Ischaemic conditioning and targeting reperfusion injury: a 30 year voyage of discovery

To commemorate the auspicious occasion of the 30th anniversary of IPC, leading pioneers in the field of cardioprotection gathered in Barcelona in May 2016 to review and discuss the history of IPC, its evolution to IPost and RIC, myocardial reperfusion injury as a therapeutic target, and future targets and strategies for cardioprotection. This article provides an overview of the major topics discussed at this special meeting and underscores the huge importance and impact, the discovery of IPC has made in the field of cardiovascular research

Anthropogenic disturbance of deep-sea megabenthic assemblages: a study with Remotely-Operated Vehicles in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, NE Atlantic

The effects of local-scale anthropogenic disturbance from active drilling platforms on epibenthic megafaunal abundance, diversity and assemblage pattern were examined in two West of Shetland hydrocarbon fields at 420 m and 508 m water depth. These areas were selected to include a range of disturbance regimes and contrasting faunal assemblages associated with different temperature regimes. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) video provided high-resolution megafaunal abundance and diversity data, which were related to the extent of visible disturbance from drilling spoil. These data, in conjunction with a study deeper in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, have allowed comparison of the effects of disturbance on megabenthos across a range of sites. Disturbance to megafaunal assemblages was found to be high within 50 m of the source of drill spoil and in areas where spoil was clearly visible on the seabed, with depressed abundances (Foinaven 1900 individuals ha-1; Schiehallion 2178 individuals ha-1) and diversity (H´ = 1.75 Foinaven; 1.12 Schiehallion) as a result of smothering effects. These effects extended to around 100 m from the source of disturbance, although this was variable, particularly with current regime and nature of drilling activity. Further from the source of disturbance, megafaunal assemblages became more typical of the background area with increased diversity (H´ = 2.02 Foinaven; 1.77 Schiehallion) and abundance (Foinaven 16484 individuals ha-1; Schiehallion 5477 individuals ha-1). Visible effects on megafaunal assemblages as a result of seabed drilling were limited in extent although assemblage responses were complex, being controlled by differing effects to individual species often based on their motility

A description and analysis of mesoscale variability in the Faroe-Shetland Channel

A large part of the surface inflow to the Nordic Seas coalesces into a narrow slope current in the Färoe-Shetland Channel, and flows along the Shetland shelf edge with mean speeds of order 0.4 m/s. Observations reveal that the flow is unstable and forms large mesoscale meanders with current speeds of up to 0.9 m/s in a front between two water masses that lies along the channel. The meanders tend to form at two specific locations. Long-term analyses of drifter and altimeter archive data show hot spots in eddy kinetic energy that are greater than 300 cm2/s, and in surface elevation variance that are nearly 40 cm2. A baroclinic instability analysis suggests that the growth time of the meanders should be a few days, with a separation distance of order 65 km, and that their group velocity could be very close to zero depending on the strength of the southward outflow below 500 m. Thus, unlike their counterparts in the Norwegian Coastal Current, for example, the instabilities do not propagate. Decay of the anticyclonic meanders probably leads to the formation of cyclonic eddies that mix North Atlantic Water and Modified North Atlantic Water (MNAW) and create the more homogeneous forms of Atlantic water that are observed as the water moves northward through the channel and into the Norwegian Sea. Mesoscale driven entrainment may help to draw MNAW into the Färoe-Shetland Channel from around Färoe.</p

Thermohaline circulation of shallow tidal seas

The mechanisms controlling the temperature and salinity structure of shallow continental shelf seas have been understood for over thirty years, yet knowledge of what drives their large-scale circulation has remained relatively unknown. Here we describe a decade long programme of measurements, using satellite-tracked drifting buoys on the northwest European shelf, to draw attention to a striking picture of highly organised thermohaline circulation consisting of narrow, near surface, fast flowing jets. These are ubiquitous above sharp horizontal gradients in bottom temperatures and/or salinities. The circulation phenomena we describe are likely to be prevalent on all similar, wide, tidally energetic continental shelves including those off north-eastern China, Argentina and parts of the Arctic. The robust, repeatable observation of the key role of jets above bottom fronts results in a fundamental reassessment of how we view the dynamics of shelf seas. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union

Current status of deepwater oil spill modelling in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, Northeast Atlantic, and future challenges

© 2017 As oil reserves in established basins become depleted, exploration and production moves towards relatively unexploited areas, such as deep waters off the continental shelf. The Faroe-Shetland Channel (FSC, NE Atlantic) and adjacent areas have been subject to increased focus by the oil industry. In addition to extreme depths, metocean conditions in this region characterise an environment with high waves and strong winds, strong currents, complex circulation patterns, sharp density gradients, and large small- and mesoscale variability. These conditions pose operational challenges to oil spill response and question the suitability of current oil spill modelling frameworks (oil spill models and their forcing data) to adequately simulate the behaviour of a potential oil spill in the area. This article reviews the state of knowledge relevant to deepwater oil spill modelling for the FSC area and identifies knowledge gaps and research priorities. Our analysis should be relevant to other areas of complex oceanography