31. Heavy metals in the Adriatic-Ionian Seas : a case study to illustrate the challenges in data management when dealing with regional datasetsMaria-Eugenia Molina Jack, Rigers Bakiu, Ana Castelli, Branko Čermelj, Maja Fafanđel, Christina Georgopoulou, Giordano Giorgi, Athanassia Iona, Damir Ivankovic, Martina Kralj, Elena Partescano, Alice Rotini, Melita Velikonja, Marina Lipizer, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Harmonization of monitoring protocols and analytical methods is a crucial issue for transnational marine environmental status assessment, yet not the only one. Coherent data management and quality control become very relevant when environmental status is assessed at regional or subregional scale (e.g., for the Mediterranean or the Adriatic Sea), thus requiring data from different sources. Heavy metals are among the main targets of monitoring activities. Significant efforts have been dedicated to share best practices for monitoring and assessment of ecosystem status and to strengthen the network of national, regional and European large data infrastructures in order to facilitate the access to data among countries. Data comparability and interoperability depend not only on sampling and analytical protocols but also on how data and metadata are managed, quality controlled and made accessible. Interoperability is guaranteed by using common metadata and data formats, and standard vocabularies to assure homogeneous syntax and semantics. Data management of contaminants is complex and challenging due to the high number of information required on sampling and analytical procedures, high heterogeneity in matrix characteristics, but also to the large and increasing number of pollutants. Procedures for quality control on heterogeneous datasets provided by multiple sources are not yet uniform and consolidated. Additional knowledge and reliable long time-series of data are needed to evaluate typical ranges of contaminant concentration. The analysis of a coherent and harmonized regional dataset can provide the basis for a multi-step quality control procedure, which can be further improved as knowledge increases during data validation process.
Keywords: contaminants, data management, harmonization, Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, pollution, assessment, heavy metals
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 12; Downloads: 5
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32. Chocolate and risk of chronic disease : a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysisJakub Morze, Carolina Schwedhelm, Aleksander Benčič, Georg Hofmann, Heiner Boeing, Katarzyna Przybylowicz, Lukas Schwingshackl, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose
Evidence for the association between chocolate intake and risk of chronic diseases is inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to synthesize and evaluate the credibility of evidence on the dose-response association between chocolate consumption with risk of all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure (HF), type 2 diabetes (T2D), colorectal cancer (CRC), and hypertension.
Methods
Prospective studies were searched until July 2018 in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Random-effects meta-analyses comparing highest versus lowest intake categories, linear, and non-linear dose-response analyses were conducted. The credibility of evidence was evaluated with the NutriGrade scoring-system.
Results
Overall, 27 investigations were identified (n = 2 for all-cause mortality, n = 9 for CHD, n = 8 for stroke, n = 6 for HF, n = 6 for T2D, n = 2 for hypertension and CRC, respectively). No associations with HF (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94, 1.04) and T2D (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88, 1.01) per each 10 g/day increase in chocolate intake were observed in the linear dose-response meta-analyses. However, a small inverse association for each 10 g/daily increase could be shown for the risk of CHD (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93, 0.99), and stroke (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82, 0.98). The credibility of evidence was rated either very low (all-cause mortality, HF, T2D, CRC or hypertension) or low (CHD, stroke).
Conclusion
Chocolate consumption is not related to risk for several chronic diseases, but could have a small inverse association with CHD and stroke. Our findings are limited by very low or low credibility of evidence, highlighting important uncertainty for chocolate–disease associations.
