Effectiveness of rAd26-rAd5, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and BBIBP-CorV vaccines for risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and death due to COVID-19 in people older than 60 years in Argentina: a test-negative, case-control, and retrospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: In January, 2021, a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 was initiated with the rAd26-rAd5, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and BBIBP-CorV vaccines in Argentina. The objective of this study was to estimate vaccine effectiveness at reducing risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 deaths in people older than 60 years. METHODS: In this test-negative, case-control, and retrospective longitudinal study done in Argentina, we evaluated the effectiveness of three vaccines (rAd26-rAd5, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and BBIBP-CorV) on SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk of death in people with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19, using data from the National Surveillance System (SNVS 2.0). All individuals aged 60 years or older reported to SNVS 2.0 as being suspected to have COVID-19 who had disease status confirmed with RT-PCR were included in the study. Unvaccinated individuals could participate in any of the analyses. People with suspected COVID-19 who developed symptoms before the start of the implementation of the vaccination programme for their age group or district were excluded from the study. The odds ratio of SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated by logistic regression and the risk of death in individuals with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 was evaluated by proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for possible confounders: age at the time of the symptom onset date, sex, district of residence, epidemiological week corresponding to the symptom onset date, and history of COVID-19. The estimation of vaccine effectiveness to prevent death due to COVID-19 was done indirectly by combining infection and death estimates. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the first dose of viral vector vaccines across time. FINDINGS: From Jan 31, to Sept 14, 2021, 1 282 928 individuals were included, of whom 687 167 (53·6%) were in the rAd26-rAd5 analysis, 358 431 (27·6%) in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 analysis, and 237 330 (18·5%) in the BBIBP-CorV analysis. Vaccine effectiveness after two doses was high for all three vaccines, adjusted odds ratio 0·36 (95% CI 0·35-0·37) for rAd26-rAd5, 0·32 (0·31-0·33) for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and 0·56 (0·55-0·58) for BBIBP-CorV. After two doses, the effect on deaths was higher than that on risk of infection: adjusted hazard ratio 0·19 (95% CI 0·18-0·21) for rAd26-rAd5, 0·20 (0·18-0·22) for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and 0·27 (0·25-0·29) for BBIBP-CorV. The indirectly estimated effectiveness on deaths was 93·1% (95% CI 92·6-93·5) for rAd26-rAd5, 93·7% (93·2-94·3) for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and 85·0% (84·0-86·0) for BBIBP-CorV following two doses. First dose effect of viral vector vaccines remained stable over time. INTERPRETATION: The vaccines used in Argentina showed effectiveness in reducing infection and death by SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. FUNDING: None.

Nutrient availability regulates Deschampsia antarctica photosynthetic and stress tolerance performance in Antarctica.

Deschampsia antarctica is one of the only two native vascular plants in Antarctica, mostly located in the ice-free areas of the Peninsula's coast and adjacent islands. This region is characterized by a short growing season, frequent extreme climatic events, and soils with reduced nutrient availability. However, it is unknown whether its photosynthetic and stress tolerance mechanisms are affected by the availability of nutrients to deal with this particular environment. We studied the photosynthetic, primary metabolic, and stress tolerance performance of D. antarctica plants growing on three close sites (<500 m) with contrasting soil nutrient conditions. Plants from all sites showed similar photosynthetic rates, but mesophyll conductance and photobiochemistry were more limiting (~25%) in plants growing on low-nutrient availability soils. Additionally, these plants showed higher stress levels and larger investments in photoprotection and carbon pools, most probably driven by the need to stabilize proteins and membranes, and remodel cell walls. In contrast, when nutrients were readily available, plants shifted their carbon investment towards amino acids related to osmoprotection, growth, antioxidants, and polyamines, leading to vigorous plants without appreciable levels of stress. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that D. antarctica displays differential physiological performances to cope with adverse conditions depending on resource availability, allowing it to maximize stress tolerance without jeopardizing photosynthetic capacity.

Attachment, motivational systems and anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and proposed framework for eating disorders.

