Mitigation of large-scale organic waste damage incorporating a demonstration of a closed loop conversion of poultry waste to energy at the point of source (2000-LS-1-M2) Final Report

peer-reviewedThe increase in the world population and urbanisation, have changed the way the world produces food. As the demand for cheap and readily available food in the developed world increases, high-density, intensive farming practices have replaced subsistence farming to allow for the mass production of food. An unavoidable consequence of these farming\ud practices is the generation of significant quantities of organic waste

Antibody to a cryptic, solid phase ClQ antigen in membranoproliferative nephritis

Antibody to a cryptic solid phase Clq antigen in membranoproliferative nephritis. IgG containing material detected in membranoproliferative nephritis (MPGN) serum with a solid phase (sp) Clq ELISA has been presumed to be immune complexes. However, in serum from 13 MPGN patients containing large amounts of spClq-binding material, sucrose density ultracentrifugation and sieve chromatography showed spClq-binding protein to sediment at 7S or cofractionate with IgG. One serum (stored for 12 years) contained, in addition, spClq-binding material sedimenting at more than 19S. Isolated MPGN IgG was shown to bind to spClq SpClq-binding material could be totally removed from MPGN serum by absorption with BSA-anti-BSA immune precipitates, and by acid elution of the precipitates IgG binding to spClq could be recovered. F(ab′)2, isolated from pepsin digested MPGN IgG, continued to bind spClq. Binding of MPGN IgG or F(ab′)2 to spClq was not inhibited by 2 M NaCl. Incubation of MPGN serum with 125I Clq followed by sucrose density ultracentrifugation resulted in a peak of radioactivity at 11S, the sedimentation rate of Clq, giving evidence that material binding fluid phase Clq is not present SpClq-binding IgG was detected in 54% of 68 MPGN patients. These results indicate that the 7S spClq-binding IgG represents antibody to a cryptic antigen revealed only when Clq fixes to a solid surface

A Phase II Nonrandomised Open-Label Study of Liposomal Daunorubicin (DaunoXome) in Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Thirty four patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma not previously treated with an anthracycline were treated with DaunoXome 100mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Thirty-three patients were evaluable for toxicity. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was seen in 20 patients (60.6%), complicated by febrile neutropenia in 2 (6.1%). Other grade 3 toxicities were rare. Among 32 patients assessable for response, one patient had a partial response, giving a response rate of 3.13% (95% confidence interval, 0.08–16.22%). Seven patients (21.9%) had stable disease, and 24 patients (75.0%) had disease progression. The median time to progression for all patients was 42 days (95% CI, 39–49) and the progression-free rate at 3 months was 12.5%. In conclusion, DaunoXome at this dose and schedule is well tolerated in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma, but is not associated with significant activity. Further studies at this dose and schedule cannot be recommended in this disease

Equine nutrition: a survey of perceptions and practices of horse owners undertaking a massive open online course in equine nutrition

An online survey was designed to ascertain the following information: demographics, current feeding practices, and perceptions and knowledge of equine nutrition, including nutrition-related disorders. Response rate was 34% (6,538 respondents). More than 80% of respondents were horse owners or caretakers, with the majority owning between one and five horses (75%) aged 5 years and older (74%). Most kept their horses for pleasure (54%), with 33% using them mostly for competition and 13% using them for an equal mix of both pleasure and competition. Concentrates were fed by the majority (87%), and more than 70% stated that their horses had some access to pasture. Over half of respondents (60%) regularly monitored their horses' weight, with most doing this monthly. Weight tapes were most commonly used (62%), although many reported to guess the weight of their horse(s) with very few (5%) using weight scales. Under half (46%) stated that they regularly used body condition scoring (BCS), many did not use BCS at all (24%), and some did not know what BCS was (10%). Of those that did use BCS, most (36%) did this monthly, with others weekly (25%), daily (14%), and when they remembered (15%). Overall knowledge of nutrition was reported by most as average (median, 3 on Likert scale—average); however, respondents were less knowledgeable on the management of nutrition-related disorders

Biosecurity on poultry farms from on-farm fluidized bed combustion and energy recovery from poultry litter

peer-reviewedThe spreading of poultry litter in recent years has led to a serious increase in levels of eutrophication, nitrate leaching, high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), ammonia toxicity, high chlorine concentrations and pathogen contamination. The review presented here details the optimum standards that should be met when storing litter for On-Farm Fluidized Bed Combustion. Storage conditions are paramount to a fuel combusting to its highest possible potential. Safety measures such as the prevention of leaching and spontaneous combustion must be adhered to, so too should the prevention and containment of possible diseases and pathogens to minimize the effects of contamination

Analysis of the Intrinsically Disordered N-Terminus of the DNA Junction-Resolving Enzyme T7 Endonuclease I:Identification of Structure Formed upon DNA Binding