Keywords: chocolate, meta-analysis, dose-response, credibility of evidence, chronic diseases
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 7; Downloads: 5
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33. Microbial processing of jellyfish detritus in the oceanTinkara Tinta, Zihao Zhao, Alvaro Escobar, Katja Klun, Barbara Bayer, Chie Amano, Luca Bamonti, Gerhard J. Herndl, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: When jellyfish blooms decay, sinking jellyfish detrital organic matter (jelly-OM), rich in proteins and characterized by a low C:N ratio, becomes a significant source of OM for marine microorganisms. Yet, the key players and the process of microbial jelly-OM degradation and the consequences for marine ecosystems remain unclear. We simulated the scenario potentially experienced by the coastal pelagic microbiome after the decay of a bloom of the cosmopolitan Aurelia aurita s.l. We show that about half of the jelly-OM is instantly available as dissolved organic matter and thus, exclusively and readily accessible to microbes. During a typical decay of an A. aurita bloom in the northern Adriatic Sea about 100 mg of jelly-OM L–1 becomes available, about 44 μmol L–1 as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), 13 μmol L–1 as total dissolved nitrogen, 11 μmol L–1 of total hydrolyzable dissolved amino acids (THDAA) and 0.6 μmol L–1 PO43–. The labile jelly-OM was degraded within 1.5 days (>98% of proteins, ∼70% of THDAA, 97% of dissolved free amino acids and the entire jelly-DOC pool) by a consortium of Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, and Vibrio. These bacteria accounted for >90% of all metabolically active jelly-OM degraders, exhibiting high bacterial growth efficiencies. This implies that a major fraction of the detrital jelly-OM is rapidly incorporated into biomass by opportunistic bacteria. Microbial processing of jelly-OM resulted in the accumulation of tryptophan, dissolved combined amino acids and inorganic nutrients, with possible implications for biogeochemical cycles.
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 12; Downloads: 5
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34. COVID-19 pandemic consequences on coastal water quality using WST Sentinel-3 Data : case of Tangier, MoroccoEl Khalil Cherif, Martin Vodopivec, Nezha Mejjad, Joaquim C.G Esteves da Silva, Simona Simonovič, Hakim Boulaassal, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The west coast of Tangier, in northern Morocco, has been affected by industrial wastewater discharge that reaches the ocean through the Boukhalef river. Therefore, the Jbila and Sidikacem beaches near to the Boukhalef river mouth have been classified as polluted for many years. With the aim of determining the COVID-19 pandemic consequences on the Tangier coastal environment, a linear model using Sentinel 3 water surface temperature (WST) has been tested in several locations. Data from April 2019 and April 2020, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic related emergency status in Morocco, were compared. The results from April 2019 showed high WST values and consequently, the poorest water quality in the sites closest to the Boukhalef river mouth. On the other hand, the results from April 2020 showed normal WST values and high water quality in the same study area. These results illustrate the usefulness of Sentinel 3 WST for the estimation of bathing water quality on the west coast of Tangier. The study shows the positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic consequences on the coastal environment quality in the study area and indicates the importance of decreasing the industrial discharge on the west coast of Tangier. The same methodology could be used in decision-making processes and to reduce cost, time and human resources for coastal monitoring systems. We demonstrate the potential of using the Sentinel 3 data for coastal waters monitoring, as well as the need for stricter controls of pollutant discharges into the world’s rivers.
Keywords: COVID-19, Sentinel 3, WST, Tangier west coast, coastal waters, bathing waters, industrial activities
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 12; Downloads: 4
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36. Variation in plant leaf traits affects transmission and detectability of herbivore vibrational cuesEstefania Velilla, Jernej Polajnar, Meta Virant-Doberlet, Daniel Commandeur, Ralph Simon, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen, Jacintha Ellers, Wouter Halfwerk, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Many insects use plant-borne vibrations to obtain important information about their environment, such as where to find a mate or a prey, or when to avoid a predator. Plant species can differ in the way they vibrate, possibly affecting the reliability of information, and ultimately the decisions that are made by animals based on this information. We examined whether the production, transmission, and possible perception of plant-borne vibrational cues is affected by variation in leaf traits. We recorded vibrations of 69 Spodoptera exigua caterpillars foraging on four plant species that differed widely in their leaf traits (cabbage, beetroot, sunflower, and corn). We carried out a transmission and an airborne noise absorption experiment to assess whether leaf traits influence amplitude and frequency characteristics, and background noise levels of vibrational chewing cues. Our results reveal that species-specific leaf traits can influence transmission and potentially perception of herbivore-induced chewing vibrations. Experimentally-induced vibrations attenuated stronger on plants with thicker leaves. Amplitude and frequency characteristics of chewing vibrations measured near a chewing caterpillar were, however, not affected by leaf traits. Furthermore, we found a significant effect of leaf area, water content and leaf thickness—important plant traits against herbivory, on the vibrations induced by airborne noise. On larger leaves higher amplitude vibrations were induced, whereas on thicker leaves containing more water airborne noise induced higher peak frequencies. Our findings indicate that variation in leaf traits can be important for the transmission and possibly detection of vibrational cues.