INTRODUCTION: There is a direct association between patients with insecure attachment style (IAS), behavioural inhibition (BIS) and behavioural activation (BAS) motivational systems, and anorexia nervosa (AN). However, the possible direct relationships between these three variables have not been studied. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between these variables and propose a framework for analysing and understanding these relationships. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, searching the following terms: 'anorexia', 'attachment' and those related to motivational systems. The final search was limited to publications in English dated between 2014-2022 for 'anorexia and attachment' and 2010-2022 for 'anorexia and BIS/BAS'. RESULTS: Of the 587 articles retrieved, 30 were included in this study for the textual data analysis of the relationship between anorexia and attachment (17), anorexia and motivational systems (10) and anorexia, attachment and motivational systems (3). An association between avoidant IAS, AN and hypersensitivity to punishment of the BIS was observed in the analysis. A relationship was also observed with hyperreinforcement sensitivity of the BAS. After reviewing the articles, a possible relationship between the three factors, along with other mediating factors, was found. DISCUSSION: AN is directly related to the avoidant IAS and to BIS. Similarly, bulimia nervosa (BN) was directly related with anxious IAS and BAS. However, contradictions were found in the BN-BAS relationship. This study proposes a framework for analysing and understanding these relationships.

Population data for 21 STRs for the Salvadoran population using GlobalFiler Express and GlobalFiler STR Amplification Kits.

With the advent of expanded STR (short tandem repeats) typing kits, it was necessary to determine allele frequencies and other appropriate population data parameters for El Salvador. Samples were collected from the central, east, and west regions of the country and typed for 21 forensically relevant STR loci. The data indicate that all loci are highly polymorphic, the three regions are genetically similar, and the population data are similar to those of US Hispanics. The results of this study support that the allele frequency data described herein can be used for statistical calculations for human identity testing in El Salvador.

Genetics of long-distance runners and road cyclists-A systematic review with meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the genetic variants of (inter)national competing long-distance runners and road cyclists compared with controls. The Medline and Embase databases were searched until 15 November 2021. Eligible articles included genetic epidemiological studies published in English. A homogenous group of endurance athletes competing at (inter)national level and sedentary controls were included. Pooled odds ratios based on the genotype frequency with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was addressed by Q-statistics, and I2 . Sources of heterogeneity were examined by meta-regression and risk of bias was assessed with the Clark Baudouin scale. This systematic review comprised of 43 studies including a total of 3938 athletes and 10 752 controls in the pooled analysis. Of the 42 identified genetic variants, 13 were investigated in independent studies. Significant associations were found for five polymorphisms. Pooled odds ratio [95%CI] favoring athletes compared with controls was 1.42 [1.12-1.81] for ACE II (I/D), 1.66 [1.26-2.19] for ACTN3 TT (rs1815739), 1.75 [1.34-2.29] for PPARGC1A GG (rs8192678), 2.23 [1.42-3.51] for AMPD1 CC (rs17602729), and 2.85 [1.27-6.39] for HFE GG + CG (rs1799945). Risk of bias was low in 25 (58%) and unclear in 18 (42%) articles. Heterogeneity of the results was low (0%-20%) except for HFE (71%), GNB3 (80%), and NOS3 (76%). (Inter)national competing runners and cyclists have a higher probability to carry specific genetic variants compared with controls. This study confirms that (inter)national competing endurance athletes constitute a unique genetic make-up, which likely contributes to their performance level.

Cytochrome respiration pathway and sulphur metabolism sustain stress tolerance to low temperature in the Antarctic species Colobanthus quitensis.

Understanding the strategies employed by plant species that live in extreme environments offers the possibility to discover stress tolerance mechanisms. We studied the physiological, antioxidant and metabolic responses to three temperature conditions (4, 15, and 23°C) of Colobanthus quitensis (CQ), one of the only two native vascular species in Antarctica. We also employed Dianthus chinensis (DC), to assess the effects of the treatments in a non-Antarctic species from the same family. Using fused LASSO modelling, we associated physiological and biochemical antioxidant responses with primary metabolism. This approach allowed us to highlight the metabolic pathways driving the response specific to CQ. Low temperature imposed dramatic reductions in photosynthesis (up to 88%) but not in respiration (sustaining rates of 3.0-4.2 µmol CO2  m-2  s-1 ) in CQ, and no change in the physiological stress parameters was found. Its notable antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial cytochrome respiratory activity (20 and two times higher than DC, respectively), which ensure ATP production even at low temperature, was significantly associated with sulphur-containing metabolites and polyamines. Our findings potentially open new biotechnological opportunities regarding the role of antioxidant compounds and respiratory mechanisms associated with sulphur metabolism in stress tolerance strategies to low temperature.

