Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured on discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles at station TARA_191 during the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) was a global survey of ocean ecosystems aboard the Sailing Vessel Tara. It carried out extensive measurements of evironmental conditions and collected plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and metazoans) for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter that were measured from discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles during the 2009-2013 Tara Oceans expedition. Properties include pigment concentrations from HPLC analysis (10 depths per vertical profile, 25 pigments per depth), the carbonate system (Surface and 400m; pH (total scale), CO2, pCO2, fCO2, HCO3, CO3, Total alkalinity, Total carbon, OmegaAragonite, OmegaCalcite, and dosage Flags), nutrients (10 depths per vertical profile; NO2, PO4, N02/NO3, SI, quality Flags), DOC, CDOM, and dissolved oxygen isotopes. The Service National d'Analyse des Paramètres Océaniques du CO2, at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, determined CT and AT potentiometrically. More than 200 vertical profiles of these properties were made across the world ocean. DOC, CDOM and dissolved oxygen isotopes are available only for the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013).

Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured on discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles at station TARA_192 during the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) was a global survey of ocean ecosystems aboard the Sailing Vessel Tara. It carried out extensive measurements of evironmental conditions and collected plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and metazoans) for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter that were measured from discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles during the 2009-2013 Tara Oceans expedition. Properties include pigment concentrations from HPLC analysis (10 depths per vertical profile, 25 pigments per depth), the carbonate system (Surface and 400m; pH (total scale), CO2, pCO2, fCO2, HCO3, CO3, Total alkalinity, Total carbon, OmegaAragonite, OmegaCalcite, and dosage Flags), nutrients (10 depths per vertical profile; NO2, PO4, N02/NO3, SI, quality Flags), DOC, CDOM, and dissolved oxygen isotopes. The Service National d'Analyse des Paramètres Océaniques du CO2, at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, determined CT and AT potentiometrically. More than 200 vertical profiles of these properties were made across the world ocean. DOC, CDOM and dissolved oxygen isotopes are available only for the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013).

Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured on discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles at station TARA_193 during the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) was a global survey of ocean ecosystems aboard the Sailing Vessel Tara. It carried out extensive measurements of evironmental conditions and collected plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and metazoans) for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter that were measured from discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles during the 2009-2013 Tara Oceans expedition. Properties include pigment concentrations from HPLC analysis (10 depths per vertical profile, 25 pigments per depth), the carbonate system (Surface and 400m; pH (total scale), CO2, pCO2, fCO2, HCO3, CO3, Total alkalinity, Total carbon, OmegaAragonite, OmegaCalcite, and dosage Flags), nutrients (10 depths per vertical profile; NO2, PO4, N02/NO3, SI, quality Flags), DOC, CDOM, and dissolved oxygen isotopes. The Service National d'Analyse des Paramètres Océaniques du CO2, at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, determined CT and AT potentiometrically. More than 200 vertical profiles of these properties were made across the world ocean. DOC, CDOM and dissolved oxygen isotopes are available only for the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013).

Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured on discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles at station TARA_202 during the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) was a global survey of ocean ecosystems aboard the Sailing Vessel Tara. It carried out extensive measurements of evironmental conditions and collected plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and metazoans) for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter that were measured from discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles during the 2009-2013 Tara Oceans expedition. Properties include pigment concentrations from HPLC analysis (10 depths per vertical profile, 25 pigments per depth), the carbonate system (Surface and 400m; pH (total scale), CO2, pCO2, fCO2, HCO3, CO3, Total alkalinity, Total carbon, OmegaAragonite, OmegaCalcite, and dosage Flags), nutrients (10 depths per vertical profile; NO2, PO4, N02/NO3, SI, quality Flags), DOC, CDOM, and dissolved oxygen isotopes. The Service National d'Analyse des Paramètres Océaniques du CO2, at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, determined CT and AT potentiometrically. More than 200 vertical profiles of these properties were made across the world ocean. DOC, CDOM and dissolved oxygen isotopes are available only for the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013).

Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured on discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles at station TARA_204 during the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) was a global survey of ocean ecosystems aboard the Sailing Vessel Tara. It carried out extensive measurements of evironmental conditions and collected plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and metazoans) for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter that were measured from discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles during the 2009-2013 Tara Oceans expedition. Properties include pigment concentrations from HPLC analysis (10 depths per vertical profile, 25 pigments per depth), the carbonate system (Surface and 400m; pH (total scale), CO2, pCO2, fCO2, HCO3, CO3, Total alkalinity, Total carbon, OmegaAragonite, OmegaCalcite, and dosage Flags), nutrients (10 depths per vertical profile; NO2, PO4, N02/NO3, SI, quality Flags), DOC, CDOM, and dissolved oxygen isotopes. The Service National d'Analyse des Paramètres Océaniques du CO2, at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, determined CT and AT potentiometrically. More than 200 vertical profiles of these properties were made across the world ocean. DOC, CDOM and dissolved oxygen isotopes are available only for the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013).

Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured on discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles at station TARA_205 during the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) was a global survey of ocean ecosystems aboard the Sailing Vessel Tara. It carried out extensive measurements of evironmental conditions and collected plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and metazoans) for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter that were measured from discrete water samples collected with Niskin bottles during the 2009-2013 Tara Oceans expedition. Properties include pigment concentrations from HPLC analysis (10 depths per vertical profile, 25 pigments per depth), the carbonate system (Surface and 400m; pH (total scale), CO2, pCO2, fCO2, HCO3, CO3, Total alkalinity, Total carbon, OmegaAragonite, OmegaCalcite, and dosage Flags), nutrients (10 depths per vertical profile; NO2, PO4, N02/NO3, SI, quality Flags), DOC, CDOM, and dissolved oxygen isotopes. The Service National d'Analyse des Paramètres Océaniques du CO2, at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, determined CT and AT potentiometrically. More than 200 vertical profiles of these properties were made across the world ocean. DOC, CDOM and dissolved oxygen isotopes are available only for the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013).

Um estudo sobre o status moral dos animais desde uma perspectiva deontológica

The main concern of this work is to offer an analysis of the possibility of an ethical approach to the interaction between human beings and animals. As far as possible we seek an approach which rely neither on utilitarian considerations nor on indirect reasons to explain the attribution of dignity or moral rights to animals. We take for granted that some of them (if not all) do possess it. And then we try to show that a deontological ethical theory (one which centers in the human as the agent but is not restricted to humans as the objects of the moral action) can afford us a good theoretical basis for the grounding of the attribution of rights or dignity to animals. Analyzing the main features of Kantian ethics, as well as some of its alternatives, it will be possible to show that an ethical theory which does not presuppose reciprocity nor depends solely upon particular human concerns is not only possible but also reveals itself as the most sensible and adequate to the nature of our values and of the case at hand.

Um estudo sobre o status moral dos animais desde uma perspectiva deontológica

The main concern of this work is to offer an analysis of the possibility of an ethical approach to the interaction between human beings and animals. As far as possible we seek an approach which rely neither on utilitarian considerations nor on indirect reasons to explain the attribution of dignity or moral rights to animals. We take for granted that some of them (if not all) do possess it. And then we try to show that a deontological ethical theory (one which centers in the human as the agent but is not restricted to humans as the objects of the moral action) can afford us a good theoretical basis for the grounding of the attribution of rights or dignity to animals. Analyzing the main features of Kantian ethics, as well as some of its alternatives, it will be possible to show that an ethical theory which does not presuppose reciprocity nor depends solely upon particular human concerns is not only possible but also reveals itself as the most sensible and adequate to the nature of our values and of the case at hand.

« Utilisation des services de santé chez les personnes âgées : association avec la maladie chronique et l’incapacité »

