Gaseous Mercury Exchange from Water-Air Interface in Differently Impacted Freshwater Environments

Gaseous exchanges of mercury (Hg) at the water-air interface in contaminated sites strongly influence its fate in the environment. In this study, diurnal gaseous Hg exchanges were seasonally evaluated by means of a floating flux chamber in two freshwater environments impacted by anthropogenic sources of Hg, specifically historical mining activity (Solkan Reservoir, Slovenia) and the chlor-alkali industry (Torviscosa dockyard, Italy), and in a pristine site, Cavazzo Lake (Italy). The highest fluxes (21.88 ± 11.55 ng m-2 h-1) were observed at Solkan, coupled with high dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) and dissolved Hg (THgD) concentrations. Conversely, low vertical mixing and saltwater intrusion at Torviscosa limited Hg mobility through the water column, with higher Hg concentrations in the deep layer near the contaminated sediments. Consequently, both DGM and THgD in surface water were generally lower at Torviscosa than at Solkan, resulting in lower fluxes (19.01 ± 12.65 ng m-2 h-1). However, at this site, evasion may also be limited by high atmospheric Hg levels related to dispersion of emissions from the nearby chlor-alkali plant. Surprisingly, comparable fluxes (15.56 ± 12.78 ng m-2 h-1) and Hg levels in water were observed at Cavazzo, suggesting a previously unidentified Hg input (atmospheric depositions or local geology). Overall, at all sites the fluxes were higher in the summer and correlated to incident UV radiation and water temperature due to enhanced photo production and diffusivity of DGM, the concentrations of which roughly followed the same seasonal trend

The IMSI procedure improves poor embryo development in the same infertile couples with poor semen quality: A comparative prospective randomized study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sperm of poor quality can negatively affect embryo development to the blastocyst stage. The aim of this comparative prospective randomized study was to evaluate the role of an intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) in the same infertile couples included in the programme of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to their indications of male infertility which had resulted in all arrested embryos following a prolonged 5-day culture in previous ICSI cycles.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Couples exhibiting poor semen quality and with all arrested embryos following a prolonged 5-day culture in previous ICSI cycles were divided into two groups: <it>Group 1: IMSI group </it>(n = 20) with IMSI performed in a current attempt and <it>Group 2: ICSI group </it>(n = 37) with a conventional ICSI procedure performed in a current attempt of <it>in vitro </it>fertilization. Fertilization rate, embryo development, implantation, pregnancy and abortion rates were compared between current IMSI and conventional ICSI procedures, and with previous ICSI attempts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>IMSI group </it>was characterized by a higher number of blastocysts per cycle than the <it>ICSI group </it>(0.80 vs. 0.65) after a prolonged 5-day embryo culture. There was a significantly lower number of cycles with all arrested embryos and cycles with no embryo transfer in the <it>IMSI group </it>versus the <it>ICSI group </it>(0% vs. 27.0%, p = 0.048). After the transfer of embryos at the blastocyst or morula stage (on luteal day 5) a tendency toward higher implantation and pregnancy rates per cycle was achieved in the <it>IMSI group </it>compared to the <it>ICSI group </it>(17.1% vs. 6.8%; 25.0% vs. 8.1%, respectively), although not statistically significant. After IMSI, all pregnancies achieved by the blastocyst transfer were normally on-going, whereas after ICSI, two of three pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortion. After IMSI, two pregnancies were also achieved by the morula stage embryos, whereas after the conventional ICSI procedure, embryos at the morula stage did not implant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The IMSI procedure improved embryo development and the laboratory and clinical outcomes of sperm microinjection in the same infertile couples with male infertility and poor embryo development over the previous ICSI attempts.</p

Single-Use Plastic Bans: Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on Best Practices for Reducing Plastic Pollution

In this study, we conducted and documented workshops and interviews in Norway and Slovenia to identify stakeholder and future generation opinions and mitigation strategies for solving one of the most prominent environmental issues: plastic pollution. As part of the EU H2020 project GoJelly, stakeholders were brought together to explore their perceptions on considering jellyfish mucus as a new resource to contribute to reducing plastic pollution from entering the marine environment. The study was conducted in the spring of 2019, in a context directly after the European Union (EU) announced its Directive to ban the most commonly used single-use plastic (SUP) items. The study applied the snowball method as a methodological choice to identify relevant stakeholders. Systems thinking was utilized as a participatory modelling approach, which allowed for the creation of conceptual mind maps from the various workshops and interviews, to understand consumers' consciousness, and to map out ideas on plastic pollution reduction. Plastic pollution takes place on a global scale and stakeholders discussed their individual perceptions of national and international solutions that could be put in place to solve it, including the opportunities around utilizing jellyfish mucus to filter and capture micro- and nanoplastic. We found that industry stakeholders in both case areas were generally more accepting of policy and increased innovation moving forward, but placed weight on the scientific community to conduct more research on the pollution issue and propose solutions. Future generation stakeholders (youth aged 14–18), however, put emphasis on consumer behavior and buying patterns of single-use products fueling the plastic crisis.publishedVersio

A new tool for faster construction of marine biotechnology collaborative networks.

