Development of an Amperometric Biosensor for Lactate.

A gold enzyme electrode for lactate, fabricated on silicon has been developed. Standard silicon processing and micromachining techniques have been applied to the fabrication of three sensor types. Two planar types and a containment sensor are presented. The enzyme lactate oxidase (LOX) was immobilised in a suitable matrix and placed on a planar gold electrode or in a gold coated, KOH etched silicon cavity. Activity and stability of the enzyme LOX was assessed in a modified BSA gel and two sol gel matrices. The enzyme has shown above average stability of three months, stored dry, when immobilised in a sol gel matrix. The modified BSA gel also showed potential for use with a gold enzyme electrode. A three electrode configuration in the amperometric mode was used to detect lactate. A linear range of up to 1OmM lactate has been observed using a sol gel as an immobilisation matrix, and a response time as low as 40 seconds. A modified BSA gel has shown a linear range of up to 12mM lactate. Lactate has also been successfully detected using the containment sensor

A review of the influence of marine habitat classification schemes on mapping studies: inherent assumptions, influence on end products, and suggestions for future developments

The production of marine habitat maps typically relies on the use of habitat classification schemes (HCSs). The choice of which HCS to use for a mapping study is often related to familiarity, established practice, and national desires. Despite a superficial similarity, HCSs differ greatly across six key properties, namely, purpose, environmental and ecological scope, spatial scale, thematic resolution, structure, and compatibility with mapping techniques. These properties impart specific strengths and weaknesses for each HCS, which are subsequently transferred to the habitat maps applying these schemes. This review has examined seven HCSs (that are commonly used and widely adopted for national and international mapping programmes), over the six properties, to understand their influence on marine habitat mapping. In addition, variation in how mappers interpret and apply HCSs introduces additional uncertainties and biases into the final maps. Recommendations are provided for improving HCSs for marine habitat mapping as well as for enhancing the working practices of mappers using habitat classification. It is hoped that implementation of these recommendations will lead to greater certainty and usage within mapping studies and more consistency between studies and adjoining maps

A combined, harmonized data product showing the best evidence for the extent of biogenic substrate in Europe

The 2019 version of the EUNIS marine habitat classification system includes ‘biogenic habitat’ at level 2 of the classification hierarchy, putting it on the same footing as other, grain-size-based substrate types such as ‘mud’ and ‘sand’. Until now, the EUSeaMap seabed substrate data product1 has been primarily composed of grain-size based classes, plus rock and Posidonia oceanica meadows. The process was: 1. The EMODnet Geology consortium compiled a data product showing the extent of grain-size based sediment classes, plus rock. 2. The EMODnet Seabed Habitats consortium made some additional ad hoc changes, including: a. Addition of data that did not make it into the EMODnet Geology product for various reasons, b. Addition of Posidonia oceanica meadows polygons in the Mediterranean. This is the only biogenic substrate type that has been included in EUSeaMap to date. The ad hoc changes previously made to the EMODnet Geology substrate layer by EMODnet Seabed Habitats are described in the EUSeaMap 2019 and EUSeaMap 2016 technical reports (Vasquez et al, 2020; Populus et al, 2017). Therefore, in 2017, the EMODnet Seabed Habitats consortium agreed that they should create a new data product for ‘biogenic substrate’, which may be combined with the grain-size-based substrate data from EMODnet Geology to provide a more complete representation of all substrate types relevant to biological communities. It is important to note that: • biogenic substrates have not been mapped comprehensively in any region of Europe and therefore the final product is not representative of the full distribution. • The purpose of this compilation is not to compile data on habitats of conservation interest, although several biogenic substrate types are also habitats of conservation interest

Opt-out panel testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in an urban emergency department: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES Studies suggest 2 per 1000 people in Dublin are living with HIV, the level above which universal screening is advised. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a universal opt-out HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing programme for Emergency Department patients and to describe the incidence and prevalence of blood-borne viruses in this population. METHODS An opt-out ED blood borne virus screening programme was piloted from March 2014 to January 2015. Patients undergoing blood sampling during routine clinical care were offered HIV 1&2 antibody/antigen assay, HBV surface antigen and HCV antibody tests. Linkage to care where necessary was co-ordinated by the study team. New diagnosis and prevalence rates were defined as the new cases per 1000 tested and number of positive tests per 1000 tested respectively. RESULTS Over 45 weeks of testing, of 10,000 patient visits, 8,839 individual patient samples were available for analysis following removal of duplicates. A sustained target uptake of >50% was obtained after week 3. 97(1.09%), 44(0.49%) and 447(5.05%) HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C tests were positive respectively. Of these, 7(0.08%), 20(0.22%) and 58(0.66%) were new diagnoses of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C respectively. The new diagnosis rate for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 0.8, 2.26 and 6.5 per 1000 and study prevalence for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 11.0, 5.0 and 50.5 per 1000 respectively. CONCLUSIONS Opt-out blood borne viral screening was feasible and acceptable in an inner-city ED. Blood borne viral infections were prevalent in this population and newly diagnosed cases were diagnosed and linked to care. These results suggest widespread blood borne viral testing in differing clinical locations with differing population demographic risks may be warranted

Opt-out panel testing for hiv, hepatitis b and hepatitis c in an urban emergency department: a pilot study