Low-temperature tolerance of the Antarctic species Deschampsia antarctica: A complex metabolic response associated with nutrient remobilization.

The species Deschampsia antarctica (DA) is one of the only two native vascular species that live in Antarctica. We performed ecophysiological, biochemical, and metabolomic studies to investigate the responses of DA to low temperature. In parallel, we assessed the responses in a non-Antarctic reference species (Triticum aestivum [TA]) from the same family (Poaceae). At low temperature (4°C), both species showed lower photosynthetic rates (reductions were 70% and 80% for DA and TA, respectively) and symptoms of oxidative stress but opposite responses of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidases and catalase). We employed fused least absolute shrinkage and selection operator statistical modelling to associate the species-dependent physiological and antioxidant responses to primary metabolism. Model results for DA indicated associations with osmoprotection, cell wall remodelling, membrane stabilization, and antioxidant secondary metabolism (synthesis of flavonols and phenylpropanoids), coordinated with nutrient mobilization from source to sink tissues (confirmed by elemental analysis), which were not observed in TA. The metabolic behaviour of DA, with significant changes in particular metabolites, was compared with a newly compiled multispecies dataset showing a general accumulation of metabolites in response to low temperatures. Altogether, the responses displayed by DA suggest a compromise between catabolism and maintenance of leaf functionality.

Mal de Río Cuarto virus infection causes hormone imbalance and sugar accumulation in wheat leaves.

BACKGROUND: Mal de Río Cuarto virus (MRCV) infects several monocotyledonous species including maize and wheat. Infected plants show shortened internodes, partial sterility, increased tillering and reduced root length. To better understand the molecular basis of the plant-virus interactions leading to these symptoms, we combined RNA sequencing with metabolite and hormone measurements. RESULTS: More than 3000 differentially accumulated transcripts (DATs) were detected in MRCV-infected wheat plants at 21 days post inoculation compared to mock-inoculated plants. Infected plants exhibited decreased levels of TaSWEET13 transcripts, which are involved in sucrose phloem loading. Soluble sugars, starch, trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P), and organic and amino acids were all higher in MRCV-infected plants. In addition, several transcripts related to plant hormone metabolism, transport and signalling were increased upon MRCV infection. Transcripts coding for GA20ox, D14, MAX2 and SMAX1-like proteins involved in gibberellin biosynthesis and strigolactone signalling, were reduced. Transcripts involved in jasmonic acid, ethylene and brassinosteroid biosynthesis, perception and signalling and in auxin transport were also altered. Hormone measurements showed that jasmonic acid, brassinosteroids, abscisic acid and indole-3-acetic acid were significantly higher in infected leaves. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that MRCV causes a profound hormonal imbalance that, together with alterations in sugar partitioning, could account for the symptoms observed in MRCV-infected plants.

Estrogen modulates the differential expression of cardiac myocyte chymase isoforms and diastolic function.

Chymases, a family of serine proteases with chymotryptic activity, play a significant role in cardiac angiotensin II (Ang II) formation from its substrate Ang-(1-12) in both human and rodent models. No studies, to date, have assessed the differences in enzymatic activity among these isoforms in Ang II formation, particularly in the cardiomyocyte (CM). Using PCR and DNA sequencing, we demonstrated that MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-4, and MCP-5 mRNAs are expressed in the CM of both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). While rMCP-1 and rMCP-5 gene transcripts were higher than that of other isoforms in both rat strains, WKY CM exhibits higher levels of rMCP-1 and rMCP-5 mRNAs compared to the SHR CM. Ovariectomy (OVX) increased the expression of rMCP-1 and rMCP-5 mRNAs in WKY. In SHR, OVX was associated with a blunted increase in rMCP-1 mRNA compared to OVX normotensive WKY. Chymase activity, measured as Ang II formation from Ang-(1-12), significantly correlated with rMCP-1 and rMCP-5 mRNA expression in both rat strains. Both rMCP-1 and rMCP-5 mRNA expressions were positively correlated with progressive diastolic dysfunction (increasing the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity-to-early mitral annular velocity, E/e') and expanding chamber dimensions or increasing left ventricular internal diameter end diastole. These data show rMCP-1 and rMCP-5 as the Ang II forming chymase isoforms participating in the loss of normal cardiac function due to OVX in rodents.

