CO2 fluxes in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean based on measurements from a surface ocean observation platform.

The seasonal and spatial variability of the CO2 system parameters and CO2 air-sea exchange were studied in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean between the northwest African coastal upwelling and the oligotrophic open-ocean waters of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Data was collected aboard a volunteer observing ship from February 2019 to February 2020. The seasonal and spatial variability of CO2 fugacity in seawater (fCO2,sw) was strongly driven by the seasonal temperature variation, which increased with latitude and was lower throughout the year in coastal regions where the upwelling and offshore transport was more intense. The thermal to biological effect ratio (T/B) was approximately 2, with minimum values along the African coastline related to higher biological activity in the upwelled waters. The fCO2,sw increased from winter to summer by 11.84 ± 0.28 µatm°C-1 on the inter-island routes and by 11.71 ± 0.25 µatm°C-1 along the northwest African continental shelf. The seasonality of total inorganic carbon normalized to constant salinity of 36.7 (NCT) was studied throughout the region. The effect of biological processes and calcification/dissolution on NCT between February and October represented >90% of the reduction of inorganic carbon while air-sea exchange described <6%. The seasonality of air-sea CO2 exchange was controlled by temperature. The surface waters of the entire region acted as a CO2 sink during the cold months and as a CO2 source during the warm months. The Canary basin acted as a net sink of -0.26 ± 0.04 molC m-2 yr-1. The northwest African continental shelf behaved as a stronger sink at -0.48 ± 0.09 molC m-2 yr-1. The calculated average CO2 flux for the entire area was -2.65 ± 0.44 TgCO2 yr-1 (-0.72 ± 0.12 TgC yr-1).

The eastern extent of seasonal iron limitation in the high latitude North Atlantic Ocean.

The availability of iron (Fe) can seasonally limit phytoplankton growth in the High Latitude North Atlantic (HLNA), greatly reducing the efficiency of the biological carbon pump. However, the spatial extent of seasonal iron limitation is not yet known. We present autumn nutrient and dissolved Fe measurements, combined with microphytoplankton distribution, of waters overlying the Hebridean (Scottish) shelf break. A distinct biogeochemical divide was observed, with Fe deficient surface waters present beyond the shelf break, much further eastwards than previously recognised. Due to along and on-shelf circulation, the Hebridean shelf represents a much-localised source of Fe, which does not fertilise the wider HLNA. Shelf sediments are generally thought to supply large quantities of Fe to overlying waters. However, for this Fe to influence upper-ocean biogeochemical cycling, efficient off-shelf transport mechanisms are required. This work challenges the view that the oceanic surface waters in close proximity to continental margins are iron replete with respect to marine primary production demands.

Síndrome de Alagille; una patología que tener en cuenta / Alagille syndrome. A pathology to be considered

El síndrome de Alagille es una patología poco frecuente. Afecta a uno de cada 100 000 recién nacidos vivos. Se caracteriza por una hipoplasia de vías biliares que se asocia a otras malformaciones. Se presenta el caso de un niño chino de cuatro años al que se le diagnosticó esta patología tras ser adoptado a los 11 meses de edad (AU)

Alagille syndrome is an uncommon pathology. It is found in 1/100,000 live births. It is characterized by biliary duct hypoplasia associated with other malformations. We report the case of a four-year-old Chinese child who was diagnosed with this pathology after being adopted at 11 months of age (AU)

Analysis of the Spanish national registry for pediatric home enteral nutrition (NEPAD): implementation rates and observed trends during the past 8 years.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The home enteral nutrition (HEN) provides nutritional support to children with chronic diseases who are nutritionally compromised and allows them to be discharged more quickly from hospitals. In 2003, a web-based registry (Nutrición Enteral Pediátrica Ambulatoria y Domiciliaria, Pediatric Ambulatory and Home Enteral Nutrition -NEPAD-) was created with the objective of gathering information about pediatric HEN practices in Spain. AIM: The aim of this study was to report the implementation of the NEPAD (Nutrición Enteral Pediátrica Ambulatoria y Domiciliaria, Pediatric Ambulatory and Home Enteral Nutrition) registry of pediatric HEN in Spain and to analyze data evolution trends from 2003 to 2010. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from the Spanish NEPAD registry were analyzed according to the following variables: demographic data, diagnosis, indication for HEN, nutritional support regime and administration route. RESULTS: Over the study period, 952 patients (1048 episodes) from 20 Spanish hospitals were included in the NEPAD registry. The most frequent indication for HEN was decreased oral intake (64%), and neurological disease was the most prevalent illness. HEN was delivered via a nasogastric tube in 573 episodes (54.7%), by gastrostomy in 375 episodes (35.8%), oral feeding in 77 episodes (7.3%) and by jejunal access in 23 episodes (2.2%). Significant differences in the mode of administration were observed based on the pathology of the child (χ(2), P<0.0001). The cyclic feeding was the most widely used technique for the administration of HEN. Most of the patients used a pump and a polymeric formula. Transition to oral feeding was the primary reason for discontinuation of this type of support. CONCLUSIONS: Since the NEPAD registry was established in Spain, the number of documented patients has increased more than 25-fold. Many children with chronic illness benefit from HEN, mainly those suffering from neurological diseases.