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1.
Sensors (Basel) ; 23(12)2023 Jun 15.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37420764

RESUMEN

The soil water storage capacity is critical for soil management as it drives crop production, soil carbon sequestration, and soil quality and health. It depends on soil textural class, depth, land-use and soil management practices; therefore, the complexity strongly limits its estimation on a large scale with conventional-process-based approaches. In this paper, a machine learning approach is proposed to build the profile of the soil water storage capacity. A neural network is designed to estimate the soil moisture from the meteorology data input. By taking the soil moisture as a proxy in the modelling, the training captures those impact factors of soil water storage capacity and their nonlinear interaction implicitly without knowing the underlying soil hydrologic processes. An internal vector of the proposed neural network assimilates the soil moisture response to meteorological conditions and is regulated as the profile of the soil water storage capacity. The proposed approach is data-driven. Since the low-cost soil moisture sensors have made soil moisture monitoring simple and the meteorology data are easy to obtain, the proposed approach enables a convenient way of estimating soil water storage capacity in a high sampling resolution and at a large scale. Moreover, an average root mean squared deviation at 0.0307m3/m3 can be achieved in the soil moisture estimation; hence, the trained model can be deployed as an alternative to the expensive sensor networks for continuous soil moisture monitoring. The proposed approach innovatively represents the soil water storage capacity as a vector profile rather than a single value indicator. Compared with the single value indicator, which is common in hydrology, a multidimensional vector can encode more information and thus has a more powerful representation. This can be seen in the anomaly detection demonstrated in the paper, where subtle differences in soil water storage capacity among the sensor sites can be captured even though these sensors are installed on the same grassland. Another merit of vector representation is that advanced numeric methods can be applied to soil analysis. This paper demonstrates such an advantage by clustering sensor sites into groups with the unsupervised K-means clustering on the profile vectors which encapsulate soil characteristics and land properties of each sensor site implicitly.


Asunto(s)
Suelo , Agua , Agua/análisis , Aprendizaje Automático
2.
Molecules ; 28(16)2023 Aug 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37630246

RESUMEN

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) constitute a wide variety of chemistries with diverse properties that may/can pose risks to both humans and the environment. Herein, a total of 26 compounds, including steroids, flame retardants, and plasticizers, were monitored in three major and heavily urbanized river catchments: the R. Liffey (Ireland), the R. Thames (UK), and the R. Ter (Spain), by using a single solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) method. Occurrence and frequency rates were investigated across all locations over a 10-week period, with the highest concentration obtained for the flame retardant tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) at 4767 ng∙L-1 in the R. Thames in Central London. Geographical variations were observed between sites and were partially explained using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). In particular, discrimination between the R. Ter and the R. Thames was observed based on the presence and concentration of flame retardants, benzotriazole, and steroids. Environmental risk assessment (ERA) across sites showed that caffeine, a chemical marker, and bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer, were classified as high-risk for the R. Liffey and R. Thames, based on relative risk quotients (rRQs), and that caffeine was classified as high-risk for the R. Ter, based on RQs. The total risks at each location, namely ΣRQriver, and ΣrRQriver, were: 361, 455, and 723 for the rivers Liffey, Thames, and Ter, respectively. Caffeine, as expected, was ubiquitous in all 3 urban areas, though with the highest RQ observed in the R. Ter. High contributions of BPA were also observed across the three matrices. Therefore, these two compounds should be prioritized independently of location. This study represents a comprehensive EDC monitoring comparison between different European cities based on a single analytical method, which allowed for a geographically independent ERA prioritization to be performed.


