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- research articleSustainabilityBiochar is a promising tool to immobilize heavy metals (HMs) in the soil. Biochar’s effect on HMs immobilization into acidic soil (pH < 5) and the interaction of plants have been investigated. Three types of feedstocks were used for biochar development via pyrolysis at two temperatures and then applied as soil amendments. A vegetative experiment has been carried out with buckwheat and white mustard to determine the effect of biochar as an HMs immobilizing agent in the presence of sewage sludge. The results show promising biochar properties to immobilize heavy metals and reduce their availability for plants. Biochar incorporation increased soil pH and reduced heavy metal forms available to plants. A sequential extraction procedure was applied to investigate five different forms of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and evaluate their distribution after plants’ cultivation. The proportion of the residual fraction (RES) of HMs varied widely and differed from metal to metal and from plant species. RES in the soil after treatment with biochar and buckwheat harvest varied between 68.14 and 96.40% for Zn, 42.39 and 59.48% (Cu), 75.89 and 93.11% (Cr), 81.85 and 92.83% (Ni), and 98.94 and 99.20% (Pb). In comparison, a slightly opposite trend was found in the soil after white mustard cultivation. The proportion of RES was: 0.82–53.44% for Zn, 0.99–52.93% (Cu), 48.87–76.41% (Cr), 10.22–72.63% (Ni), and 98.31–99.32% (Pb). HMs immobilization efficiency in the soil after biochar treatment followed the order Ni > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn and Ni > Pb > Zn > Cr > Cu after buckwheat and white mustard cultivation, respectively.
- research articleFrontiers in marine scienceWe combine historical and recent monitoring data with modeling to get a better insight into water quality development of the large Oder/Szczecin Lagoon at the German/Polish border in the southern Baltic Sea region and especially of the role of macrophytes. Data indicates that the system is eutrophic for centuries and a naturally eutrophic system. During the last decades, external nutrient loads decreased but still keep the system in a eutrophic state. The systems primary production is limited by light and nitrogen and cannot be sufficiently managed by external nutrient load reductions. We consider 36% macrophyte coverage of the lagoon area as potential historical maximum. Despite its shallowness the lagoon was never a macrophyte dominated, clear water system. About 31% of the lagoon area would be covered by macrophytes in a good ecological status according to the European Water Framework Directive. However, the existing water transparency targets seem too ambitious and not realistic. Changes in macrophyte coverage on water quality are restricted to near shore areas and hardly affect the open lagoon. Existing models require an improved representation of water transparency and effects on macrophyte colonization depth. Presently the patchy macrophyte coverage is only about 12% of the lagoon area. This low coverage and a relatively poor species composition results in a non-satisfactory state classification. However, ecologically valuable angiosperms and charophytes seem to recover. A strict avoidance of mechanical disturbances could be a measure to support macrophyte re-colonization. A systematic improvement of piscivorous fish stocks may be a supporting measure to reduce eutrophication. Restoration perspectives and consequences for environmental policies are discussed.
WOS© IF 5.247WOS© AIF 3.462Scopus© SNIP 1.435 - textEstuaries and coastsLagoons act to transport, retain (via sedimentation), and divert (via outgassing) carbon (C) on its route from land to sea. Their role in transporting vs. attenuating C fluxes is important to understanding global C cycles and sources of organic matter supporting food webs. Here, we present a C budget for a large coastal lagoon in the Baltic region that incorporates measurements of river-estuary, estuary-marine, and sediment-water exchanges, along with internal processes (production and respiration) governing transformations among C fractions. Organic C fluxes were dominated by internal cycling (GPP and R), whereas inorganic C fluxes were largely dependent on hydrological transport. Sediment-water exchange of DIC and DOC was of lesser importance, despite the shallowness of the lagoon. On an annual basis, the lagoon was a net source of organic matter (OM) to the Baltic Sea as export of dissolved and particulate fractions exceeded riverine and marine inputs by 37 ± 4%. Export of OM was due to internal production of POC via phytoplankton photosynthesis. We combined the mass balance and metabolism results with a consumer energetics approach to align C sources with C flows through the lagoon food web. We estimate that the annual harvested fish production accounts for nearly 22% of OM inputs from internal and external sources. A comparison with C flux data from the Chesapeake region allowed us to appreciate how ecosystems at the river-estuarine transition differ in their roles as pipes vs. reactors, depending on the sources and timing of OM inputs, and how these differences constrain food web energetics.
