Best practices for Core Argo floats - part 1: getting started and data considerations

Argo floats have been deployed in the global ocean for over 20 years. The Core mission of the Argo program (Core Argo) has contributed well over 2 million profiles of salinity and temperature of the upper 2000 m of the water column for a variety of operational and scientific applications. Core Argo floats have evolved such that the program currently consists of more than eight types of Core Argo float, some of which belong to second or third generation developments, three unique satellite communication systems (Argos, Iridium and Beidou) and two types of Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) sensor systems (Seabird and RBR). This, together with a well-established data management system, delayed mode data quality control, FAIR and open data access, make the program a very successful ocean observing network. Here we present Part 1 of the Best Practices for Core Argo floats in terms of how users can get started in the program, recommended metadata parameters and the data management system. The objective is to encourage new and developing scientists, research teams and institutions to contribute to the OneArgo Program, specifically to the Core Argo mission. Only by leveraging sustained contributions from current Core Argo float groups with new and emerging Argo teams and users who are eager to get involved and are actively encouraged to do so, can the OneArgo initiative be realized. This paper presents a list of best practices to get started in the program, set up the recommended metadata, implement the data management system with the aim to encourage new scientists, countries and research teams to contribute to the OneArgo Program

A Dominant Negative ERβ Splice Variant Determines the Effectiveness of Early or Late Estrogen Therapy after Ovariectomy in Rats

The molecular mechanisms for the discrepancy in outcome of initiating estrogen therapy (ET) around peri-menopause or several years after menopause in women are unknown. We hypothesize that the level of expression of a dominant negative estrogen receptor (ER) β variant, ERβ2, may be a key factor determining the effectiveness of ET in post-menopausal women. We tested this hypothesis in ovariectomized nine month-old (an age when irregular estrous cycles occur) female Sprague Dawley rats. Estradiol treatment was initiated either 6 days (Early ET, analogous to 4 months post-menopause in humans), or 180 days (Late ET, analogous to 11 years post-menopause in humans) after ovariectomy. Although ERβ2 expression increased in all OVX rats, neurogenic and neuroprotective responses to estradiol differed in Early and Late ET. Early ET reduced ERβ2 expression in both hippocampus and white blood cells, increased the hippocampal cell proliferation as assessed by Ki-67 expression, and improved mobility in the forced swim test. Late ET resulted in either no or modest effects on these parameters. There was a close correlation between the degree of ERβ2 expression and the preservation of neural effects by ET after OVX in rats, supporting the hypothesis that persistent elevated levels of ERβ2 are a molecular basis for the diminished effectiveness of ET in late post-menopausal women. The correlation between the expression of ERβ2 in circulating white blood cells and brain cells suggests that ERβ2 expression in peripheral blood cells may be an easily accessible marker to predict the effective window for ET in the brain

Best practices for Core Argo floats: Getting started, physical handling, metadata, and data considerations. Version 1. [GOOS ENDORSED PRACTICE]

Argo floats have been deployed in the global ocean for over 20 years. The Core mission of the Argo program (Core Argo) has contributed well over 2 million profiles of salinity and temperature of the upper 2000 m for a variety of operational and scientific applications. Core Argo floats have evolved such that the program currently consists of more than eight types of Core Argo float, some of which belong to second or third generation developments, three unique satellite communication systems and two types of Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) sensor systems. Coupled with a well-established data management system, with delayed mode quality control, makes for a very successful ocean observing network. Here we present the Best Practices for Core Argo floats in terms of float types, physical handling and deployments, recommended metadata parameters and the data management system. The objective is to encourage new and developing scientists, research teams and institutions to contribute to the OneArgo Program, specifically to the Core Argo mission. Only by leveraging sustained contributions of current Core Argo float groups with new and emerging Argo teams and users, can the OneArgo initiative be realised. This paper makes involvement with the Core Argo mission smoother by providing a framework endorsed by a wide community for these observations