Dataset for modeling the hydrological patterns and salinity fluctuations of a Mediterranean confined coastal lagoon system (La Pletera salt marsh area, NE Spain).

This dataset is related to the research article entitled "Effects of morphology and sediment permeability on coastal lagoons' hydrological patterns" (W. Meredith, X. Casamitjana, X. D. Quintana, A. Menció) [1], and was obtained in the La Pletera salt marshes in Catalunya between 2016 and 2019, to model the water balance and salinity fluctuations of 6 permanent lagoons using the General Lake Model (GLM). As no inflow and outflow data were available, water level and bathymetric data were used to calculate the net balance of inflows and outflows according to the observed daily volume fluctuations. Meteorological data were obtained from the L´Estartit Meteorological station north of the lagoons. Daily solar radiation was measured in Mas Badia (La Tallada, ∼10km from the La Pletera) in 2016 and 2017 and in situ with radiation sensors in 2018 and 2019. Together with the bathymetry and water levels of the lagoons, calculated inflows and calibrated salinity and temperature data are provided to further confined coastal lagoons system modeling where inflow and outflow data are not available. Meteorological data and observed lagoon salinity and temperature are provided for comparison. As this is one of the few datasets that have modeled coastal water bodies less than 3m in depth using the GLM, the data presented here can be useful in stress testing the General Lake Model to other coastal lagoon systems, as well as to other global aquatic ecosystems.

Stream Hydrology Controls the Longitudinal Bioreactive Footprint of Urban-Sourced Fine Particles.

The relevance of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents in fluvial networks is increasing as urbanization grows in catchments. Urban-sourced fine particles from WWTP effluents deposit and accumulate in the streambed sediment of receiving streams over time and can fuel respiration rates, which can thus potentially increase rates of biogeochemical reactions and CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. We aimed to provide a quantitative assessment of the influence of WWTP-sourced fine particles deposited in the streambed sediment on stream metabolic activity for 1 year in an intermittent Mediterranean stream. More nutrient-rich and metabolically active fine particle standing stocks were observed downstream of the WWTP, propagating to the end of the 820 m study reach, especially during the dry period (i.e., when the dilution capacity of the stream to WWTP inputs is <40%). Based on the longitudinal patterns of fine particle standing stocks and their metabolic activity, we estimated that the in-stream bioreactive capacity associated with these fine particles could potentially lead to substantial carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere (3.1 g C/m2/d). We show the importance of incorporating fine particle standing stocks downstream of point source inputs, particularly WWTPs in intermittent streams, into carbon budgets.

Changes in malaria epidemiology in a rural area of Cubal, Angola.

BACKGROUND: Scarce information about malaria epidemiology in Angola has been published. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiology of malaria at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz (Cubal, Angola) and the fatality rate due to malaria (total and in children under five years) in the last five years. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was performed at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, a 400-bed rural hospital located in Benguela Province of Angola. The study population included all patients who attended the hospital from January 2009 to December 2013. Outcome variables were calculated as follows: the percentage of malaria cases (number of positive thick blood films, divided by the total thick blood films performed); the percentage of in-patients for malaria (number of in-patients diagnosed with malaria, divided by the total number of in-patients); and, the fatality rate (number of deaths due to malaria divided by the number of positive thick blood films). RESULTS: Overall, 23,106 thick blood films were performed, of which 3,279 (14.2%) were positive for Plasmodium falciparum infection. During this five-year period, a reduction of 40% (95% CI 37-43%, p < 0.001) in the malaria-positive slides was detected. Distribution of positive-malaria slides showed a seasonal distribution with a peak from December to March (rainy season). An average annual reduction of 52% (95% CI 50-54%, p < 0.001) in the admissions due to malaria was observed. The overall fatality rate due to malaria was 8.3%, and no significant differences in the annual fatality rate were found (p = 0.553). CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the number of malaria cases and the number of admissions due to malaria has been observed at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, during the last five years, and incidence along the study period showed a seasonal distribution. All this information could be useful when deciding which malaria control strategies have to be implemented in this area.