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 11; Downloads: 5
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37. Arsenic in sediments, soil and plants in a remediated area of the Iron Quadrangle, Brazil, and its accumulation and biotransformation in Eleocharis geniculataMaria-Angela Menezes, Ingrid Falnoga, Zdenka Šlejkovec, Radojko Jaćimović, Nilton Couto, Eleonora Deschamps, Jadran Faganeli, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Since arsenic (As) exposure is largely due to geochemical contamination, this study focused on the remediated area of Santana do Morro, a district of Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais, Brazil, which was previously contaminated with As due to gold mining. Total As concentrations in sediment, soil and plants were determined, next to As species, anionic arsenic compounds As(III), As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in plants samples. Total As concentrations in soil and sediments were slightly elevated (16-18 µg g-1) and most of the plants contained low levels of As (< 1 µg g-1). The exception was a native plant Eleocharis geniculata (L.) which contained elevated levels of As (4 µg g-1). The exposure of this plant to As under controlled conditions (hydroponics) indicated its possible tolerance to elevated As levels and suggesting its potential use in phytomonitoring of As-contaminated sites. This plant is able to metabolize arsenate to arsenite and contained MMA and DMA, both in its natural habitat and under controlled conditions.
Keywords: arsenic species, soil, sediments, plants, Cyperacea, Iron Quadrangle
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 12; Downloads: 6
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38. Challenges in harmonized assessment of heavy metals in the Adriatic and Ionian SeasDaniela Berto, Margherita Malgorzata Formalewicz, Giordano Giorgi, Federico Rampazzo, Claudia Gion, Benedetta Trabucco, Michele Giani, Marina Lipizer, Slavica Matijević, Helen Kaberi, Christina Zeri, Oliver Bajt, Nevenka Mikac, Danijela Joksimović, Andriana Aravantinou, Mateja Poje, Magdalena Cara, Loredana Manfra, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The Adriatic-Ionian region (ADRION Region) shows strong development in terms of urban expansion in coastal and inland areas as well as increasing maritime traffic and offshore hydrocarbon extraction activities. A serious risk of pollution arises from hazardous substances requiring reliable and coherent monitoring and assessment programs. EU Directives (WFD – Water Framework Directive, MSFD – Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and Barcelona Convention protocols, aim to assess the level of pollution with the objective to implement measures to prevent and/or mitigate impacts on the marine environment. This high level integration process has to be based on common and agreed protocols for monitoring of contaminants. Aiming to share best practices to encourage a harmonized implementation of monitoring and assessment of contaminants, an extensive review of monitoring and analytical protocols adopted by six EU and non-EU countries along the Adriatic and Ionian seas was carried out in the framework of the Interreg Adrion project HarmoNIA (Interreg V-B Adriatic-Ionian (ADRION), 2018–2020). This paper presents a methodological proposal to define a common protocol for the evaluation of the metal contamination of seawater, sediment and biota. Contaminants have been chosen following preliminary consultations among countries of the ADRION area, considering objectives of WFD and MSFD, as well as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures for offshore platforms. Information was gathered relative to matrix characteristics and quality assurance/quality control of the analytical performance (sample preservation, analytical methodology, reference materials, limit of detection, and limit of quantification, accuracy, reproducibility, etc.). The comparison of information provided by laboratories of nine institutions highlighted the request for harmonization in terms of sampling procedures, matrix characterization, preservation procedures, analytical methods and LOQ values. Although appropriate environmental quality standards for biota and sediment matrices should be established at national level and also through regional and sub-regional cooperation, as required by the WFD and MSFD, the proposed LOQ values, even if challenging, represent a benchmark and a stimulus to optimize analytical performance, to ensure the best level of protection to the coastal and offshore environment in the ADRION Region.