Asunto(s)
Disruptores Endocrinos , Retardadores de Llama , Humanos , Irlanda , España , Cafeína , Cromatografía Liquida , Ríos , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Medición de Riesgo , Plastificantes , Reino Unido
3.
Transfus Med ; 32(3): 210-220, 2022 Jun.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34850464

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: All SCD patients need extended RBC antigen typing (by serology or genotyping) for provision of extended RH, K matched blood and to guide RBC selection in those with complex transfusion requirements. Genotyping can also identify RH variants which can cause sensitisation even when extended RH phenotypically matched blood is provided and alloantibodies associated with RH variants can cause HTRs. OBJECTIVES: To review the use of RBC genotyping in SCD patients at two London trusts (ICHNT, LNWH) with a focus on RH variants. METHODS: Retrospective review with data collected from clinical notes, local and national pathology reporting systems. RESULTS: A 311/482 (64%) ICHNT patients and 181/346 (52%) LNWH patients had extended genotyping. Of genotyped patients, 68 (22%) ICHNT and 31 (17%) LNWH patients had RH variants. Eight ICHNT patients had RH variants and corresponding antibodies associated with RH variants; 4/8 received multiple transfusions with antigen positive RBCs but had no evidence of haemolysis. One LNWH patient had a RH variant with corresponding alloantibody but could not be investigated further for possible HTR. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients (59%) had genotyping and a significant number had RH variants (99, 20%). A small proportion (9, 9%) had antibodies associated with RH variants, but with no evidence of clinically significant HTRs despite transfusions in four of them with antigen positive RBCs. All SCD patients should have RBC genotyping including RH variants (preferentially over extended phenotyping) to guide better selection of RBC units. However, where antigen negative blood cannot be provided, the risk of alloimmunisation is not inevitable and subsequent HTRs from antibodies associated with RH variants might not always occur.


Asunto(s)
Anemia de Células Falciformes , Tipificación y Pruebas Cruzadas Sanguíneas , Anemia de Células Falciformes/genética , Anemia de Células Falciformes/terapia , Eritrocitos , Genotipo , Humanos , Isoanticuerpos , Londres , Sistema del Grupo Sanguíneo Rh-Hr
4.
Sensors (Basel) ; 22(3)2022 Jan 27.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35161733

RESUMEN

Soil moisture is a key parameter of the climate system as it relates to plant transpiration and photosynthesis and impacts land-atmosphere interactions. Recent developments have seen an increasing number of electromagnetic sensors available commercially (EM) for soil volumetric water content (θ). Their use is constantly expanding, and they are becoming increasingly used for agricultural, ecological, and geotechnical applications and climate research, providing decision support and high-resolution data for models and machine-learning algorithms. In this study, a soil moisture sensor network consisting of 10 Sense Cap capacitance-based sensors is evaluated. Analytical performance of the sensors was determined based on laboratory and field measurements with dielectric permittivity (ε) standards and soil media substrates. Sensor response normalisation to standards of known ε was found to reduce intersensor variability and provide robust estimates of θ in soil samples with known θ. Cross-comparison with a time-domain reflectometry (TDR) instrument carried out in two soil media demonstrates good agreement between the two probes throughout the tested range. The data communication performance of the network was evaluated in terms of packet drop rate at different ranges and sampling frequencies. It was noticed that the drop rate increased with distance from the gateway, while sampling frequency had no effect. Sources of errors associated with probe installation were identified and recommendations are provided for sensor deployment. The off-the-shelf all-in-one solution provided by Sense Cap is low cost, user friendly and suitable for implementation at temporal and spatial scales once the identified shortcomings are addressed. The evaluation presented aims to aid stakeholders and users involved in soil and land management practices including crop production, soil conservation, carbon sequestration and pollutants transport.


Asunto(s)
Suelo , Agua , Agricultura , Atmósfera , Plantas , Agua/análisis
5.
Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed ; 107(3): 188-193, 2022 06.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33963071

RESUMEN

Type 1 diabetes is a self-managed condition. Regular monitoring of blood glucose (BG) levels has been the cornerstone of diabetes management. Finger prick BG testing traditionally has been the standard method employed. More recently, rapid advancements in the development of continuous glucose monitoring devices have led to increased use of technology to help children and young people with diabetes manage their condition. These devices have the potential to improve diabetes control and reduce hypoglycaemia especially if used in conjunction with a pump to automate insulin delivery. This paper aims to provide an update on main CGM devices available and practical considerations for doctors if they come across a child with diabetes who is using one of these devices.


