Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants and trace metals in Scottish marine food webs and their relationship with trophic level and fatty acid signatures.

There is a global programme of action in place for the protection of the marine environment to ensure our seas are clean and safe. One of the biggest threats to our oceans is man-made pollution and it is the responsibility of governments to conduct assessments to advise policy. Across the North-East Atlantic, Contracting Parties to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Maine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, including the United Kingdom, are required to undertake monitoring and assessment of contaminants. The assessment utilises assessment criteria, including Background Assessment Concentrations (BAC) and Environmental Assessment Criteria (EAC). Guidelines for monitoring contaminants in biota include specific shellfish, flatfish and roundfish, as well as seabird eggs. Extending the assessment to other species has considerable merit, but such species may, for example, be more difficult to sample, with generic trophic level values obtained from literature and databases adding additional uncertainty to assessments. Currently, assessment criteria for organic and inorganic contaminants either do not account for secondary poisoning as a route of exposure, or a proxy is used due to the lack of ecotoxicological data available. Secondary poisoning is a result of biomagnification, which can be expressed as the trophic magnification factor (TMF; the average increase in concentration per trophic level). Fatty acid (FA) signatures and stable isotope (SI) ratios were used to develop an understanding of Scottish marine food web ecology and reliably ascribe trophic levels to a wide range of species. Analysis was conducted on 215 samples from different locations around Scotland which comprised of seven fish species, one shark species, fourteen marine invertebrate species, three marine mammal species and two zooplankton species. The concentrations of three priority heavy metals and six additional trace metals and metalloids, thirty-two PCB congeners and nine PBDE congeners were determined to investigate the relationship between concentration and potential influencing factors (trophic level, region, sample categorisation and physiological features). TMFs were calculated using two methods on selected PCB and PBDE congeners and metals and metalloids possessing a significant trophic relationship. It was concluded that ecosystem specific TMFs can be used as a reliable tool, permitting the assessment of a wider range of species, but a reasonable balance with respect to sample numbers of lower- versus higher-trophic level organisms is highly recommended when calculating TMFs

The Application of Statistical Sampling Techniques to the Operational Readiness Inspection

A Blue Ribbon Commission report to the Air Force Chief of Staff in February 1997 makes several specific recommendations on the conduct of Operational Readiness Inspections. This thesis develops a solution to one of the recommendations of that report; utilize scientifically based sampling techniques to reduce the footprint of the inspection on an evaluated unit. Acceptance sampling, common in industry, is developed for use in the environment of the Operational Readiness Inspection. The time saved from this more efficient sampling practice reduces Inspector General time at an evaluation, decreases the footprint, and answers the specific recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission. This thesis explains the construction of acceptance sampling plans and procedures. The changes to the Operational Readiness Inspection for effective application of acceptance sampling are defined and the automatic computation of acceptance plans through a computer spreadsheet application is accomplished. A validation is provided with the results from applying these techniques to an actual Operational Readiness Inspection at Cannon AFB, NM. Acceptance sampling has proven itself in the world of industry in international and military standards. This proven practice, simple in concept, can produce more credible and convincing results in any inspected area selected for sampling

National Innovation and the Role of the College Sector

This paper discusses the role of the colleges in applied research in the context of Canada's capability for innovation in a globally competitive arena. The analysis focuses upon issues around an expanded mandate related to applied research. To explore the state of readiness of the college sector, it draws upon the results of a survey distributed to 150 college and institute presidents in Canada, as well as upon other recent studies. The discussion ends with suggested policy avenues to maximize the effectiveness of this sector's contribution to the nation's innovation agenda.Cet article discute le rôle que peuvent jouer les collèges en recherche appliquée alors que le Canada essaie d'accroître sa capacité à innover dans un contexte de concurrence mondiale. L'analyse est particulièrement ciblée sur les effets que pourrait avoir la reconnaissance de la recherche appliquée dans le mandat des collèges. L'article s'appuie entre autres sur une enquête distribuée à près de 150 présidents de collèges et instituts de même que sur d'autres études très récentes. Pour conclure, des pistes de politiques de recherche sont mises en évidence afin de maximiser la contribution du secteur collégial à l'efficience du dossier national de l'innovation