This work was supported by grants from The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Basic Technology EP/F039034/1, The Wellcome Trust, 099149/Z/12/Z, and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), C28/A18604.The four-way (Holliday) DNA junction of homologous recombination is processed by the symmetrical cleavage of two strands by a nuclease. These junction-resolving enzymes bind to four-way junctions in dimeric form, distorting the structure of the junction in the process. Crystal structures of T7 endonuclease I have been determined as free protein, and the complex with a DNA junction. In neither crystal structure was the N-terminal 16-amino acid peptide visible, yet deletion of this peptide has a marked effect on the resolution process. Here we have investigated the N-terminal peptide by inclusion of spin-label probes at unique sites within this region, studied by electron paramagnetic resonance. Continuous wave experiments show that these labels are mobile in the free protein but become constrained on binding a DNA junction, with the main interaction occurring for residues 7-10 and 12. Distance measurements between equivalent positions within the two peptides of a dimer using PELDOR showed that the intermonomeric distances for residues 2-12 are long and broadly distributed in the free protein but are significantly shortened and become more defined on binding to DNA. These results suggest that the N-terminal peptides become more organized on binding to the DNA junction and nestle into the minor grooves at the branchpoint, consistent with the biochemical data indicating an important role in the resolution process. This study demonstrates the presence of structure within a protein region that cannot be viewed by crystallography.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Developing Symptom Lists for People with Cancer Treated with Targeted Therapies

Background: Targeted Therapies (TTs) have revolutionised cancer treatment with their enhanced specificity of action. Compared with conventional therapies, TTs are delivered over a longer period and often have unusual symptom profiles. Patient reported outcome measures such as symptom side-effect lists need to be developed in a time-efficient manner to enable a rapid and full evaluation of new treatments and effective clinical managementObjective: the aim of this study is to develop a set of TT-related symptoms and identify the optimal method for developing symptom lists. Patients and Methods: symptoms from TT treatment in the context of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), HER2 positive breast cancer, or Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) were identified through literature reviews, interviews with health care professionals (HCPs) and patients, and patient focus groups. The symptom set was then pilot tested in patients across the three cancer diagnoses: The number of items derived from each source (literature, patients, or HCPs) were compared. Results: a total of 316 patients and 86 HCPs from 16 countries participated. An initial set of 209 symptoms was reduced to 61 covering 12 symptom categories. Patient interviews made the greatest contribution to the item set.Conclusions: symptom lists should be created based on input from patients. The item set described will be applicable to the assessment of new TTs, and in monitoring treatment.<br/

International policy responses and early management of threats posed by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to social care

Context: People with prior health conditions are susceptible to severe and sometimes fatal outcomes of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, that causes the disease COVID-19. The protection of the capacity of systems for social care was thus an important consideration for governments in the early stages of the global pandemic. Objectives: This paper reports and discusses the results of a rapid review of international early policy responses for the protection of social care systems after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that SARS-CoV-2 had evolved into a pandemic. Literature was collected in March 2020. Method: Rapid online review of government responses to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using official government statements and press reports from 13 countries. Findings: The analysis of early responses in and about social care to the pandemic suggested an initial focus on avoiding the outbreak of the virus in care homes, with first steps being to limit visitors in these contexts and considering ways to isolate residents with symptoms or a confirmed infection. Responses to protect people receiving social care in their homes and schemes to support informal or family carers were less prominent. Limitations: Only publications in the public domain and in local languages of the 13 countries were considered for this analysis. It is possible that further strategies and responses were not made available to the public and are therefore not included, which limits this article’s scope for analysis. Implications: The findings of this article can support reflection on the trajectory of policy responses to the threats that SARS-CoV-2 poses to social care. They can thereby potentially inform planning and policy responses for enhanced pandemic preparedness and stronger social care systems in the future

DETECT schools study protocol: A prospective observational cohort surveillance study investigating the impact of COVID-19 in Western Australian schools

Introduction: Amidst the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the transmission dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is key to providing peace of mind for the community and informing policy-making decisions. While available data suggest that school-aged children are not significant spreaders of SARS-CoV-2, the possibility of transmission in schools remains an ongoing concern, especially among an aging teaching workforce. Even in low-prevalence settings, communities must balance the potential risk of transmission with the need for students\u27 ongoing education. Through the roll out of high-throughput school-based SARS-CoV-2 testing, enhanced follow-up for individuals exposed to COVID-19 and wellbeing surveys, this study investigates the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and the current psychosocial wellbeing impacts of the pandemic in school communities. Methods: The DETECT Schools Study is a prospective observational cohort surveillance study in 79 schools across Western Australia (WA), Australia. To investigate the incidence, transmission and impact of SARS-CoV-2 in schools, the study comprises three “modules”: Module 1) Spot-testing in schools to screen for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2; Module 2) Enhanced surveillance of close contacts following the identification of any COVID-19 case to determine the secondary attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 in a school setting; and Module 3) Survey monitoring of school staff, students and their parents to assess psycho-social wellbeing following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in WA. Clinical Trial Registration: Trial registration number: ACTRN1262000092297