Asunto(s)
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , Hipoglucemia , Adolescente , Glucemia , Automonitorización de la Glucosa Sanguínea , Niño , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/diagnóstico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Hipoglucemia/diagnóstico , Hipoglucemia/prevención & control , Hipoglucemiantes , Insulina/uso terapéutico , Derivación y Consulta
6.
Sensors (Basel) ; 21(2)2021 Jan 08.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33429907

RESUMEN

Water monitoring sensors in industrial, municipal and environmental monitoring are advancing our understanding of science, aid developments in process automatization and control and support real-time decisions in emergency situations. Sensors are becoming smaller, smarter, increasingly specialized and diversified and cheaper. Advanced deployment platforms now exist to support various monitoring needs together with state-of-the-art power and communication capabilities. For a large percentage of submersed instrumentation, biofouling is the single biggest factor affecting the operation, maintenance and data quality. This increases the cost of ownership to the extent that it is prohibitive to maintain operational sensor networks and infrastructures. In this context, the paper provides a brief overview of biofouling, including the development and properties of biofilms. The state-of-the-art established and emerging antifouling strategies are reviewed and discussed. A summary of the currently implemented solutions in commercially available sensors is provided and current trends are discussed. Finally, the limitations of the currently used solutions are reviewed, and future research and development directions are highlighted.

7.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(14)2020 Jul 17.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32709068

RESUMEN

The imitation of natural systems to produce effective antifouling materials is often referred to as "biomimetics". The world of biomimetics is a multidisciplinary one, needing careful understanding of "biological structures", processes and principles of various organisms found in nature and based on this, designing nanodevices and nanomaterials that are of commercial interest to industry. Looking to the marine environment for bioinspired surfaces offers researchers a wealth of topographies to explore. Particular attention has been given to the evaluation of textures based on marine organisms tested in either the laboratory or the field. The findings of the review relate to the numbers of studies on textured surfaces demonstrating antifouling potential which are significant. However, many of these are only tested in the laboratory, where it is acknowledged a very different response to fouling is observed.


Asunto(s)
Incrustaciones Biológicas/prevención & control , Materiales Biomiméticos/química , Biomimética/métodos , Animales , Organismos Acuáticos/química , Propiedades de Superficie
8.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(11)2020 May 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32486214

RESUMEN

Hydrophobic membrane contactors represent a promising solution to the problem of recycling ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH4) molecules from waste, water or wastewater resources. The process has been shown to work best with wastewater streams that present high N-NH4 concentrations, low buffering capacities and low total suspended solids. The removal of N-NH4 from rendering condensate, produced during heat treatment of waste animal tissue, was assessed in this research using a hydrophobic membrane contactor. This study investigates how the molecular composition of rendering condensate wastewater undergo changes in its chemistry in order to achieve suitability to be treated using hydrophobic membranes and form a suitable product. The main objective was to test the ammonia stripping technology using two types of hydrophobic membrane materials, polypropylene (PP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) at pilot scale and carry out: (i) Process modification for NH3 molecule removal and (ii) product characterization from the process. The results demonstrate that PP membranes are not compatible with the condensate waste as it caused wetting. The PTFE membranes showed potential and had a longer lifetime than the PP membranes and removed up to 64% of NH3 molecules from the condensate waste. The product formed contained a 30% concentrated ammonium sulphate salt which has a potential application as a fertilizer. This is the first demonstration of hydrophobic membrane contactors for treatment of condensate wastewater.


Asunto(s)
Amoníaco/aislamiento & purificación , Industria para Empaquetado de Carne/instrumentación , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/aislamiento & purificación , Purificación del Agua/métodos , Compuestos de Amonio , Tampones (Química) , Diseño de Equipo , Fertilizantes , Interacciones Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Membranas Artificiales , Nitrógeno/química , Proyectos Piloto , Polipropilenos/química , Politetrafluoroetileno/química , Propiedades de Superficie , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos/métodos , Aguas Residuales/análisis
9.
Am J Transplant ; 19(6): 1720-1729, 2019 06.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30582278

