Operational monitoring of water quality with a Do-It-Yourself modular instrument

We analyze the efficacy of using a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) modular instrument to estimate the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd) of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), which can be used for operational oceanography in turbid shallow waters. This parameter evaluates the water transparency, as it summarizes several water components providing an indicator for water quality. Historically, water transparency has been measured with a simple and inexpensive tool: the Secchi disk. Although it contributes a valuable index of visual water clarity, the quality of its measurements is user-dependent, and it does not enable the automatic monitoring of the water quality. For this reason, we need electronic devices to get accurate measures and facilitate long-term evaluations for water quality monitoring. This paper has two main objectives: First, to present the KduPRO, a low-cost and DIY moored instrument. The KduPRO is an evolution of the KdUINO buoy, that provides an estimation of the water transparency in coastal areas and continental waters, with an automatic quality control parameter that makes this sensor suitable for operational observing systems; and second, to provide a replicability analysis associated to the uncertainty of its Kd estimations. This instrument is based on a modular system of light sensors, independent of each other, measuring the irradiance at different depths. This study analyses the performance of the KduPRO with other reference commercial instruments, the performance between different modules of the same system and finally, a case study of measuring the water quality in Loch Leven (a lake in Scotland). The affordable cost, ease of use and measurement repeatability make this instrument a potentially valuable tool for anyone interested in monitoring water quality

Towards Cost-Effective Operational Monitoring Systems for Complex Waters: Analyzing Small-Scale Coastal Processes with Optical Transmissometry

21 pages, 13 figures, 1 table, data availability https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.863589The detection and prediction of changes in coastal ecosystems require a better understanding of the complex physical, chemical and biological interactions, which involves that observations should be performed continuously. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for small, simple and cost-effective in situ sensors to analyze complex coastal waters at a broad range of scales. In this context, this study seeks to explore the potential of beam attenuation spectra, c(λ), measured in situ with an advanced-technology optical transmissometer, for assessing temporal and spatial patterns in the complex estuarine waters of Alfacs Bay (NW Mediterranean) as a test site. In particular, the information contained in the spectral beam attenuation coefficient was assessed and linked with different biogeochemical variables. The attenuation at λ = 710 nm was used as a proxy for particle concentration, TSM, whereas a novel parameter was adopted as an optical indicator for chlorophyll a (Chla) concentration, based on the local maximum of c(λ) observed at the long-wavelength side of the red band Chl-a absorption peak. In addition, since coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) has an important influence on the beam attenuation spectral shape and complementary measurements of particle size distribution were available, the beam attenuation spectral slope was used to analyze the CDOM content. Results were successfully compared with optical and biogeochemical variables from laboratory analysis of collocated water samples, and statistically significant correlations were found between the attenuation proxies and the biogeochemical variables TSM, Chl-a and CDOM. This outcome depicted the potential of high-frequency beam attenuation measurements as a simple, continuous and cost-effective approach for rapid detection of changes and patterns in biogeochemical properties in complex coastal environmentsThis study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MESTRAL project, CTM2011-30489-C02-01) and by Total Foundation (PHYTOSCOPE project). MR-P was supported by a PhD fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants: BES-2012-054205 and EEBB-I-2014-08231). RG-A was supported by a PhD fellowship from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES-Brazil, grant 12362/12-3) in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)Peer Reviewe

Adapting the existing coastal patí a vela fleet for scientic purposes

This paper presents the first results of the Barcelona Institute of Culture’s grant for research and innovation projects under the 2019 Barcelona Science Plan entitled “Development of a citizen monitoring program for the Barcelona waters: The Scientific Pat´i a Vela”. The main objective of this project is to develop a small Pat´i a Vela (PV) fleet that can routinely sample the Barcelona coastal waters and report their observations to an open-access interactive web. The Pat´i a Vela boat was designed in 1942 by the Mong´e brothers. It is a lightweight one- person catamaran with a single Marconi sail and no boom. The main objective of this contribution is to adapt the Pat´i a Vela model attaching an on-board platform with scientific instruments (sensors and devices) and determine the new stability characteristics and seakeeping performance. This will allow an adequate sampling of the Barcelona coast waters and the systematic measurements of the essential physical and biogeochemical variables detecting variations along the coast, hence identifying potential sources of contamination. It will also provide the necessary knowledge of natural and anthropogenic seasonality.Postprint (published version

TCA cycle metabolites associated with adverse outcomes after acute coronary syndrome: mediating effect of renal function