Assessing Child Health and Health Care in the U.S. Virgin Islands Using the National Survey of Children's Health.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the health and health care experiences of children in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), assess differences by household poverty status, and provide comparisons to the general U.S. child population. METHODS: Data are from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health, which included 2342 USVI children, aged 0-17 years. Parent-reported measures of health status and health conditions, behavioral characteristics, and health care access and utilization were assessed. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated and compared by household poverty status using Chi square tests. RESULTS: Overall, 31.3% of USVI children lived in households below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Children in these low-income households were more likely to have public insurance (33.0% vs. 8.4%) and unmet health needs (11.6% vs. 6.3%) as compared to those in households with incomes ≥ 100% FPL (all p < 0.01). They were also less likely to have a medical home (22.5% vs. 42.2%), including a usual source of sick care (p < 0.01). Compared with U.S. children in general, USVI children had lower rates of preventive medical visits, preventive dental visits, and care received in a medical home. CONCLUSIONS: USVI children experience challenges in accessing and utilizing health care services, particularly those in low-income households, and fare worse than U.S. children on many of these measures. These findings will serve as a baseline comparison for an upcoming survey of maternal and child health to be conducted in eight U.S. territories including the USVI.

Perceived organizational support-burnout-satisfaction relationship in workers with disabilities: The moderation of family support.

Our study tests the perceived organizational support-burnout-satisfaction relationship based on stressor-strain-outcome model of stress (Koeske & Koeske, ) and on the conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, ) in workers with disabilities employed in ordinary or competitive jobs (open labor market), analyzing the relationship between perceived organizational support, family support, job satisfaction and burnout. We use a sample of 246 workers with physical, motor, sensory and psychological disabilities working in ordinary jobs. To test our proposed model we used a regression-based path analysis using PROCESS software, which is a computational tool for estimating and probing interactions and the conditional indirect effects of moderated mediation models. We find that the positive relationship between organizational support and job satisfaction was partially mediated by the levels of cynicism and the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction was moderated by family support. Employees with low support from family had identical job satisfaction with high burnout or low burnout, but employees with high support from family when they had high burnout had lower job satisfaction than when they had low burnout, indicating that the support outside work could have a negative effect in workers' life. Practical implications and future research are discussed and proposed.

Relationships of Leaf Net Photosynthesis, Stomatal Conductance, and Mesophyll Conductance to Primary Metabolism: A Multispecies Meta-Analysis Approach.

Plant metabolism drives plant development and plant-environment responses, and data readouts from this cellular level could provide insights in the underlying molecular processes. Existing studies have already related key in vivo leaf gas-exchange parameters with structural traits and nutrient components across multiple species. However, insights in the relationships of leaf gas-exchange with leaf primary metabolism are still limited. We investigated these relationships through a multispecies meta-analysis approach based on data sets from 17 published studies describing net photosynthesis (A) and stomatal (gs) and mesophyll (gm) conductances, alongside the 53 data profiles from primary metabolism of 14 species grown in different experiments. Modeling results highlighted the conserved patterns between the different species. Consideration of species-specific effects increased the explanatory power of the models for some metabolites, including Glc-6-P, Fru-6-P, malate, fumarate, Xyl, and ribose. Significant relationships of A with sugars and phosphorylated intermediates were observed. While gs was related to sugars, organic acids, myo-inositol, and shikimate, gm showed a more complex pattern in comparison to the two other traits. Some metabolites, such as malate and Man, appeared in the models for both conductances, suggesting a metabolic coregulation between gs and gm The resulting statistical models provide the first hints for coregulation patterns involving primary metabolism plus leaf water and carbon balances that are conserved across plant species, as well as species-specific trends that can be used to determine new biotechnological targets for crop improvement.