RESUMEN

De novo HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSA) following transplantation are associated with alloimmune injury and allograft failure. Blood transfusions are allogeneic, and when given posttransplant (PTBT) they may independently increase the risk of HLA antibody development. This study aims to analyze the development of HLA transfusion-specific antibodies (TSA) to blood donors of transfusions given posttransplant and examine the impact on clinical outcomes. A total of 244 blood donors of transfusions received by 86 transplant patients (46 who developed a DSA post transfusion and 40 who remained DSA negative) were HLA typed. De novo TSA developed against 150/244 (61.5%) blood donors. In 70/150 (46.7%) cases the TSA was of shared HLA antibody specificity with a DSA response in the recipient (DSA+ = TSA+). This occurred when there was a greater overall HLA match between the blood and transplant donor. DSA+ = TSA+ patients had increased risk of allograft failure (P = .0025) and AMR (P = .02) compared with the DSA+ ≠ TSA+ patients. To conclude, PTBT may elicit de novo HLA antibodies. Enhanced HLA matching between the blood and transplant donor is more likely to result in a DSA and TSA of shared antibody specificities. Transfusion avoidance or the use of HLA matched or selected blood may reduce this risk and improve outcomes.


Asunto(s)
Isoanticuerpos/sangre , Trasplante de Riñón/efectos adversos , Adulto , Aloinjertos , Especificidad de Anticuerpos , Donantes de Sangre , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Rechazo de Injerto/etiología , Rechazo de Injerto/inmunología , Supervivencia de Injerto/inmunología , Antígenos HLA/inmunología , Histocompatibilidad , Prueba de Histocompatibilidad , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Factores de Riesgo , Donantes de Tejidos , Reacción a la Transfusión/etiología , Reacción a la Transfusión/inmunología , Inmunología del Trasplante
10.
Anal Bioanal Chem ; 411(29): 7637-7643, 2019 Nov.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31701209

RESUMEN

ColiSense, an early warning system developed for Escherichia coli detection, is assessed using environmental samples. The system relies on the detection of ß-glucuronidase (GUS), a biomarker enzyme for E. coli. In contrast with other rapid GUS-based methods, ColiSense is the only method that uses 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide (6-CMUG) as a fluorogenic substrate. The system measures a direct kinetic response of extracted GUS, and the detection was carried out in the absence of particles or bacteria. It is necessary to evaluate the system with environmental samples to establish the relationship between faecal indicator bacteria E. coli and the response measured by the ColiSense. This paper presents the results of tests carried out with the ColiSense system for 2 trials, one conducted with freshwater samples collected from rivers in the Dublin area and a second conducted with seawater samples from coastal areas collected over the bathing season. A positive linear correlation was found between E. coli (MPN 100 mL-1) and ColiSense response (R2 = 0.85, N = 125, p < 0.01) for the seawater sample. A ColiSense response threshold was identified as 0-1.8 pmol min-1 100 mL-1, equivalent to 0-500 E. coli 100 mL-1. Using this threshold, 96.8% of the samples were correctly classified as being above or below 500 E. coli 100 mL-1 by the ColiSense system. Results presented demonstrate that the ColiSense system can be used as an early warning tool with potential for active management of bathing areas by providing results in 75 min from sample collection.


Asunto(s)
Técnicas Biosensibles/instrumentación , Escherichia coli/aislamiento & purificación , Heces/microbiología , Agua Dulce/microbiología , Glucuronidasa/metabolismo , Óptica y Fotónica , Agua de Mar/microbiología , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/enzimología , Microbiología del Agua
11.
Sensors (Basel) ; 19(10)2019 May 17.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31108837

RESUMEN

Understanding hydrological processes in large, open areas, such as catchments, and further modelling these processes are still open research questions. The system proposed in this work provides an automatic end-to-end pipeline from data collection to information extraction that can potentially assist hydrologists to better understand the hydrological processes using a data-driven approach. In this work, the performance of a low-cost off-the-shelf self contained sensor unit, which was originally designed and used to monitor liquid levels, such as AdBlue, fuel, lubricants etc., in a sealed tank environment, is first examined. This process validates that the sensor does provide accurate water level information for open water level monitoring tasks. Utilising the dataset collected from eight sensor units, an end-to-end pipeline of automating the data collection, data processing and information extraction processes is proposed. Within the pipeline, a data-driven anomaly detection method that automatically extracts rapid changes in measurement trends at a catchment scale. The lag-time of the test site (Dodder catchment Dublin, Ireland) is also analyzed. Subsequently, the water level response in the catchment due to storm events during the 27 month deployment period is illustrated. To support reproducible and collaborative research, the collected dataset and the source code of this work will be publicly available for research purposes.