Keywords: hazardous substances, harmonized protocols, integrated approach, monitoring, assessment of contaminants, heavy metals, Adriatic-Ionian Sea region
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 11; Downloads: 5
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39. Cultivar-specific transcriptome and pan-transcriptome reconstruction of tetraploid potatoMarko Petek, Maja Zagorščak, Živa Ramšak, Sheri Sanders, Špela Tomaž, Elizabeth Tseng, Mohamed Zouine, Anna Coll Rius, Kristina Gruden, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Although the reference genome of Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja double-monoploid (DM) clone is available, knowledge on the genetic diversity of the highly heterozygous tetraploid Group Tuberosum, representing most cultivated varieties, remains largely unexplored. This lack of knowledge hinders further progress in potato research. In conducted investigation, we first merged and manually curated the two existing partially-overlapping DM genome-based gene models, creating a union of genes in Phureja scaffold. Next, we compiled available and newly generated RNA-Seq datasets (cca. 1.5 billion reads) for three tetraploid potato genotypes (cultivar Désirée, cultivar Rywal, and breeding clone PW363) with diverse breeding pedigrees. Short-read transcriptomes were assembled using several de novo assemblers under different settings to test for optimal outcome. For cultivar Rywal, PacBio Iso-Seq full-length transcriptome sequencing was also performed. EvidentialGene redundancy-reducing pipeline complemented with in-house developed scripts was employed to produce accurate and complete cultivar-specific transcriptomes, as well as to attain the pan-transcriptome. The generated transcriptomes and pan-transcriptome represent a valuable resource for potato gene variability exploration, high-throughput omics analyses, and breeding programmes.
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 12; Downloads: 7
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40. Challenges in harmonized environmental impact assessment (EIA), monitoring and decommissioning procedures of offshore platforms in Adriatic-Ionian (ADRION) regionLoredana Manfra, Claudia Virno Lamberti, Silvia Ceracchi, Giordano Giorgi, Daniela Berto, Marina Lipizer, Michele Giani, Oliver Bajt, Maja Fafanđel, Magdalena Cara, Slavica Matijević, Milena Mitrić, Stefanos Papazisimou, Mateja Poje, Christina Zeri, Benedetta Trabucco, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: A harmonized and integrated approach for monitoring and assessment of contamination, including hydrocarbon exploitation one, is required both by Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) at EU level and by the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) program of the Barcelona Convention at Mediterranean level. A broad review of protocols of environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures, monitoring and decommissioning of offshore platforms adopted by EU and non-EU countries along the Adriatic-Ionian seas was carried out in the framework of the Interreg offshore platforms in Adriatic-Ionian (ADRION) project HarmoNIA (Harmonization and networking for contaminant assessment in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas). The comparison of information provided by six ADRION countries and the application of a harmonized and integrated approach has highlighted specific challenges for managing offshore platform impacts emerged at ADRION level: (i) need of the same legislative level (the Offshore Protocol of Barcelona Convention is not ratified by all countries); (ii) set up of a task force of ADRION experts for discussing critical issues related to impacts of offshore platforms; (iii) harmonization, at the regional level, of EIA procedures, monitoring and decommissioning; (iv) need of an agreed and common list of recommended parameters to monitor in water, sediment and biota for the assessment of impacts due to platform installations and PFW discharges.
Keywords: harmonized protocols, environmental impact assessment, monitoring, decommissioning, offshore platforms, Adriatic-Ionian Sea region, MSFD, Barcelona Convention
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 12; Downloads: 4
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