Monitoring and control of anaerobic digesters treating industrial effluents

Increasing charges by the private utilities for the treatment of industrial waste water are making on-site effluent treatment more attractive. On-site anaerobic digestion is increasingly being used by food processing factories as a cost effective solution to waste liquid waste disposal. Discharge of treated effluent to sewer or water course requires compliance to a maximum admissible concentration (MAC) value, therefore, there is a need for careful control of on-site waste water treatment. This research investigates the treatment of effluent from instant coffee production. This results in a liquid waste that contains recalcitrant and toxic compounds formed during the roasting process. This waste varies in strength and composition according to the different processes that are performed in the manufacture of instant coffee. Anaerobic filters are particularly attractive for wastes containing recalcitrant or inhibitory compounds requiring a long sludge age. Therefore, this study was aimed at firstly investigating the treatability of coffee waste, using anaerobic filters; and secondly monitoring and control of the digestion process in order to maintain a constant effluent quality. [Continues.

Solar Energy

This thesis is about Photovoltaic (PV) cells and its stresses in various directions by calculating the power generated using solar cells under different conditions to improve its efficiency. Our research studies found that using multi-junction cells with larger substrates can increase the efficiency to some extent which in practice is limited to 43 percent. The experiment was conducted using ten solar cells each with an area of 20.9?cm? ^2, where each cell gives 0.5 V and 0.4 A and a 1.25 ? resistor was used. The cells were connected in series. Once, the PV cells were fixed horizontally and the other time tested in tilted position under same outdoor condition. The purpose of testing PV cells was to investigate the efficiency under above mentioned conditions. The data collected from the readings was used in calculation, and we have obtained from the calculations that horizontally fixed cells gave 4.8 percent efficiency whereas tilted cells gave 6.6 percent efficiency. Hence, the ratio showed that fixed cells produced 37.5 percent more power compared to horizontally fixed cells. Our other experiment consisted of testing PV cells under different temperature conditions that was done using a freezer and an oven for temperature variation and a tungsten bulb was used as a light source. The purpose of performing this experiment was to investigate how the efficiency of PV cells is affected under extreme conditions. Part of our thesis was also including studies and analysis of produced energy by the solar panel installed on the roof of BTH building in Karlskrona, Sweden. The data consisted of energy produced from February up to August 2014. The investigation also included finding the highest produced energy during these months. We have found that the highest energy was generated on the 1st of July which was 12.86 kWh. Furthermore, we went deep into investigation of the 1st of July to know exactly which hour of that day the highest energy was produced. The data showed that the highest produced energy was at 12:19 and 13:19 which was 2.03 kWh. Ramzi: +46723231353, +966561993488 Zain Document type: Part of book or chapter of boo

Presumed Pyogenic Granuloma Associated with Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy

To report a case of a presumed pyogenic granuloma at the site of multiple intravitreal anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) injections. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections can be complicated by a localized reaction of the conjunctiva

A prospective cohort study comparing the reactogenicity of trivalent influenza vaccine in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Background: Influenza vaccination during pregnancy can prevent serious illness in expectant mothers and provide protection to newborns; however, historically uptake has been limited due to a number of factors, including safety concerns. Symptomatic complaints are common during pregnancy and may be mistakenly associated with reactions to trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV). To investigate this, we compared post-vaccination events self-reported by pregnant women to events reported by non-pregnant women receiving TIV. Methods: A prospective cohort of 1,086 pregnant women and 314 non-pregnant female healthcare workers (HCWs) who received TIV between March-May 2014 were followed-up seven days post-vaccination to assess local and systemic adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs). Women were surveyed by text message regarding perceived reactions to TIV. Those reporting an AEFI completed an interview by telephone or mobile phone to ascertain details. Logistic regression models adjusting for age and residence were used to compare reactions reported by pregnant women and non-pregnant HCWs. Results: Similar proportions of pregnant women and non-pregnant, female HCWs reported ≥1 reaction following vaccination with TIV (13.0% and 17.3%, respectively; OR = 1.2 [95% CI: 0.8-1.8]). Non-pregnant, female HCWs were more likely to report fever or headache compared to pregnant women (OR: 4.6 [95% CI 2.1-10.3] and OR: 2.2 [95% CI 1.0-4.6], respectively). No other significant differences in reported symptoms were observed. No serious vaccine-associated adverse events were reported, and less than 2% of each group sought medical advice for a reaction. Conclusions: We found no evidence suggesting pregnant women are more likely to report adverse events following influenza vaccination when compared to non-pregnant female HCWs of similar age, and in some cases, pregnant women reported significantly fewer adverse events. These results further support the safety of TIV administered in pregnant women