The increasing and rapid development in technologies, infrastructures, computational power, data availability and information flow has enabled rapid scientific advances. These entail transdisciplinary collaborations that maximize sharing of data and knowledge and, consequently, results, and possible technology transfer. However, in emerging scientific fields it is sometimes difficult to provide all necessary expertise within existing collaborative circles. This is especially true for marine biotechnology that directly addresses global societal challenges. This article describes the creation of a platform dedicated to facilitating the formation of short or mid-term collaborative networks in marine biotechnology. This online platform (https://www.ocean4biotech.eu/map/) enables experts (researchers and members of the marine biotechnology community in general) to have the possibility to showcase their expertise with the aim of being integrated into new collaborations/consortia on the one hand, or to use it as a search tool to complement the expertise in planned/running collaborations, on the other. The platform was created within the Ocean4Biotech (European transdisciplinary networking platform for marine biotechnology) Action, funded under the framework of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). To build the platform, an inquiry was developed to identify experts in marine biotechnology and its adjunct fields, to define their expertise, to highlight their infrastructures and facilities and to pinpoint the main bottlenecks in this field. The inquiry was open to all experts in the broad field of marine biotechnology, including non-members of the consortium. The inquiry (https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/single/UKVsBNtD) remains open for insertion of additional expertise and the resulting interactive map can be used as a display and search tool for establishing new collaborations

Poročila

Place – an introduction New money in rural areas. Land investment in Europe and its place impacts Rethinking Place Branding The taste of place – a cultural journey into terroir Kratka kronika nekega leta: obeleževanje naše prve stoletnice Mednarodna konferenca Skrite geografije 100-letnica rojstva dr. Vladimirja Bračiča in monografija o Halozah Razvoj podeželja in LEADER: priročnik in mednarodna konferenca Izzivi in priložnosti multifunkcijskega upravljanja travišč Mesec prostora 2019 5. Slovenski podeželski parlament: delavnica Mladi in novi kmetje ter podelitev »Nagrade NEWBIE 2018« Nagrajeni rezultati geografskega proučevanja (funkcionalno) degradiranih območij v letu 201

The essentials of marine biotechnology.

Coastal countries have traditionally relied on the existing marine resources (e.g., fishing, food, transport, recreation, and tourism) as well as tried to support new economic endeavors (ocean energy, desalination for water supply, and seabed mining). Modern societies and lifestyle resulted in an increased demand for dietary diversity, better health and well-being, new biomedicines, natural cosmeceuticals, environmental conservation, and sustainable energy sources. These societal needs stimulated the interest of researchers on the diverse and underexplored marine environments as promising and sustainable sources of biomolecules and biomass, and they are addressed by the emerging field of marine (blue) biotechnology. Blue biotechnology provides opportunities for a wide range of initiatives of commercial interest for the pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, food, feed, agricultural, and related industries. This article synthesizes the essence, opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges encountered in marine biotechnology and outlines the attainment and valorization of directly derived or bio-inspired products from marine organisms. First, the concept of bioeconomy is introduced. Then, the diversity of marine bioresources including an overview of the most prominent marine organisms and their potential for biotechnological uses are described. This is followed by introducing methodologies for exploration of these resources and the main use case scenarios in energy, food and feed, agronomy, bioremediation and climate change, cosmeceuticals, bio-inspired materials, healthcare, and well-being sectors. The key aspects in the fields of legislation and funding are provided, with the emphasis on the importance of communication and stakeholder engagement at all levels of biotechnology development. Finally, vital overarching concepts, such as the quadruple helix and Responsible Research and Innovation principle are highlighted as important to follow within the marine biotechnology field. The authors of this review are collaborating under the European Commission-funded Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action Ocean4Biotech – European transdisciplinary networking platform for marine biotechnology and focus the study on the European state of affairs