The concentration and biomagnification of trace metals and metalloids across four trophic levels in a marine food web

To be able to assess progress towards “Good Environmental Status” adopted across European Member States, and by the United Kingdom through its 3-stage Marine Strategy, contaminant concentrations and their biological effects need to be assessed in environmental samples by comparison to assessment criteria. This study examines the variability of concentrations (inter- and intra- species variation) of three priority heavy metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) and six additional trace metals and metalloids (As, Ni, Se, Zn, Cu and Cr) in twenty-three species across four trophic levels from different locations around Scotland. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated using two methods for metals/metalloids possessing a significant trophic relationship (Hg, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn) to refine and improve the application of TMFs to assess and predict biomagnification risk of metals/metalloids to biota in the environment. It was concluded that a reasonable balance in sample numbers of lower- versus higher-trophic level organisms is highly recommended when calculating TMFs and appropriate species selection is vital to ensure TMFs accurately represent the selected ecosystem

Graphene electrode modified with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide for label-free DNA detection.

A novel printed graphene electrode modified with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide was developed for the detection of a specific oligonucleotide sequence. The graphene oxide was immobilized onto the surface of a graphene electrode via π-π bonds and electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide was achieved by cyclic voltammetry. A much higher redox current was observed from the reduced graphene oxide-graphene double-layer electrode, a 42% and 36.7% increase, respectively, in comparison with that of a bare printed graphene or reduced graphene oxide electrode. The good electron transfer activity is attributed to a combination of the large number of electroactive sites in reduced graphene oxide and the high conductivity nature of graphene. The probe ssDNA was further immobilized onto the surface of the reduced graphene oxide-graphene double-layer electrode via π-π bonds and then hybridized with its target cDNA. The change of peak current due to the hybridized dsDNA could be used for quantitative sensing of DNA concentration. It has been demonstrated that a linear range from 10(-7)M to 10(-12)M is achievable for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus 1 gene with a detection limit of 1.58 × 10(-13)M as determined by three times standard deviation of zero DNA concentration

The concentration and biomagnification of PCBs and PBDEs across four trophic levels in a marine food web.

Contracting Parties to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Maine Environment of the North-East Atlantic are required to undertake monitoring and assessment of both inorganic and organic contaminants. There is a requirement to assess contaminants across different trophic levels on an ecosystem-specific basis. However, this is currently constrained by the availability of relevant samples to cover the full range of trophic levels. This study investigates the variability (inter- and intra-species variation) of the concentrations and distributions of thirty-two polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and nine polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in twenty-six species covering four trophic levels from different geographic locations around Scotland. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated using a traditional method and a balanced method for both the ICES-7 PCBs and BDE47, to refine and improve the application of TMFs to assess and predict biomagnification risk to biota in the marine environment. There were clear differences in congener percentage distribution between sample categories and species, with differences influenced by physiological processes and eco-biological parameters. Trophic magnification was found to occur for the ICES-7 PCBs and BDE47 using the traditional method, with the highest degree of trophic magnification reported for CB52. An unbalanced dataset was found to influence the calculated TMF and in some cases, the overall conclusion of the trophic transfer of PCB and PBDE congeners. The balanced method is highly recommended for calculating TMFs to ensure that the TMF is a true indication of the biomagnification potential, particularly when conducting regional comparisons for which sampling requirements are difficult to achieve