Diverses publications soulignent l'augmentation de l'espérance de vie et avec elle, le vieillissement mondial de la population. Ce processus se poursuivra à l'avenir, ainsi que son influence sur l’incidence et la prévalence de l'incapacité. Chez les personnes âgées, l’incapacité, les maladies chroniques et leur association constituent un sujet important dans le domaine de la santé publique en raison de l'effet qu'ils ont sur la demande des services de santé. Le but de ce mémoire est d’examiner quelle est la contribution respective des maladies chroniques et de l'incapacité dans l'utilisation des services de santé chez les personnes âgées et de leur interaction. Il s’agit de savoir si l'association entre la maladie chronique et l'utilisation des services de santé est modifiée par l’incapacité prenant en compte les caractéristiques de l'individu et son environnement. Ce travail est basé sur le modèle comportemental proposé par Andersen et Newman et le modèle du processus d’incapacité de Verbrugge et Jette. Pour répondre à l’objectif, nous utilisons les données du projet de recherche “ FRéLE ” (Fragilité, une étude longitudinale de ses expressions), réalisé durant la période 2010 -2013 auprès d’un échantillon de 1643 personnes âgées vivant dans la communauté au Québec. L’incapacité est évaluée à l’aide de deux indicateurs : les AVQ et les AVD. Les maladies chroniques sont mesurées par l’indice fonctionnel de comorbidité (IFC). La dépression est évaluée selon les critères de l’échelle de dépression gériatrique (EDG). L’état cognitif est mesuré par l'évaluation cognitive de Montréal (MoCA). Les facteurs de prédisposition comportent l’âge, le sexe, l’ethnicité et le niveau scolaire. Les facteurs facilitateurs incluent le revenu et le réseau social, ce dernier étant mesure par la présence ou non d’une personne de soutien et son lien avec la personne âgée. Divers modèles de régression sont adoptés pour identifier les facteurs statistiquement significatifs du modèle comportemental d’Andersen et Newman et du modèle du processus d’incapacité de Verbrugge et Jette. Nos résultats ont montré que, si le rôle des prédicteurs de l’utilisation varie en fonction du type de services de santé utilisé, l’utilisation s’accroît principalement avec le nombre de maladies chroniques. En ce qui concerne l’interaction entre la maladie chronique et l’incapacité, nos résultats ont révélé que l’interaction n’est statistiquement significative pour aucun des services analysés. Compte tenu de la diversité et les besoins de la population âgée, caractérisée par une prévalence élevée de maladies chroniques et d'incapacités, l’étude des facteurs impliqués dans l'utilisation des services de santé sera utile pour la mise en œuvre d’une offre de services, plus conforme aux besoins de cette population

The status of Ireland's climate, 2012

Ireland’s climate is changing. This is consistent with regional and global trends which display rapid changes in many aspects of climate over the last century and the first decade of this century. The availability of high-quality climate observations is a critical starting point from which an understanding of past and emerging trends in the current climate can be developed. Such observations are vital for detecting change and providing the information needed to help manage and plan for the future in a wide range of socio-economic sectors. Observations are also essential to help build robust projections of future climate, which can in turn inform policy formulation for appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures. Such measures should help us limit the negative socio-economic impacts and position us to take advantages of opportunities offered by a changing climate. This report brings together observational information and data for over 40 climate variables and highlights changes and trends in aspects of Irish climate across the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains. The observations presented in this report contribute to the formulation of the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) as defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).

Migration and Perception of Health Status: a Qualitative Study in Kazakh Chinese

This qualitative study explored the rural to urban migration’s effect and its related factors on later life health status and health perception among Kazakh Chinese. The participants were same sex sibling pairs, of which one moved from rural to urban areas in early life and the other stayed in rural areas. Rural participants tend to have more selected chronic diseases conditions and other self-reported conditions than urban participants but less physical limitations in older age. There is no clear difference on the health perceptions between rural and urban participants. Health care access and environmental factors are the major differences that may affect health in later life for rural participants.

The effect of complex workplace dietary interventions on employees dietary behaviours, nutrition knowledge and health status

Background The growing prevalence and associated burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases is a global public health concern. The environments in which people live and work influences their dietary behaviours. Aim The focus of this thesis was on the effectiveness of complex workplace dietary interventions. The comparative effectiveness of a complex workplace environmental dietary modification intervention and an educational intervention were assessed both alone and in combination relative to a control workplace setting. Methods The systematic review was guided by the PRISMA statement. In a cluster controlled trial, four workplaces were purposively allocated to control, nutrition education alone (Education), environmental dietary modification alone (Environment) and nutrition education and environmental dietary modification (Combined intervention). The interventions were guided by the MRC framework. In the control workplace, data were collected at baseline and follow-up. In the intervention related sub-study, the relationships between nutrition knowledge, diet quality and hypertension were examined. Results The systematic review provided limited evidence. In the FCW study, 850 employees aged 18-64 years were recruited at baseline with N(response rate %) in each workplace as follows: Control: 111(72%), Education: 226(71%), Environment: 113(91%), Combined intervention: 400(61%). Complete follow-up data was obtained for 517 employees (61%). There were significant positive changes in dietary intakes of saturated fat(p=0.013), salt(p=0.010) and nutrition knowledge(p=0.034) between baseline and follow-up at 7-9 months in the combined intervention versus the control workplace in the fully adjusted multivariate analysis. Small but significant changes in BMI(-1.2kg/m2 (p=0.047) were also observed in the combined intervention. In the sub-study, nutrition knowledge was positively significantly associated with diet quality and blood pressure but no evidence of a mediation effect of the DASH score was detected between nutrition knowledge and blood pressure. Conclusion This thesis provides critical evidence on the effectiveness of complex workplace dietary interventions in a manufacturing working population.