From the sea to aquafeed: A perspective overview

Aquaculture has been one of the fastest-growing food production systems sectors for over three decades. With its growth, the demand for alternative, cheaper and high-quality feed ingredients is also increasing. Innovation investments on providing new functional feed alternatives have yielded several viable alternative raw materials. Considering all the current feed ingredients, their circular adaption in the aquafeed manufacturing industry is clearly of the utmost importance to achieve sustainable aquaculture in the near future. The use of terrestrial plant materials and animal by-products predominantly used in aquafeed ingredients puts a heavily reliance on terrestrial agroecosystems, which also has its own sustainability concerns. Therefore, the aquafeed industry needs to progress with functional and sustainable alternative raw materials for feed that must be more resilient and consistent, considering a circular perspective. In this review, we assess the current trends in using various marine organisms, ranging from microorganisms (including fungi, thraustochytrids, microalgae and bacteria) to macroalgae and macroinvertebrates as viable biological feed resources. This review focuses on the trend of circular use of resources and the development of new value chains. In this, we present a perspective of promoting novel circular economy value chains that promote the re-use of biological resources as valuable feed ingredients. Thus, we highlight some potentially important marine-derived resources that deserve further investigations for improving or addressing circular aquaculture

Composition and complexation of colloidal organic matter in coastal sea (Gulf of Trieste)

V Tržaškem zalivu so se v preteklosti pozno spomladi/na začeteku poletja periodično pojavljali sluzasti makroagregati, ki so bili na zadnje opaženi leta 2004. Prekurzor za nastanek tovrstnih agregatov je koloidna organska snov (COM), zato smo se osredotočili na študij sezonskih sprememb vsebnosti, sestave in izvora COM. Uporabili smo spektroskopijo 1H NMR in FTIR ter kromatografijo HPSEC za opazovanje sprememb v sestavi in velikosti COM. Rezultati so pokazali, da se predvsem vsebnost lipidov v COM do poletja zviša, kar lahko dodatno vpliva na nastanek mikro- in makrogelov. HPSEC nam je potrdil, da proti poletju prihaja do agregacije COM, saj VM COM predstavlja večino COM (95 %), medtem ko se NM COM od zime do poletja bistveno zniža (iz 45 % na 5 %). Avgusta se njuni razmerji skoraj izenačita, kar nakazuje tvorbo mikro- in makrogelov ali pa povišano mikrobno razgradnjo. Karakterizacija COM izolirane iz fitoplantkonskih kultur iz Tržaškega zaliva je pokazala, da fitoplankton k sestavi in strukturi COM prispeva predvsem z vsebnostjo polisaharidov. Z ICP-MS in CVAAS smo spremljali sezonske spremembe vsebnosti kovin v koloidni frakciji. Hg in Cu imata največjo afiniteto do COM, kar se je pokazalo v pozitivni korelaciji s COM. Tako kot COM se tudi Hg in Cu akumulirata do julija, v avgustu pa njuna vsebnost hitro pade, kar je lahko posledica agregacije ali mikrobne razgradnje COM. Podatki vsebnosti kovin preko slanostnega transekta reke Soče kažejo, da se nekatere kovine pojavijo v vodnem stolpcu kot posledica desorpcije delcev, ki so jih nanesle reke. Druge kovine in tudi COM se ob višanju ionske moči agregirajo in potonejo, kar se pokaže v nižji vsebnosti kovin in COM na izlivu reke Soče.The phenomenon of mucous macroaggregates, which periodically occur in late spring/early summer, was last seen in 2004. Colloidal organic matter (COM) acts as a precursor to such aggregates, which is why we focused on the seasonal dynamics of content, composition and molecular size of COM. We used 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and HPSEC chromatography to observe changes in COM composition and size. The results showed that lipid fraction in COM increased towards summer, which may have impacted micro- and macrogel formation. The HPSEC demonstrated that COM aggregated from the winter to the summer months. HMW COM was the most abundant (95%). Conversely, the LMW COM, from winter to summer, decreased from 45% to 5%. In August, the ratio between the two fractions of COM was almost equal, which indicated either the formation of micro- and macrogels or that it was consumed via microbial degradation. Characterization of COM isolated from phytoplankton cultures from the Gulf of Trieste showed that phytoplankton mostly contributes, along with polysaccharides, to the COM pool. We used ICP-MS and CVAAS to observe the seasonal dynamics of metal content in the COM. Hg and Cu showed the highest metal affinity to COM, which was reflected in a positive correlation to COM. As with the COM content, Hg and Cu also rapidly decreased from July to August, which may have been due to either sequestration of the aggregates or increased microbial degradation in August. Data of the metal content from the salinity gradient of the Isonzo River showed that some metals occurred in the water column of the Gulf by desorption from particles transported by the river. Other metals, as well as COM, aggregated in the Isonzo River mouth because of increasing ionic strength, which was reflected in the lower metal content in the river mouth compared to the river