COST action TD1407: network on technology-critical elements (NOTICE)--from environmental processes to human health threats.

The current socio-economic, environmental and public health challenges that countries are facing clearly need common-defined strategies to inform and support our transition to a sustainable economy. Here, the technology-critical elements (which includes Ga, Ge, In, Te, Nb, Ta, Tl, the Platinum Group Elements and most of the rare-earth elements) are of great relevance in the development of emerging key technologies-including renewable energy, energy efficiency, electronics or the aerospace industry. In this context, the increasing use of technology-critical elements (TCEs) and associated environmental impacts (from mining to end-of-life waste products) is not restricted to a national level but covers most likely a global scale. Accordingly, the European COST Action TD1407: Network on Technology-Critical Elements (NOTICE)-from environmental processes to human health threats, has an overall objective for creating a network of scientists and practitioners interested in TCEs, from the evaluation of their environmental processes to understanding potential human health threats, with the aim of defining the current state of knowledge and gaps, proposing priority research lines/activities and acting as a platform for new collaborations and joint research projects. The Action is focused on three major scientific areas: (i) analytical chemistry, (ii) environmental biogeochemistry and (iii) human exposure and (eco)-toxicology.

Application of a superoxide (O(2)(-)) thermal source (SOTS-1) for the determination and calibration of O(2)(-) fluxes in seawater.

Superoxide (O(2)(-)) is an important short lived transient reactive oxygen species (ROS) in seawater. The main source of O(2)(-) in the ocean is believed to be through photochemical reactions though biological processes may also be important. Sink terms for O(2)(-) include redox reactions with bioactive trace metals, including Cu and Fe, and to a lesser extent dissolved organic matter (DOM). Information on the source fluxes, sinks and concentration of superoxide in the open ocean are crucial to improving our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of redox active species. As O(2)(-) is a highly reactive transient species present at low concentrations it is not a trivial task to make accurate and precise measurements in seawater. In this study we developed the appropriate numerical analysis tools and investigated a number of superoxide sources and methods for the purposes of calibrating O(2)(-) concentrations and/or fluxes specifically in seawater. We found the superoxide thermal source bis(4-carboxybenzyl)hyponitrite (SOTS)-1 easy to employ as a reliable source of O(2)(-) which could be successfully applied in seawater. The thermal decomposition of SOTS-1 in seawater was evaluated over a range of seawater temperatures using both a flux based detection scheme developed using two spectrophotometric methods: (i) 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl) and (ii) ferricytochrome c (FC), or a concentration based detection scheme using a chemiluminescence flow injection method based on the Cypridina luciferin analog 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)3-7-dihydroimidazol[1,2-alpha]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) as reagent. Our results suggest SOTS-1 is the best available O(2)(-) source for determining concentrations and fluxes, all detection systems tested have their pros and cons and the choice of which to use depends more on the duration and type of experiment that is required.

A mesoscale phytoplankton bloom in the polar Southern Ocean stimulated by iron fertilization.

Changes in iron supply to oceanic plankton are thought to have a significant effect on concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide by altering rates of carbon sequestration, a theory known as the 'iron hypothesis'. For this reason, it is important to understand the response of pelagic biota to increased iron supply. Here we report the results of a mesoscale iron fertilization experiment in the polar Southern Ocean, where the potential to sequester iron-elevated algal carbon is probably greatest. Increased iron supply led to elevated phytoplankton biomass and rates of photosynthesis in surface waters, causing a large drawdown of carbon dioxide and macronutrients, and elevated dimethyl sulphide levels after 13 days. This drawdown was mostly due to the proliferation of diatom stocks. But downward export of biogenic carbon was not increased. Moreover, satellite observations of this massive bloom 30 days later, suggest that a sufficient proportion of the added iron was retained in surface waters. Our findings demonstrate that iron supply controls phytoplankton growth and community composition during summer in these polar Southern Ocean waters, but the fate of algal carbon remains unknown and depends on the interplay between the processes controlling export, remineralisation and timescales of water mass subduction.

Perception of environmental signals by a marine diatom.

Diatoms are a key component of marine ecosystems and are extremely important for the biogeochemical cycling of silica and as contributors to global fixed carbon. However, the answers to fundamental questions such as what diatoms can sense in their environment, how they respond to external signals, and what factors control their life strategies are largely unknown. We generated transgenic diatom cells containing the calcium-sensitive photoprotein aequorin to determine whether changes in calcium homeostasis are used to respond to relevant environmental stimuli. Our results reveal sensing systems for detecting and responding to fluid motion (shear stress), osmotic stress, and iron, a key nutrient that controls diatom abundance in the ocean.

Parent aides: an intervention program in cases of child abuse and neglect.

The article describes a program at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles that has developed a treatment modality for child abuse and/or neglect families using nonabusive parents as a critical link between the patient families and community and professional resources. A component of a larger intervention program, the Parent Aide Program involves nine aides recruited from the community and given orientation and training to some of the probelms of child abusing and neglecting families. Under supervision they are assigned to selected families identified at the hospital and function in a variety of ways. They provide many of the services of a "good neighbor" (e.g., emergency transportation and babysitting) as well as emotional support and encouragement.