Distribution and Conservation of the Antillean Manatee in Hispaniola

Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) were heavily hunted in the past throughout the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), and are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In most WCR countries, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic, remaining manatee populations are believed to be small and declining, but current information is needed on their status, distribution, and local threats to the species.

To assess the past and current distribution and conservation status of the Antillean manatee in Hispaniola, I conducted a systematic review of documentary archives dating from the pre-Columbian era to 2013. I then surveyed more than 670 artisanal fishers from Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 2013-2014 using a standardized questionnaire. Finally, to identify important areas for manatees in the Dominican Republic, I developed a country-wide ensemble model of manatee distribution, and compared modeled hotspots with those identified by fishers.

Manatees were historically abundant in Hispaniola, but were hunted for their meat and became relatively rare by the end of the 19th century. The use of manatee body parts diversified with time to include their oil, skin, and bones. Traditional uses for folk medicine and handcrafts persist today in coastal communities in the Dominican Republic. Most threats to Antillean manatees in Hispaniola are anthropogenic in nature, and most mortality is caused by fisheries. I estimated a minimum island-wide annual mortality of approximately 20 animals. To understand the impact of this level of mortality, and to provide a baseline for measuring the success of future conservation actions, the Dominican Republic and Haiti should work together to obtain a reliable estimate of the current population size of manatees in Hispaniola.

In Haiti, the survey of fishers showed a wider distribution range of the species than suggested by the documentary archive review: fishers reported recent manatee sightings in seven of nine coastal departments, and three manatee hotspot areas were identified in the north, central, and south coasts. Thus, the contracted manatee distribution range suggested by the documentary archive review likely reflects a lack of research in Haiti. Both the review and the interviews agreed that manatees no longer occupy freshwater habitats in the country. In general, more dedicated manatee studies are needed in Haiti, employing aerial, land, or boat surveys.

In the Dominican Republic, the documentary archive review and the survey of fishers showed that manatees still occur throughout the country, and occasionally occupy freshwater habitats. Monte Cristi province in the north coast, and Barahona province in the south coast, were identified as focal areas. Sighting reports of manatees decreased from Monte Cristi eastwards to the adjacent province in the Dominican Republic, and westwards into Haiti. Along the north coast of Haiti, the number of manatee sighting and capture reports decreased with increasing distance to Monte Cristi province. There was good agreement among the modeled manatee hotspots, hotspots identified by fishers, and hotspots identified during previous dedicated manatee studies. The concordance of these results suggests that the distribution and patterns of habitat use of manatees in the Dominican Republic have not changed dramatically in over 30 years, and that the remaining manatees exhibit some degree of site fidelity. The ensemble modeling approach used in the present study produced accurate and detailed maps of manatee distribution with minimum data requirements. This modeling strategy is replicable and readily transferable to other countries in the Caribbean or elsewhere with limited data on a species of interest.

The intrinsic value of manatees was stronger for artisanal fishers in the Dominican Republic than in Haiti, and most Dominican fishers showed a positive attitude towards manatee conservation. The Dominican Republic is an upper middle income country with a high Human Development Index. It possesses a legal framework that specifically protects manatees, and has a greater number of marine protected areas, more dedicated manatee studies, and more manatee education and awareness campaigns than Haiti. The constant presence of manatees in specific coastal segments of the Dominican Republic, the perceived decline in the number of manatee captures, and a more conservation-minded public, offer hope for manatee conservation, as non-consumptive uses of manatees become more popular. I recommend a series of conservation actions in the Dominican Republic, including: reducing risks to manatees from harmful fishing gear and watercraft at confirmed manatee hotspots; providing alternative economic alternatives for displaced fishers, and developing responsible ecotourism ventures for manatee watching; improving law enforcement to reduce fisheries-related manatee deaths, stop the illegal trade in manatee body parts, and better protect manatee habitat; and continuing education and awareness campaigns for coastal communities near manatee hotspots.