GP incentives to design hypertension and atrial fibrillation local quality-improvement schemes: a controlled before-after study in UK primary care

Financial incentives in the UK such as the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) reward GP surgeries for achievement of nationally defined targets. These have shown mixed results, with weak evidence for some measures, but also possible unintended negative effects. To look at the effects of a local intervention for atrial fibrillation (AF) and hypertension, with surgeries rewarded financially for work, including appointing designated practice leads, attendance at peer review workshops, and producing their own protocols. A controlled before-after study comparing surgery performance measures in UK primary care. This study used published QOF data to analyse changes from baseline in mean scores per surgery relating to AF and hypertension prevalence and management at T1 (12 months) and T2 (24 months) for the intervention group, which consisted of all 58 surgeries in East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), compared to the control group, which consisted of all other surgeries in north-west England. There was a small acceleration between T0 (baseline) and T2 in recorded prevalence of hypertension in the intervention group compared to the controls, difference 0.29% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05 to 0.53), = 0.017, but AF prevalence did not increase more in the intervention group. Improvement in quality of management of AF was significantly better in the intervention group, difference 3.24% (95% CI = 1.37 to 5.12), = 0.001. This intervention improved diagnosis rates of hypertension but not AF, though it did improve quality of AF management. It indicates that funded time to develop quality-improvement measures targeted at a local population and involving peer support can engage staff and have the potential to improve quality. [Abstract copyright: © British Journal of General Practice 2019.

Quantum energy inequalities and local covariance II: Categorical formulation

We formulate Quantum Energy Inequalities (QEIs) in the framework of locally covariant quantum field theory developed by Brunetti, Fredenhagen and Verch, which is based on notions taken from category theory. This leads to a new viewpoint on the QEIs, and also to the identification of a new structural property of locally covariant quantum field theory, which we call Local Physical Equivalence. Covariant formulations of the numerical range and spectrum of locally covariant fields are given and investigated, and a new algebra of fields is identified, in which fields are treated independently of their realisation on particular spacetimes and manifestly covariant versions of the functional calculus may be formulated.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX. Further discussion added. Version to appear in General Relativity and Gravitatio

Learning health ‘safety’ within non-technical skills interprofessional simulation education: a qualitative study

Background: Healthcare increasingly recognises and focusses on the phenomena of ‘safe practice’ and ‘patient safety.’ Success with non-technical skills (NTS) training in other industries has led to widespread transposition to healthcare education, with communication and teamwork skills central to NTS frameworks. Objective: This study set out to identify how the context of interprofessional simulation learning influences NTS acquisition and development of ‘safety’ amongst learners. Methods: Participants receiving a non-technical skills (NTS) safety focussed training package were invited to take part in a focus group interview which set out to explore communication, teamwork, and the phenomenon of safety in the context of the learning experiences they had within the training programme. The analysis was aligned with a constructivist paradigm and took an interactive methodological approach. The analysis proceeded through three stages, consisting of open, axial, and selective coding, with constant comparisons taking place throughout each phase. Each stage provided categories that could be used to explore the themes of the data. Additionally, to ensure thematic saturation, transcripts of observed simulated learning encounters were then analysed. Results: Six themes were established at the axial coding level, i.e., analytical skills, personal behaviours, communication, teamwork, context, and pedagogy. Underlying these themes, two principal concepts emerged, namely: intergroup contact anxiety – as both a result of and determinant of communication – and teamwork, both of which must be considered in relation to context. These concepts have subsequently been used to propose a framework for NTS learning. Conclusions: This study highlights the role of intergroup contact anxiety and teamwork as factors in NTS behaviour and its dissipation through interprofessional simulation learning. Therefore, this should be a key consideration in NTS education. Future research is needed to consider the role of the affective non-technical attributes of intergroup contact anxiety and teamwork as focuses for education and determinants of safe behaviour

Pathogen lifestyle determines host genetic signature of quantitative disease resistance loci in oilseed rape ( Brassica napus )

© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Using associative transcriptomics, our study identifies genes conferring resistance to four diverse fungal pathogens in crops, emphasizing key genetic determinants of multi-pathogen resistance. Crops are affected by several pathogens, but these are rarely studied in parallel to identify common and unique genetic factors controlling diseases. Broad-spectrum quantitative disease resistance (QDR) is desirable for crop breeding as it confers resistance to several pathogen species. Here, we use associative transcriptomics (AT) to identify candidate gene loci associated with Brassica napus constitutive QDR to four contrasting fungal pathogens: Alternaria brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, and Verticillium longisporum. We did not identify any shared loci associated with broad-spectrum QDR to fungal pathogens with contrasting lifestyles. Instead, we observed QDR dependent on the lifestyle of the pathogen-hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens had distinct QDR responses and associated loci, including some loci associated with early immunity. Furthermore, we identify a genomic deletion associated with resistance to V. longisporum and potentially broad-spectrum QDR. This is the first time AT has been used for several pathosystems simultaneously to identify host genetic loci involved in broad-spectrum QDR. We highlight constitutive expressed candidate loci for broad-spectrum QDR with no antagonistic effects on susceptibility to the other pathogens studies as candidates for crop breeding. In conclusion, this study represents an advancement in our understanding of broad-spectrum QDR in B. napus and is a significant resource for the scientific community.Peer reviewe

Functional diversity and community assembly of river invertebrates show globally consistent responses to decreasing glacier cover

Global change threatens invertebrate biodiversity and its central role in numerous ecosystem functions and services. Functional trait analyses have been advocated to uncover global mechanisms behind biodiversity responses to environmental change, but the application of this approach for invertebrates is underdeveloped relative to other organism groups. From an evaluation of 363 records comprising >1.23 million invertebrates collected from rivers across nine biogeographic regions on three continents, consistent responses of community trait composition and diversity to replicated gradients of reduced glacier cover are demonstrated. After accounting for a systematic regional effect of latitude, the processes shaping river invertebrate functional diversity are globally consistent. Analyses nested within individual regions identified an increase in functional diversity as glacier cover decreases. Community assembly models demonstrated that dispersal limitation was the dominant process underlying these patterns, although environmental filtering was also evident in highly glacierized basins. These findings indicate that predictable mechanisms govern river invertebrate community responses to decreasing glacier cover globally.This work was funded by the following organisations: The UK Natural Environment Research Council grants and studentships GR9/2913, NE/E003729/1, NE/E004539/1, NE/E004148/1, 20 NE/G523963/1, NER/S/A/2003/11192, and NE/L002574/1; the European Union Environment and Climate Programme Arctic and Alpine Stream Ecosystem Research (AASER) project (ENV-CT95-0164); EU-FP7 Assessing Climate impacts on the Quality and quantity of WAter (ACQWA) project (212250); Icelandic Research Council (954890095, 954890096); University of Iceland Research Fund (GMG96, GMG97, GMG98), Wyoming Center for Environmental Hydrology and Geophysics-National Science Foundation (1208909); USA-Wyoming NASA Space Grant Faculty Research Initiation (#NNX10A095H); USA-NSF Wyoming Epscor; Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, Austria; the Royal Society (International Outgoing Grant 2006/R4); the Leverhulme Trust; the Universities of Leeds, Birmingham, Iceland and Innsbruck; European Centre for Arctic Environmental Research (ARCFAC): a Research Infrastructures Action of the European Community FP6 (026129-2008- 72); the Stelvio National Park (2000-2001); the Autonomous Province of Trento (HIGHEST project, 2001-2004, del. PAT n. 1060/2001; VETTA project, 2003-2006, del. PAT n. 3402/2002); MUSE-Museo delle Scienze. We are grateful to Russell Taylor and Mike Winterbourn at the University of Canterbury, NZ, who helped to collect NZ invertebrate data and assisted with identification, and to Hakon Adalsteinsson who contributed to data collection in Iceland. Many other people, too numerous to mention, assisted with fieldwork at all of the study locations. The European Science Foundation sponsored an exploratory ┘ﾗヴﾆゲｴﾗヮ WﾐデｷデﾉWS さGﾉ;IｷWヴ-fed rivers, hydroecology and climate change: current knowledge and future network of monitoring sites (GLAC-HYDROECO-NETぶざ デｴ;デ ┘;ゲ ｴWﾉS ｷﾐ Birmingham, UK in September of 2013 where some of the ideas in this paper were first discussedPeer Reviewe