12.
Molecules ; 24(16)2019 Aug 16.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31426449

RESUMEN

In recent years, there has become a growing need for the development of antifouling technology for application in the marine environment. The accumulation of large quantities of biomass on these surfaces cause substantial economic burdens within the marine industry, or adversely impact the performance of sensor technologies. Here, we present a study of transparent coatings with potential for applications on sensors or devices with optical windows. The focus of the study is on the abundance and diversity of biofouling organisms that accumulate on glass panels coated with novel transparent or opaque organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) coatings. The diatom assessment was used to determine the effectiveness of the coatings against biofouling. Test panels were deployed in a marine environment in Galway Bay for durations of nine and thirteen months to examine differences in biofilm formation in both microfouling and macrofouling conditions. The most effective coating is one which consists of precursor, tetraethyl orthosilicate (HC006) that has a water contact angle > 100, without significant roughness (43.52 nm). However, improved roughness and wettability of a second coating, diethoxydimethylsilane (DMDEOS), showed real promise in relation to macrofouling reduction.


Asunto(s)
Biopelículas/efectos de los fármacos , Diatomeas/efectos de los fármacos , Silanos/farmacología , Organismos Acuáticos , Biopelículas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Incrustaciones Biológicas/prevención & control , Diatomeas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Transición de Fase , Silanos/química , Propiedades de Superficie/efectos de los fármacos
13.
Water Sci Technol ; 79(2): 218-230, 2019 Jan.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30865593

RESUMEN

Passive sampling (PS) is a very useful approach for the monitoring of emerging contaminants in environmental matrices, showing greater sensitivity than can be achieved by current best practice - grab sampling - and is applicable to a wide variety of compounds. An EU Directive (2013/39/EC) has added substances to the existing Water Framework Directive (WFD) Priority Substance list. Investigation into PS in the monitoring of these compounds is necessary to show the potential of this technique in supporting monitoring requirements under the WFD. A catchment-based approach evaluated the occurrence of these compounds in Irish surface waters. This work deals with the challenges associated with the use of PS in a legislative context, and for routine monitoring of emerging contaminants. Looking at a number of sites across Ireland, upstream and downstream of wastewater treatment plants, the focus was on polar analytes and polar PS (POCIS). With method limits of detection (LODs) of 0.001 mg L-1 pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were found in water and passive samples alike, whereas the polar pesticides were not often detected or were below the annual average environmental quality standard levels. The results of this study show the potential for PS as a monitoring technique for emerging and watch-list chemicals.


Asunto(s)
Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Disruptores Endocrinos/análisis , Irlanda , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos , Aguas Residuales/análisis
15.
Analyst ; 140(17): 5953-64, 2015 Sep 07.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26225370

RESUMEN

E. coli ß-glucuronidase (GUS) activity assays are routinely used in fields such as plant molecular biology, applied microbiology and healthcare. Methods based on the optical detection of GUS using synthetic fluorogenic substrates are widely employed since they don't require expensive instrumentation and are easy to perform. In this study three fluorogenic substrates and their respective fluorophores were studied for the purpose of developing a continuous fluorometric method for GUS. The fluorescence intensity of 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferone (6-CMU) at pH 6.8 was found to be 9.5 times higher than that of 4-methyl umbelliferone (4-MU) and 3.2 times higher than the fluorescence of 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (3-CU). Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters of GUS catalysed hydrolysis of 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide (6-CMUG) were determined experimentally (Km = 0.11 mM, Kcat = 74 s(-1), Kcat/Km = 6.93 × 10(5) s(-1) M(-1)) and compared with the ones found for 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide (4-MUG) (Km = 0.07 mM, Kcat = 92 s(-1), Kcat/Km = 1.29 × 10(6) s(-1) M(-1)) and 3-carboxy-umbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide (3-CUG) (Km = 0.48 mM, Kcat = 35 s(-1), Kcat/Km = 7.40 × 10(4) s(-1) M(-1)). Finally a continuous fluorometric method based on 6-CMUG as a fluorogenic substrate has been developed for measuring GUS activity. When compared with the highly used discontinuous method based on 4-MUG as a substrate it was found that the new method is more sensitive and reproducible (%RSD = 4.88). Furthermore, the developed method is less laborious, faster and more economical and should provide an improved alternative for GUS assays and kinetic studies.