Likely Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus from a Man with No Symptoms of Infection - Maryland, 2016.

In June 2016, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) was notified of a nonpregnant woman who sought treatment for a subjective fever and an itchy rash, which was described as maculopapular by her provider. Laboratory testing at the Maryland DHMH Laboratories Administration confirmed Zika virus infection. Case investigation revealed that the woman had not traveled to a region with ongoing transmission of Zika virus, but did have sexual contact with a male partner who had recently traveled to the Dominican Republic. The male partner reported exposure to mosquitoes while traveling, but no symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection either before or after returning to the United States. The woman reported no other sex partners during the 14 days before onset of her symptoms and no receipt of blood products or organ transplants.

Trehalose metabolism in plants.

Trehalose is a quantitatively important compatible solute and stress protectant in many organisms, including green algae and primitive plants. These functions have largely been replaced by sucrose in vascular plants, and trehalose metabolism has taken on new roles. Trehalose is a potential signal metabolite in plant interactions with pathogenic or symbiotic micro-organisms and herbivorous insects. It is also implicated in responses to cold and salinity, and in regulation of stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency. In plants, as in other eukaryotes and many prokaryotes, trehalose is synthesized via a phosphorylated intermediate, trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P). A meta-analysis revealed that the levels of Tre6P change in parallel with sucrose, which is the major product of photosynthesis and the main transport sugar in plants. We propose the existence of a bi-directional network, in which Tre6P is a signal of sucrose availability and acts to maintain sucrose concentrations within an appropriate range. Tre6P influences the relative amounts of sucrose and starch that accumulate in leaves during the day, and regulates the rate of starch degradation at night to match the demand for sucrose. Mutants in Tre6P metabolism have highly pleiotropic phenotypes, showing defects in embryogenesis, leaf growth, flowering, inflorescence branching and seed set. It has been proposed that Tre6P influences plant growth and development via inhibition of the SNF1-related protein kinase (SnRK1). However, current models conflict with some experimental data, and do not completely explain the pleiotropic phenotypes exhibited by mutants in Tre6P metabolism. Additional explanations for the diverse effects of alterations in Tre6P metabolism are discussed.

The role of dysfunctional attentional control networks in visual misperceptions in Parkinson's disease.

Visual misperceptions and hallucinations represent a problematic symptom of Parkinson's disease. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these symptoms remain poorly understood, however, a recent hypothesis has suggested that visual misperceptions and hallucinations may arise from disrupted processing across attentional networks. To test the specific predictions of this hypothesis, 22 patients with Parkinson's disease underwent 3T fMRI while performing the Bistable Percept Paradigm, a task that has previously been shown to identify patients with hallucinations. Subjects are required to study a battery of randomly assigned "monostable" and "bistable" monochromatic images for the presence or absence of a bistable percept. Those patients who scored a high percentage of misperceptions and missed images on the task were less able to activate frontal and parietal hubs of the putative Dorsal Attention Network. Furthermore, poor performance on the task was significantly correlated with the degree of decreased activation in a number of these hubs. At the group level, the difference between processing a bistable versus a monostable cue was associated with increased recruitment of the anterior insula. In addition, those patients with impaired performance on the paradigm displayed decreased resting state functional connectivity between hubs of the Ventral and Dorsal Attention Networks. These same patients had significantly decreased gray matter in the insula bilaterally. In addition, a combined analysis of the separate neuroimaging approaches revealed significant relationships across the impaired networks. These findings are consistent with specific predictions from a recently proposed hypothesis that implicates dysfunction within attentional networks in Parkinsonian hallucinations.

Feedback inhibition of starch degradation in Arabidopsis leaves mediated by trehalose 6-phosphate.