- letter to the editorColorectal disease
WOS© IF 3.917WOS© AIF 5.249Scopus© SNIP 1.575
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- research articleLancet. London : The Lancet Publishing Group, 2003, vol. 362, iss. 9386., p. 782-788Background. Treatment with angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduces the rate of cardiovascular events among patients with left-ventricular dysfunction and those at high risk of such events. We assessed whether the ACE inhibitor perindopril reduced cardiovascular risk in a low-risk population with stable coronary heart disease and no apparent heart failure. Methods We recruited patients from October, 1997, to June, 2000. 13 655 patients were registered with previous myocardial infarction (64%), angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (61%), coronary revascularisation (55%), or a positive stress test only (5%). After a run-in period of 4 weeks, in which all patients received perindopril, 12 218 patients were randomly assigned perindopril 8 mg once daily (n=6110), or matching placebo (n=6108). The mean follow-up was 4.2 years, and the primary endpoint was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or cardiac arrest. Analysis was by intention to treat...
23Scopus© Citations 2057WOS© IF 18.316WOS© AIF 3.971 - research articleFronties in ecology and the environment. Hoboken : Wiley, 2010, vol. 8, iss. 3, p. 135-144Recent comprehensive data provided through the DAISIE project (www.europe-aliens.org) have facilitated the development of the first pan-European assessment of the impacts of alien plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates – in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments – on ecosystem services. There are 1094 species with documented ecological impacts and 1347 with economic impacts. The two taxonomic groups with the most species causing impacts are terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial plants. The North Sea is the maritime region that suffers the most impacts. Across taxa and regions, ecological and economic impacts are highly correlated. Terrestrial invertebrates create greater economic impacts than ecological impacts, while the reverse is true for terrestrial plants. Alien species from all taxonomic groups affect “supporting”, “provisioning”, “regulating”, and “cultural” services and interfere with human well-being. Terrestrial vertebrates are responsible for the greatest range of impacts, and these are widely distributed across Europe. Here, we present a review of the financial costs, as the first step toward calculating an estimate of the economic consequences of alien species in Europe.
5Scopus© Citations 818WOS© IF 8.82WOS© AIF 2.729 Scopus© Citations 715 6WOS© IF 4.56WOS© AIF 2.626 Scopus© Citations 435 5WOS© IF 9.771WOS© AIF 8.741 - research articleInternational journal of cancerMalignant ascites is a common manifestation of advanced cancers, and treatment options are limited. The trifunctional antibody catumaxomab (anti-epithelial cell-adhesion molecule x anti-CD3) represents a targeted immunotherapy for the intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment of malignant ascites secondary to epithelial cancers. In this phase II/III trial (EudraCT 2004-000723-15; NCT00836654), cancer patients (n = 258) with recurrent symptomatic malignant ascites resistant to conventional chemotherapy were randomized to paracentesis plus catumaxomab (catumaxomab) or paracentesis alone (control) and stratified by cancer type (129 ovarian and 129 nonovarian). Catumaxomab was administered as an i.p. infusion on Days 0, 3, 7 and 10 at doses of 10, 20, 50 and 150 mug, respectively. The primary efficacy endpoint was puncture-free survival. Secondary efficacy parameters included time to next paracentesis, ascites signs and symptoms and overall survival (OS). Puncture-free survival was significantly longer in the catumaxomab group (median 46 days) than the control group (median 11 days) (hazard ratio = 0.254: p < 0.0001) as was median time to next paracentesis (77 versus 13 days; p < 0.0001). In addition, catumaxomab patients had fewer signs and symptoms of ascites than control patients. OS showed a positive trend for the catumaxomab group and, in a prospectively planned analysis, was significantly prolonged in patients with gastric cancer (n = 66; 71 versus 44 days; p = 0.0313). Although adverse events associated with catumaxomab were frequent, they were manageable, generally reversible and mainly related to its immunologic mode of action. Catumaxomab showed a clear clinical benefit in patients with malignant ascites secondary to epithelial cancers, especially gastric cancer, with an acceptable safety profile.
5Scopus© Citations 418WOS© IF 4.926WOS© AIF 4.604