Impact of rainfall events on the electricity consumption of two wastewater treatment plants

Focus on the Energy/Water Nexus has led to interest and increased research activity into the relationship between water and society and understanding the energy requirement of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) will be a key part of future development. Using wastewater treatment plant data the aim of this paper is to study the relationship between the energy requirements for Wastewater Treatment (WWT), with particular focus on the impact of Wet Weather Flows (WWFs). It has been established from the literature that the efficiency of treatment plant processes drops during these events and, should treatment works be subject to increased energy requirements during WWFs, this will have an impact on any benchmarking effort. Using linear regression, a potential link between increased flows to treatment and electricity consumption of one WWTP in Northern Ireland has been shown, while a second possible link is established between the catchment area rainfall and increased flows to treatment for two WWTPs, which was found to be consistent with previous work in the literature

Mental health, deprivation, and the neighbourhood social environment: a network analysis

Different aspects of the neighbourhood social environment have been linked with mental ill-health, however the mechanisms underlying these associations remain poorly understood because of the number and complexity of the components involved. We used a novel statistical approach, network analysis, to explore the complex associations between neighbourhood social cohesion, social disorder and mental health symptoms in a sample of 3,670 adults from an economically deprived region of the UK (mean age [SD] = 49.34 years [18.87]; 57% female). Elasso regularised networks were estimated, and network comparisons were conducted by level of deprivation. Mental health symptoms and neighbourhood components formed relatively distinct clusters of items. These domains were linked primarily by paranoia, although only in the most deprived group. Drunken/rowdy behaviour was particularly influential within the neighbourhood cluster, therefore policies aimed at reducing such disruptive behaviour could have positive knock-on effects for social cohesion and mental health

Moderate alcohol consumption targets S100β+ vascular stem cells and attenuates injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia

Background Stem cells present in the vessel wall may be triggered in response to injurious stimuli to undergo differentiation and contribute to vascular disease development. Our aim was to determine the effect of moderate alcohol (EtOH) exposure on the expansion and differentiation of S100 calcium-binding protein B positive (S100β+) resident vascular stem cells and their contribution to pathologic vessel remodeling in a mouse model of arteriosclerosis. Methods and Results Lineage tracing analysis of S100β+ cells was performed in male and female S100β-eGFP/Cre/ERT2–dTomato transgenic mice treated daily with or without EtOH by oral gavage (peak BAC: 15 mM or 0.07%) following left common carotid artery ligation for 14 days. Carotid arteries (ligated or sham-operated) were harvested for morphological analysis and confocal assessment of fluorescent-tagged S100 β + cells in FFPE carotid cross sections. Ligation-induced carotid remodeling was more robust in males than in females. EtOH-gavaged mice had less adventitial thickening and markedly reduced neointimal formation compared to controls, with a more pronounced inhibitory effect in males compared to females. There was significant expansion of S100β+-marked cells in vessels postligation, primarily in the neointimal compartment. EtOH treatment reduced the fraction of S100β+ cells in carotid cross sections, concomitant with attenuated remodeling. In vitro, EtOH attenuated Sonic Hedgehog-stimulated myogenic differentiation (as evidenced by reduced calponin and myosin heavy chain expression) of isolated murine S100β+ vascular stem cells. Conclusions These data highlight resident vascular S100β+ stem cells as a novel target population for alcohol and suggest that regulation of these progenitors in adult arteries, particularly in males, may be an important mechanism contributing to the antiatherogenic effects of moderate alcohol consumption

The calcium binding protein S100β marks hedgehog-responsive resident vascular stem cells within vascular lesions