Many plants accumulate substantial starch reserves in their leaves during the day and remobilize them at night to provide carbon and energy for maintenance and growth. In this paper, we explore the role of a sugar-signaling metabolite, trehalose-6-phosphate (Tre6P), in regulating the accumulation and turnover of transitory starch in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves. Ethanol-induced overexpression of trehalose-phosphate synthase during the day increased Tre6P levels up to 11-fold. There was a transient increase in the rate of starch accumulation in the middle of the day, but this was not linked to reductive activation of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. A 2- to 3-fold increase in Tre6P during the night led to significant inhibition of starch degradation. Maltose and maltotriose did not accumulate, suggesting that Tre6P affects an early step in the pathway of starch degradation in the chloroplasts. Starch granules isolated from induced plants had a higher orthophosphate content than granules from noninduced control plants, consistent either with disruption of the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle that is essential for efficient starch breakdown or with inhibition of starch hydrolysis by ß-amylase. Nonaqueous fractionation of leaves showed that Tre6P is predominantly located in the cytosol, with estimated in vivo Tre6P concentrations of 4 to 7 µm in the cytosol, 0.2 to 0.5 µm in the chloroplasts, and 0.05 µm in the vacuole. It is proposed that Tre6P is a component in a signaling pathway that mediates the feedback regulation of starch breakdown by sucrose, potentially linking starch turnover to demand for sucrose by growing sink organs at night.

An evolving story of angiotensin-II-forming pathways in rodents and humans.

Lessons learned from the characterization of the biological roles of Ang-(1-7) [angiotensin-(1-7)] in opposing the vasoconstrictor, proliferative and prothrombotic actions of AngII (angiotensin II) created an underpinning for a more comprehensive exploration of the multiple pathways by which the RAS (renin-angiotensin system) of blood and tissues regulates homoeostasis and its altered state in disease processes. The present review summarizes the progress that has been made in the novel exploration of intermediate shorter forms of angiotensinogen through the characterization of the expression and functions of the dodecapeptide Ang-(1-12) [angiotensin-(1-12)] in the cardiac production of AngII. The studies reveal significant differences in humans compared with rodents regarding the enzymatic pathway by which Ang-(1-12) undergoes metabolism. Highlights of the research include the demonstration of chymase-directed formation of AngII from Ang-(1-12) in human left atrial myocytes and left ventricular tissue, the presence of robust expression of Ang-(1-12) and chymase in the atrial appendage of subjects with resistant atrial fibrillation, and the preliminary observation of significantly higher Ang-(1-12) expression in human left atrial appendages.

Emotions and music through an innovative project during compulsory secondary education.

This article presents the results and main conclusions of a quasi-experimental study after the implementation of an innovative project extended as a multi-year programme, called 'MusMotion', applied in compulsory secondary education, which is based on the relationship between music and emotions, as well as its effects on the academic performance of adolescents. The research analysed and tested an educational innovation project that improves students' academic performance, as well as the classroom climate between teachers and students (N = 444). A key strand of this research concerns the use of music to support students' emotional development and awareness. As we will explain, the results of this research have shown positive outcomes that have direct implications for pedagogy and classroom practice. The results confirm that there is a relationship between emotions and students' academic performance, and the innovative educational programme MusMotion can help to improve students' academic performance and the classroom climate by improving their state of mind. Educational systems, through the management of emotions via music, could help many children who today may have difficulty with their emotions.

Plasticlusters: A marine litter microhabitat in a marina of Tunisia, N Africa.

Plastic debris is a significant and rapidly developing ecological issue in coastal marine ecosystems, especially in areas where it accumulates. This study introduces "plasticlusters", a new form of floating debris agglomeration found in the Yasmine Hammamet marina (Tunisia, North-Africa), loosely attached to pontoon ropes around the water surface level. The analysis of two samples revealed that they were formed primarily by average 2.11 mm polystyrene fragments, 3.43 mm fibers, 104 mm polypropylene and polyethylene sheets, and 122 mm decomposing seagrass leaves. They were inhabited by several taxa, including at least 2 cryptogenic and 5 non-indigenous species (NIS). Unlike other plastic formations, plasticlusters provide a novel and potentially temporal microhabitat to fouling assemblages due to their loose and unconsolidated structure which, combined with marinas being NIS hubs, could enhance NIS dispersion. The results of this study raise concerns about the combined ecological effects of debris accumulation and biocontamination inside marinas.