In contrast, most fishers in Haiti continue to value manatees as a source of food and income, and showed a generally negative attitude towards manatee conservation. Haiti is a low income country with a low Human Development Index. Only a single dedicated manatee study has been conducted in Haiti, and manatees are not officially protected. Positive initiatives for manatees in Haiti include: protected areas declared in 2013 and 2014 that enclose two of the manatee hotspots identified in the present study; and local organizations that are currently working on coastal and marine environmental issues, including research and education on marine mammals. Future conservation efforts for manatees in Haiti should focus on addressing poverty and providing viable economic alternatives for coastal communities. I recommend a community partnership approach for manatee conservation, paired with education and awareness campaigns to inform coastal communities about the conservation situation of manatees in Haiti, and to help change their perceived value. Haiti should also provide legal protection for manatees and their habitat.

« Utilisation des services de santé chez les personnes âgées : association avec la maladie chronique et l’incapacité »

Diverses publications soulignent l'augmentation de l'espérance de vie et avec elle, le vieillissement mondial de la population. Ce processus se poursuivra à l'avenir, ainsi que son influence sur l’incidence et la prévalence de l'incapacité. Chez les personnes âgées, l’incapacité, les maladies chroniques et leur association constituent un sujet important dans le domaine de la santé publique en raison de l'effet qu'ils ont sur la demande des services de santé. Le but de ce mémoire est d’examiner quelle est la contribution respective des maladies chroniques et de l'incapacité dans l'utilisation des services de santé chez les personnes âgées et de leur interaction. Il s’agit de savoir si l'association entre la maladie chronique et l'utilisation des services de santé est modifiée par l’incapacité prenant en compte les caractéristiques de l'individu et son environnement. Ce travail est basé sur le modèle comportemental proposé par Andersen et Newman et le modèle du processus d’incapacité de Verbrugge et Jette. Pour répondre à l’objectif, nous utilisons les données du projet de recherche “ FRéLE ” (Fragilité, une étude longitudinale de ses expressions), réalisé durant la période 2010 -2013 auprès d’un échantillon de 1643 personnes âgées vivant dans la communauté au Québec. L’incapacité est évaluée à l’aide de deux indicateurs : les AVQ et les AVD. Les maladies chroniques sont mesurées par l’indice fonctionnel de comorbidité (IFC). La dépression est évaluée selon les critères de l’échelle de dépression gériatrique (EDG). L’état cognitif est mesuré par l'évaluation cognitive de Montréal (MoCA). Les facteurs de prédisposition comportent l’âge, le sexe, l’ethnicité et le niveau scolaire. Les facteurs facilitateurs incluent le revenu et le réseau social, ce dernier étant mesure par la présence ou non d’une personne de soutien et son lien avec la personne âgée. Divers modèles de régression sont adoptés pour identifier les facteurs statistiquement significatifs du modèle comportemental d’Andersen et Newman et du modèle du processus d’incapacité de Verbrugge et Jette. Nos résultats ont montré que, si le rôle des prédicteurs de l’utilisation varie en fonction du type de services de santé utilisé, l’utilisation s’accroît principalement avec le nombre de maladies chroniques. En ce qui concerne l’interaction entre la maladie chronique et l’incapacité, nos résultats ont révélé que l’interaction n’est statistiquement significative pour aucun des services analysés. Compte tenu de la diversité et les besoins de la population âgée, caractérisée par une prévalence élevée de maladies chroniques et d'incapacités, l’étude des facteurs impliqués dans l'utilisation des services de santé sera utile pour la mise en œuvre d’une offre de services, plus conforme aux besoins de cette population

Seawater carbonate chemistry and energy status in the periwinkle Littorina littorea during experiments, 2011

In the future, marine organisms will face the challenge of coping with multiple environmental changes associated with increased levels of atmospheric Pco2, such as ocean warming and acidification. To predict how organisms may or may not meet these challenges, an in-depth understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underpinning organismal responses to climate change is needed. Here, we investigate the effects of elevated Pco2 and temperature on the whole-organism and cellular physiology of the periwinkle Littorina littorea. Metabolic rates (measured as respiration rates), adenylate energy nucleotide concentrations and indexes, and end-product metabolite concentrations were measured. Compared with values for control conditions, snails decreased their respiration rate by 31% in response to elevated Pco2 and by 15% in response to a combination of increased Pco2 and temperature. Decreased respiration rates were associated with metabolic reduction and an increase in end-product metabolites in acidified treatments, indicating an increased reliance on anaerobic metabolism. There was also an interactive effect of elevated Pco2 and temperature on total adenylate nucleotides, which was apparently compensated for by the maintenance of adenylate energy charge via AMP deaminase activity. Our findings suggest that marine intertidal organisms are likely to exhibit complex physiological responses to future environmental drivers, with likely negative effects on growth, population dynamics, and, ultimately, ecosystem processes.