYCATCH III), finanziato in conformità con il Regolamento (CE) No. 812/2004. Partner di questo programma erano il Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa) e il CNR-ISMAR di Ancona. Nel periodo indicato otto osservatori indipendenti hanno monitorato 39 imbarcazioni per un totale di 528 giorni in mare e 2.254 cale osservate. La copertura di osservazione si è aggirata sul 2% dello sforzo di pesca nazionale. Tutti gli eventi di cattura accidentale sono stati registrati nel Mare Adriatico Settentrionale (GSA 17). Nessun'evento di cattura è stato registrato per i cetacei, mentre sono state catturate 37 tartarughe comuni (Caretta caretta) (tasso di cattura=0.022 ind/cala). Queste tartarughe sono state rilasciate vive dopo completo recupero. Il numero di tartarughe catturate accidentalmente in Adriatico settentrionale è stato stimato in 801 individui (CV=0.20, IC 95%=1,456-1,696). La zona a sud di Goro è stato confermato come hot spot per questa specie. Si sono anche stimate le catture accidentali totali annuali per un certo numero di specie di elasmobranchi. Lo spinarolo (Squalus acanthias), il palombo (in particolare Mustelus mustelus), lo squalo volpe (Alopias vulpinus), la verdesca (Prionace glauca), la vaccarella (Pteromylaeus bovinus), l'aquila di mare (Myliobatis aquila) ed il trigone viola (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) - due delle quali sono specie commerciali e vulnerabili - raggiungono stime piuttosto elevate che costituiscono una notevole biomassa sottratta all'ecosistema marino. L'analisi genetica su 104 campioni di pelle di delfini raccolti da tutto il Mar Adriatico, sembra indicare l'esistenza di una sottostruttura per questa popolazione. Per confermare queste indicazioni preliminari è fortemente raccomandato un prelievo supplementare nella parte meridionale del bacino. Infine, dato il tasso attuale di interazione tra le operazioni di pesca con traino pelagico a coppia e le specie protette e/o specie di interesse conservazionistico, c'è una reale urgenza di determinare se la scala di quanto osservato e stimato ed i relativi stress sono sufficienti a rappresentare una minaccia alla livello di popolazione.

OBJETIVO: Comparar os efeitos de diferentes intervalos de recuperação (IR) entre séries de contração isocinética no desempenho muscular em idosos. MÉTODOS: Vinte idosos voluntários (66,9±3,9 anos, 76,1±13,4kg, 169±5,2cm) foram submetidos a três sessões de exercício resistido isocinético unilateral da musculatura extensora do joelho com diferentes IR (1 minuto, 2 minutos, e 3 minutos) na velocidade de 60°•s-1. Cada sessão consistia em três séries de 10 repetições durante as quais foram avaliados o pico de torque (PT), trabalho total (TT) e índice de fadiga (IF). ANOVA fatorial para medidas repetidas, com a análise de Post hoc por Bonferroni, foi utilizada para identificar possíveis diferenças entre os IR. O nível de significância estatístico utilizado foi de p0,05). Apesar de ter sido observado menor desempenho muscular na 3ª série em todos os IR, maiores quedas no PT, TT e IF foram observadas quando adotado o IR de 1minuto (p0.05). Although muscle performance was lower during the third sets with all RI, the greatest decreases in PT, TW and FI occurred with the 1 minute RI (p

The presence and distribution of FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) in the cyprid larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite were investigated using immunohistochemical methods. Barnacles are considered to be one of the most important constituents of animal fouling communities, and the cyprid stage is specialized for settlement and metamorphosis into the sessile adult condition. FLPs immunoreactive (IR) neuronal cell bodies were detected in both the central and the peripheral nervous system. One bilateral group of neurons somata was immunodetected in the brain, and IR nerve fibers were observed in the neuropil area and optic lobes. Intense immunostaining was also observed in the frontal filament complex: frontal filament tracts leaving the optic lobes and projecting towards the compound eyes, swollen nerve endings in the frontal filament vesicles, and thin nerve endings in the external frontal filament. Thin IR nerve fibers were also present in the cement glands. Two pairs of neuronal cell bodies were immunodetected in the posterior ganglion; some of their axons appear to project to the cirri. FLPs IR neuronal cell bodies were also localized in the wall of the dilated midgut and in the narrow hindgut; their processes surround the gut wall and allow gut neurons to synapse with one another. Our data demonstrated the presence of FLPs IR substances in the barnacle cyprid. We hypothesize that these peptides act as integrators in the central nervous system, perform neuromuscular functions for thoracic limbs, trigger intestinal movements and, at the level of the frontal filament, play a neurosecretory role.

The presence and distribution of FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) in the cyprid of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite were investigated by immunohistochemical methods. FLPs immunoreactive (IR) neuronal cell bodies were detected in both central and peripheral nervous system. In the brain three contralateral neuron somata were immunodetected and numerous IR nerve fibers in the neuropil area and optic lobes were observed. An intense immunostaining was also observed in the frontal filament complex: frontal filament tracts leaving the optic lobes and projecting towards the compound eyes, the swollen nerve endings in the frontal filament vesicles and the thin nerve endings in the external frontal filament. Thin IR nerve fibers were also present in the cement glands. Two pairs of neuronal cell bodies were instead immunodetected in the posterior ganglion; some of their axons seem to project to the cirri. FLPs IR neuronal cell bodies were also localized in the wall of the dilated mid-gut and in the narrow hindgut; their processes surround the gut wall and allow gut neurons to synapse each others. Our data demonstrated the presence of FLPs in the barnacle cyprid; their distribution allows us to hypothesise for these peptides an integrator role in the central nervous system, neuromuscular functions for thoracic limbs and intestinal movements and a neurosecretory role, exerted by the frontal filament complex, in the settlement and molting.