Objectives Studies suggest 2 per 1000 people in Dublin are living with HIV, the level above which universal screening is advised. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a universal opt-out HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing programme for Emergency Department patients and to describe the incidence and prevalence of blood-borne viruses in this population. Methods An opt-out ED blood borne virus screening programme was piloted from March 2014 to January 2015. Patients undergoing blood sampling during routine clinical care were offered HIV 1&2 antibody/antigen assay, HBV surface antigen and HCV antibody tests. Linkage to care where necessary was co-ordinated by the study team. New diagnosis and prevalence rates were defined as the new cases per 1000 tested and number of positive tests per 1000 tested respectively. Results Over 45 weeks of testing, of 10,000 patient visits, 8,839 individual patient samples were available for analysis following removal of duplicates. A sustained target uptake of >50% was obtained after week 3.97(1.09%), 44(0.49%) and 447(5.05%) HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C tests were positive respectively. Of these, 7(0.08%), 20(0.22%) and 58(0.66%) were new diagnoses of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C respectively. The new diagnosis rate for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 0.8, 2.26 and 6.5 per 1000 and study prevalence for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 11.0, 5.0 and 50.5 per 1000 respectively. Conclusions Opt-out blood borne viral screening was feasible and acceptable in an inner-city ED. Blood borne viral infections were prevalent in this population and newly diagnosed cases were diagnosed and linked to care. These results suggest widespread blood borne viral testing in differing clinical locations with differing population demographic risks may be warranted

Opt-out panel testing for hiv, hepatitis b and hepatitis c in an urban emergency department: a pilot study

Objectives Studies suggest 2 per 1000 people in Dublin are living with HIV, the level above which universal screening is advised. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a universal opt-out HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing programme for Emergency Department patients and to describe the incidence and prevalence of blood-borne viruses in this population. Methods An opt-out ED blood borne virus screening programme was piloted from March 2014 to January 2015. Patients undergoing blood sampling during routine clinical care were offered HIV 1&2 antibody/antigen assay, HBV surface antigen and HCV antibody tests. Linkage to care where necessary was co-ordinated by the study team. New diagnosis and prevalence rates were defined as the new cases per 1000 tested and number of positive tests per 1000 tested respectively. Results Over 45 weeks of testing, of 10,000 patient visits, 8,839 individual patient samples were available for analysis following removal of duplicates. A sustained target uptake of >50% was obtained after week 3.97(1.09%), 44(0.49%) and 447(5.05%) HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C tests were positive respectively. Of these, 7(0.08%), 20(0.22%) and 58(0.66%) were new diagnoses of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C respectively. The new diagnosis rate for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 0.8, 2.26 and 6.5 per 1000 and study prevalence for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 11.0, 5.0 and 50.5 per 1000 respectively. Conclusions Opt-out blood borne viral screening was feasible and acceptable in an inner-city ED. Blood borne viral infections were prevalent in this population and newly diagnosed cases were diagnosed and linked to care. These results suggest widespread blood borne viral testing in differing clinical locations with differing population demographic risks may be warranted

European Broad-Scale Seabed Habitat Maps Support Implementation of Ecosystem-Based Management

We have analyzed the development of “Broad-Scale Seabed Habitat Maps” (BSHM) and their potential use in a European context with regard to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) implementation, MPA designation and network assessment as well as other applications of BSHMs. The analyses are anchored in BSHMs developed by a series of interlinked EU projects (e.g. UKSeaMap, BALANCE, MESH, Mesh Atlantic, EUSeaMap 2012, and EUSeaMap 2016) and all maps are based on environmental data. Some EU Member States have used BSHMs as part of their MSFD Initial Assessments published in 2012. However, we conclude that BSHMs are a prerequisite for another key MSFD activity, i.e. mapping of potentially cumulative effects of multiple human stressors. Further, BSHMs seem to play a growing role with regard to evidence-based assessments of MPAs. With the upcoming second round of MSFD Initial Assessments due in 2018, including assessment of potentially cumulative pressures, there seems to be an increasing need for more BSHMs nationally, regionally and on a European scale

Review and compilation of habitat models in European Seas

A summary of European studies to date that have aimed to model the potential distribution of seabed habitats or habitat-forming species. This report is the result of a literature review covering the period 2007-2017

Method for classifying EUSeaMap according to the new version of EUNIS, HELCOM HUB and the Mediterranean habitat types

The need for maps of the seabed has become increasingly urgent in recent years for a wide range of reasons and uses, including reporting on the state of the marine environment to implement EU policies such as the MSFD. In ten years, the EMODnet Seabed Habitats initiative has produced maps for all European marine regions, where input data allowed, the resultant seabed habitat maps are known collectively as ”EUSeaMap”. With products such as EUSeaMap, it is assumed that mapping the broad habitat types defined in seabed habitat classifications (e.g. EUNIS) provides appropriate proxies for the occurrence of the species or communities of species that occupy them. In addition to being released in EUNIS 2007-2011 and the MSFD Broad Benthic Habitat Types, the next version of EUSeaMap (expected in September 2021) will be released in three classifications, namely EUNIS 2019 (the new version of EUNIS), and the regional classifications HELCOM HUB and the Mediterranean habitat types. This report proposes crosswalks between EUSeaMap modelled broad habitat types and the three classifications, and briefly discusses the opportunities/challenges entailed by the crosswalks. Our conclusion is that no major issue is expected for the translation of EUSeaMap into these classifications. We also argue that in EUNIS 2019 there are gaps at biotope levels, particularly in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and that measures should be taken to address these gaps