Asunto(s)
Colorantes Fluorescentes/metabolismo , Fluorometría , Glucuronidasa/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/enzimología , Colorantes Fluorescentes/química , Glucuronidasa/química , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Cinética , Especificidad por Sustrato , Temperatura , Umbeliferonas/química , Umbeliferonas/metabolismo
16.
J Sep Sci ; 37(19): 2791-6, 2014 Oct.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25066937

RESUMEN

Rosins are used in a wide variety of industries in varnishes, adhesives, drug coatings, etc. In this project a novel capillary electrophoresis method was developed to investigate the resin acid composition of rosins. The acids were separated and the concentrations of individual acids present in gum rosin samples determined in order to investigate any links between the presence and concentration of these acids and the tendency of rosins to crystallize. The capillary electrophoresis method successfully separated nine resin acids in various rosin samples where previously they could not all be separated. Calibration curves were created to determine acid concentration. Abietic, dehydroabietic, neoabietic, pimaric, isopimaric, levopimaric, sandaracopimaric, palustric, and 7-oxo-dehydroabietic acids were separated using a 20 mM tris buffer at pH 9 containing 15% methanol 5 mM (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin 10 mM sulfobutylether-ß-cyclodextrin. Their concentrations in a crystallizing and a noncrystallizing rosin sample were determined.


Asunto(s)
Abietanos/análisis , Ciclodextrinas/química , Resinas de Plantas/química , Electroforesis Capilar , Estructura Molecular
17.
Environ Monit Assess ; 186(9): 5561-80, 2014 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24823471

RESUMEN

High-frequency, continuous monitoring using in situ sensors offers a comprehensive and improved insight into the temporal and spatial variability of any water body. In this paper, we describe a 7-month exploratory monitoring programme in Dublin Port, demonstrating the value of high-frequency data in enhancing knowledge of processes, informing discrete sampling, and ultimately increasing the efficiency of port and environmental management. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to show that shipping operating in Dublin Port has a small-medium effect on turbidity readings collected by in situ sensors. Turbidity events are largely related to vessel activity in Dublin Port, caused by re-suspension of sediments by vessel propulsion systems. The magnitudes of such events are strongly related to water level and tidal state at vessel arrival times. Crucially, measurements of Escherichia coli and enterococci contamination from discrete samples taken at key periods related to detected turbidity events were up to nine times higher after vessel arrival than prior to disturbance. Daily in situ turbidity patterns revealed time-dependent water quality "hot spots" during a 24-h period. We demonstrate conclusively that if representative environmental assessment of water quality is to be performed at such sites, sampling times, informed by continous monitoring data, should take into account these daily variations. This work outlines the potential of sensor technologies and continuous monitoring, to act as a decision support tool in both environmental and port management.


Asunto(s)
Técnicas de Apoyo para la Decisión , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Estuarios , Contaminantes del Agua/análisis , Enterococcus/crecimiento & desarrollo , Irlanda , Navíos/estadística & datos numéricos , Microbiología del Agua , Contaminación del Agua/estadística & datos numéricos , Calidad del Agua
18.
Sci Total Environ ; 912: 169348, 2024 Feb 20.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38104837