AimsTo examine relationships of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites with risk of cardiovascular events and mortality after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and evaluate the mediating role of renal function in these associations.MethodsThis is a prospective study performed among 309 ACS patients who were followed for a mean of 6.7 years. During this period 131 patients developed major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as the composite of myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure, and all-cause mortality, and 90 deaths were recorded. Plasma concentrations of citrate, aconitate, isocitrate, succinate, malate, fumarate, α-ketoglutarate and d/l-2-hydroxyglutarate were quantified using LC-tandem MS. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios, and a counterfactual-based mediation analysis was performed to test the mediating role of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).ResultsAfter adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and medications, positive associations were found between isocitrate and MACE (HR per 1 SD, 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.50), and between aconitate, isocitrate, d/l-2-hydroxyglutarate and all-cause mortality (HR per 1 SD, 1.41; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.84; 1.58; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.02; 1.38; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.68). However, these associations were no longer significant after additional adjustment for eGFR. Mediation analyses demonstrated that eGFR is a strong mediator of these associations.ConclusionThese findings underscore the importance of TCA metabolites and renal function as conjunctive targets in the prevention of ACS complications

Development of a citizen monitoring program for the Barcelona coastal waters: the Scientific Patí Vela

The first results of the PATI CIENTIFIC project are presented. This is a collaborative project funded by a Barcelona Institute of Culture’s grant for research and innovation under the 2019 Barcelona Science Plan. The main objective of this project is to develop a monitoring program for the coastal waters of Barcelona through a small -sailboat fleet of the traditional and sustainable Patí de Vela (sailing skate). This pleasure boat is to become a scientific sailing skate. This fleet will acquire the essential oceanographic variables along the Catalan coast, which will be incorporated and accessible in a web platform. We present the initial adaptations done to the Patí de Vela to have an onboard platform holding the scientific instruments (sensors and devices) for sampling the Barcelona coastal waters. These adaptations allow the systematic measurements of the essential physical and biogeochemical variables. These data, which will allow detecting variations along the coast, hence identifying potential sources of contamination and also providing the necessary knowledge of natural and anthropogenic seasonality, and will be freely available on a web platform. The PATI CIENTIFIC project will increase our knowledge of the coastal waters of the Barcelona coast, encouraging participation in sea monitoring activities and increasing social awareness on the need to love and protect our oceans.Postprint (published version

Aulamar: Projecte escola d’oceanografia costanera

En aquest Research Café es presenten projectes on la tecnologia es posa al servei dels mars i els oceans, i que estan lligats amb els objectius ODS Vida Submarina i Acció pel clima.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al ClimaObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::14 - Vida Submarin

Citizen Bio-Optical Observations from Coast- and Ocean and Their Compatibility with Ocean Colour Satellite Measurements

Marine processes are observed with sensors from both the ground and space over large spatio-temporal scales. Citizen-based contributions can fill observational gaps and increase environmental stewardship amongst the public. For this purpose, tools and methods for citizen science need to (1) complement existing datasets; and (2) be affordable, while appealing to different user and developer groups. In this article, tools and methods developed in the 7th Framework Programme of European Union (EU FP 7) funded project Citclops (citizens’ observatories for coast and ocean optical monitoring) are reviewed. Tools range from a stand-alone smartphone app to devices with Arduino and 3-D printing, and hence are attractive to a diversity of users; from the general public to more specified maker- and open labware movements. Standardization to common water quality parameters and methods allows long-term storage in regular marine data repositories, such as SeaDataNet and EMODnet, thereby providing open data access. Due to the given intercomparability to existing remote sensing datasets, these tools are ready to complement the marine datapool. In the future, such combined satellite and citizen observations may set measurements by the engaged public in a larger context and hence increase their individual meaning. In a wider sense, a synoptic use can support research, management authorities, and societies at large

Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies

Gut microbiota-derived metabolites have recently attracted considerable attention due to their role in host-microbial crosstalk and their link with cardiovascular health. The MEDLINE-PubMed and Elsevier’s Scopus databases were searched up to June 2022 for studies evaluating the association of baseline circulating levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), tryptophan and indole derivatives, with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A total of twenty-one studies were included in the systematic review after evaluating 1210 non-duplicate records. There were nineteen of the twenty-one studies that were cohort studies and two studies had a nested case–control design. All of the included studies were of high quality according to the “Newcastle–Ottawa Scale”. TMAO was positively associated with adverse cardiovascular events and CVD/all-cause mortality in some, but not all of the included studies. Bile acids were associated with atrial fibrillation and CVD/all-cause mortality, but not with CVD. Positive associations were found between BCAAs and CVD, and between indole derivatives and major adverse cardiovascular events, while a negative association was reported between tryptophan and all-cause mortality. No studies examining the relationship between SCFAs and CVD risk were identified. Evidence from prospective studies included in the systematic review supports a role of microbial metabolites in CVD