Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Substrate independent ATPase activity may complicate high throughput screening

Inorganic phosphate release, [Pi], is often measured in an enzymatic reaction in a high throughput setting. Based on the published mechanism, we designed a protocol for our screening for inhibitors of SAICAR synthetase (PurC), and we found a gradual increase in [Pi] in positive control samples over the course of the day. Further investigation indicated that hydrolysis of ATP catalyzed by PurC, rather than substrate-related phosphate release, was responsible for a partial contribution to the signals in the control samples. Thus substrate-independent ATPase activity may complicate high throughput screening

Competitiveness of alexandergrass or Bengal dayflower with soybean Competitividade de capim-marmelada ou trapoeraba com soja

Weeds compete with field crops mainly for water, light and nutrients, and the degree of competition is affected by the weed density and the intrinsic competitive ability of each plant species in coexistence. The objective of this research was to compare the competitiveness of alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea) or Bengal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) in coexistence with soybean, cv. M-Soy 8045. A factorial experiment (2 x 5) with two weed species and five competition proportions was carried out in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Proportions were based on a replacement series competition design, always maintaining the total density of four plants per 10 L plastic pots, which corresponded to 60 plants m ². The weed-crop proportions were: 0:4; 1:3; 2:2; 3:1; 4:0; that corresponded to the proportion of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% of soybean plants and the opposite for weeds, B. plantaginea or C. benghalensis plants. Leaf area, shoot dry mass of the weeds and soybean and number of soybean trifoliate leaves were evaluated when the soybean reached the phenologic stage of full flowering. B. plantaginea was a better competitor than soybean plants. Otherwise, C. benghalensis revealed a similar competitive ability that of the soybean. In both cases, there were evidences that intraspecific competition was more important.<br>As plantas daninhas competem com as culturas por água, luz e nutrientes, sendo que o grau de competição é afetado pela densidade de infestação das plantas daninhas, bem como pela habilidade competitiva intrínseca de cada espécie em convivência. Assim sendo, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar a competitividade do capim-marmelada (Brachiaria plantaginea) ou da trapoeraba (Commelina benghalensis) com a soja, cv. M-Soy 8045. Os tratamentos foram desenvolvidos em esquema fatorial (2 x 5) correspondendo a duas espécies de plantas daninhas em cinco proporções de plantas em competição. As proporções foram baseadas em modelos substitutivos de competição, mantendo-se sempre a densidade total de quatro plantas por parcela, que correspondeu à 60 plantas m-2 . As proporções de competição cultura - planta daninha foram: 0:4; 1:3; 2:2; 3:1; 4:0; que corresponderam às proporção de 100, 75, 50, 25 e 0% de plantas de soja e o inverso de plantas de B. plantaginea ou de C. benghalensis. Foram avaliados a área foliar, massa seca da parte aérea das plantas daninhas e da soja e número de trifólios da soja, no estádio de pleno florescimento da soja. B. plantaginea foi melhor competidora que as plantas de soja. Por outro lado, C. benghalensis teve habilidade competitiva similar à soja. Em ambos os casos, houve evidências que a competição intraespecífica teve maior importância do que a competição interespecífica