RESUMEN

Bioinspired surfaces, due to their nano and micro topographical features, offer a promising approach for the development of novel antifouling solutions. The study of surface topography has gained popularity in recent years, demonstrating significant potential in mimicking natural structures that could be manufactured for application in the marine environment. This research focuses on investigating the antifouling (AF) performance of bio-inspired micro-textures inspired by Brill fish scales, Scophthalmus rhombus, under static laboratory conditions, using two common fouling diatom species, Amphora coffeaeformis and Nitzschia ovalis. In this study, we evaluate six engineered surfaces, inspired by Brill fish scales, fabricated through a 2-photon polymerization (2PP) process, for their potential as antifouling solutions. The investigation explores the settlement behaviour of microfouling organisms, comparing these mechanisms with theoretical models to guide the future design of antifouling materials. A key emphasis is placed on the impact of surface topography on the disruption of cellular response. Our results suggest that cells smaller than 10 µm, exceeding the peak-to-peak distances between surface features, comfortably position themselves between adjacent features. On the other hand, as peak-to-peak distances decrease, cells shift from settling within uniform gaps to resting on top of surface features. Surfaces with sharpened edges demonstrate a more substantial reduction in diatom attachments compared to those with rounded edges. Furthermore, all micro-textured surfaces exhibit a significant decrease in colony formation compared to control samples. In conclusion, this study shows the potential to manipulate cellular responses through topographical features, providing valuable insights for the design of effective antifouling materials. The results contribute to the growing body of knowledge in biomimetic antifouling strategies using a novel marine organism for inspiration to design practical structures that can be replicated.


Asunto(s)
Incrustaciones Biológicas , Materiales Biomiméticos , Diatomeas , Lenguado , Animales , Incrustaciones Biológicas/prevención & control , Propiedades de Superficie , Diatomeas/fisiología , Organismos Acuáticos/fisiología , Materiales Biomiméticos/química
19.
Data Brief ; 53: 110145, 2024 Apr.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38370918

RESUMEN

The MONITOOL project (2017-2023) was carried out to describe the relationships between total dissolved and labile metal concentrations measured in spot water samples and in concurrently deployed Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGTs) passive samplers, respectively. The ultimate aim was to adapt existing marine metal Environmental Quality Standards (EQS marine water) for DGTs, enabling their use in the context of the European Directives (the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)). Time-integrated metal concentrations provided by DGTs, representing several days, are an advantage compared to conventional spot sampling, especially in highly dynamic systems, such as transitional waters. Hence, the MONITOOL project aimed to provide a robust database of dissolved and labile metal concentrations in transitional and coastal waters, based upon co-deployments of DGTs and collection of spot water samples at several sampling sites (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain), followed subsequently by DGT and water metal analysis. Samplings were carried out in 2018 and 2022, following agreed protocols developed in the framework of the project. The MONITOOL dataset includes metal concentrations from DGTs, measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS: Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and in concurrently collected spot water samples by ICP-MS (Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and Anodic/Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV/CSV: Cd, Pb, Ni). Moreover, data on seawater physical-chemical parameters (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon, and total organic carbon) is provided. This database presents the results obtained using, concurrently, different forms of sampling and analytical techniques, enabling the comparison of the results obtained by these strategies and allowing the adaptation of EQS in marine water (EQS marine water) to DGTs (EQS DGT), in the context of the WFD. Moreover, due to the large number of sampling sites, it could also be used for other types of research, such as those dealing with metal speciation or the determination of baseline levels.

20.
Annu Rev Anal Chem (Palo Alto Calif) ; 16(1): 451-469, 2023 Jun 14.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37314875

RESUMEN

In situ water monitoring sensors are critical to gain an understanding of ocean biochemistry and ecosystem health. They enable the collection of high-frequency data and capture ecosystem spatial and temporal changes, which in turn facilitate long-term global predictions. They are used as decision support tools in emergency situations and for risk mitigation, pollution source tracking, and regulatory monitoring. Advanced sensing platforms exist to support various monitoring needs together with state-of-the-art power and communication capabilities. To be fit-for-purpose, sensors must withstand the challenging marine environment and provide data at an acceptable cost. Significant technological advancements have catalyzed the development of new and improved sensors for coastal and oceanographic applications. Sensors are becoming smaller, smarter, more cost-effective, and increasingly specialized and diversified. This article, therefore, provides a review of the state-of-the art oceanographic and coastal sensors. Progress in sensor development is discussed in terms of performance and the key strategies used for achieving robustness, marine rating, cost reduction, and antifouling protection.

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