RHD molecular analysis—from discovery to next generation sequencing

This review traces the evolution of RHD genotyping from the very early days of the discovery of Rh polypeptides in 1982, and the pioneering work of the late 1980s and early 1990s that made the whole approach of RH genotyping possible. This work is often overlooked in contemporary Rh literature with citations of reviews being used which often do not give the complete background story. We have attempted to rectify this here. This review focuses primarily on RHD genotyping, primarily because of space constraints not to include RHCE but also because RHD is of greater clinical significance. In Europe many countries offer routine non-invasive prenatal RHD screening to direct the use of prophylactic anti-D to mothers that require it- namely are carrying D-positive fetuses. The genotyping approach is empirical (and wisely so) and any potential variant identified in this process is treated as D-positive. In such cases although sometimes unnecessary administration of prophylactic anti-D may be given, it only reflects the situation that predated mass scale non-invasive testing, and many countries not offering RHD screening. The complexity of the RHD gene and the known plethora of D variants (partial, weak D-elute and multiple genetic mechanisms generating the D-negative phenotype) are explored but only inasmuch as the technology to detect them is discussed. By far the most powerful means of accurate RHD genotyping, so called gold standard testing is next-generation sequencing although our discussion is tempered by several caveats mainly involving the rapid bioinformatic determination of a D variant from its resultant sequence. We stress however that next generation sequencing (NGS) offers the substantial advantage over other conventional RHD genotyping strategies in that novel variants can be identified whereas other methods require that the variant has been previously described so as to direct sequence specific analysis

Understanding marine food web dynamics using fatty acid signatures and stable isotope ratios:Improving contaminant impacts assessments across trophic levels

Scotland's marine food webs support a diversity of species and habitats. They contribute to maintaining the balance of the natural environment. Previous studies show that these ecosystems are contaminated by persistent organic pollutants and trace metals; with animals in higher trophic levels (e.g. cetaceans and pinnipeds) containing concentrations that are among the highest found in the ocean. Contaminants represent one of many pressures to which species and habitats are exposed. In assessing the contribution of contaminants to the overall pressure, measuring contaminants at a specific trophic level and then using trophic magnification factors (TMFs) to estimate concentrations at other trophic levels permits assessments across the food web, as well as allowing the adjustment of contaminant concentrations to a particular trophic level for comparison to assessment criteria. Fatty acid (FA) signatures and stable isotope (SI) ratios were used to develop a picture of Scottish marine food web ecology and reliably ascribe trophic levels to a wide range of species. Fatty acid trophic markers (FATMs) were used as trophic level indicators and with SI analysis, permitted identification of the mean trophic level of each species and determination of the feeding patterns and predator-prey relationships existing in the Scottish marine food web. Two hundred and eleven (211) samples comprising of seven fish species, one shark species, fourteen marine invertebrate species, three marine mammal species and two zooplankton species from different locations around Scotland were found to have mean trophic levels ranging from 1.47 ± 0.11 in zooplankton to 5.02 ± 0.35 in harbour seal. Fatty acid profile showed specific dietary information which differed between the eleven taxonomic classes and twenty-seven species. The organic and inorganic contaminant concentrations of the species for which trophic level has been determined, together with TMFs, will be reported in future papers

The functional diversity of fish assemblages in the vicinity of oil and gas pipelines compared to nearby natural reef and soft sediment habitats

We would like to thank skippers John Totterdell and Kylie Skipper who assisted and made data collection possible. We acknowledge David Whillas and Kevin Holden who operated the stereo-ROV on the pipelines. The contributions of Laura Fullwood and Damon Driessen both in the field and with image analysis are gratefully acknowledged, as is Jack Park for his assistance with image analysis. This research project was funded by Chevron through its Anchor Partnership with the UK National Decommissioning Centre. We also acknowledge in-kind support from Net Zero Technology Centre and the University of Aberdeen through their partnership in the UK National Decommissioning Centre.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Non invasive prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy: next generation sequencing or fetal DNA enrichment?

Current invasive procedures [amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS)] pose a risk to mother and fetus and such diagnostic procedures are available only to high risk pregnancies limiting aneuploidy detection rate. This review seeks to highlight the necessity of investing in non invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) and how NIPD would improve patient safety and detection rate as well as allowing detection earlier in pregnancy. Non invasive prenatal diagnosis can take either a proteomics approach or nucleic acid-based approach; this review focuses on the latter. Since the discovery of cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) and fetal RNA in maternal plasma, procedures have been developed for detection for monogenic traits and for some have become well established (e.g., RHD blood group status). However, NIPD of aneuploidies remains technically challenging. This review examines currently published literature evaluating techniques and approaches that have been suggested and developed for aneuploidy detection, highlighting their advantages and limitations and areas for further research