A hallmark of subclinical atherosclerosis is the accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)-like cells leading to intimal thickening. While medial SMCs contribute, the participation of hedgehog-responsive resident vascular stem cells (vSCs) to lesion formation remains unclear. Using transgenic eGFP mice and genetic lineage tracing of S100β vSCs in vivo, we identified S100β/ Sca1 cells derived from a S100β non-SMC parent population within lesions that co-localise with smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) cells following iatrogenic flow restriction, an effect attenuated following hedgehog inhibition with the smoothened inhibitor, cyclopamine. In vitro, S100β/Sca1 cells isolated from atheroprone regions of the mouse aorta expressed hedgehog signalling components, acquired the di-methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2) stable SMC epigenetic mark at the Myh11 locus and underwent myogenic differentiation in response to recombinant sonic hedgehog (SHh). Both S100β and PTCH1 cells were present in human vessels while S100β cells were enriched in arteriosclerotic lesions. Recombinant SHh promoted myogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived S100β neuroectoderm progenitors in vitro. We conclude that hedgehog-responsive S100β vSCs contribute to lesion formation and support targeting hedgehog signalling to treat subclinical arteriosclerosis

The role of Notch1 N-glycans and their impact on myogenic differentiation of resident vascular stem cells

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is characterized by a thickening of blood vessel walls. This leads to the formation of a neointima, which occludes the lumen and restricts blood flow to vital organs. Mounting evidence suggests that resident stem cells in the vasculature may give rise to the smooth muscle-like cells which make up this neointima. In particular, a group of S100β+ cells, termed multipotent vascular stem cells (MVSCs), have been reported to contribute significantly to neointimal formation. Recent studies have shown that activation of Notch signalling, and Notch1 in particular, may be pivotal in this process as it is heavily involved in regulating stem cell fate and in directing myogenic differentiation. The Notch signalling pathway is highly regulated by a number of mechanisms including glycosylation. While the importance of O-linked glycosylation has been extensively described, the structures and roles of N-glycans on the Notch1 receptor have yet to be defined. The current study presents novel findings which confirm that activation of the Notch1 receptor by its ligand, Jag-1, stimulates myogenic differentiation in S100β+ MVSCs isolated from a mouse aortic arch. Furthermore, N-glycosylation intervention strategies, including small-molecule inhibition (using tunicamycin and 1-deoxymannojirimycin), siRNA knockdown of the GnT-III and Fut8 glycosyltransferases, and site-directed mutagenesis of N-glycosylation sites, revealed that this process is heavily regulated by N-glycans which reside at six consensus sequences along the extracellular domain of Notch1. A number of key oligosaccharides at these sites were found to contain bisecting or core fucosylated structures. Notch1 expression and trafficking analysis indicated that N-glycans at asparagine (N) 1241 and 1587 protect the receptor from accelerated degradation, while the oligosaccharide at N888 directly affects signal transduction. Conversely, N-linked glycans at the other three sites do not impact canonical Notch1 signalling but still play a role in Notch-mediated myogenic differentiation, possibly via a non-canonical Notch signalling pathway. The findings in the current study provide novel insights into the location and structure of N-glycans on the Notch1 receptor, as well as illuminating some of the likely mechanisms by which they regulate Notch signalling and myogenic differentiation in a CVD-relevant vascular stem cell population

First report of the Suicide Support and Information System.

The SSIS pilot study was conducted in County Cork over the period September 2008 – March 2011. The SSIS operates according to a stepped approach whereby step 1 involves pro-active facilitation of support for family members bereaved by suicide, followed by step 2: obtaining information from different sources including information from coroners’ records, family informants and health care professionals who had been in contact with the deceased in the year prior to death. In total 178 cases of suicide and 12 open verdicts (total 190) were ascertained in the Cork region during the pilot phase of the SSIS, with very satisfactory response rates for the three information sources. Key outcomes include: • In 39.5% of cases the SSIS pro-actively facilitated bereavement and other support. In 47.5% of cases bereavement support had been obtained prior to contact with the SSIS team. In 8.2% of cases the bereaved did not wish to avail of formal bereavement support from a specific service, but they welcomed further contact with a member of the SSIS team. A small proportion (4.8%) did not wish to receive further contact following the initial letter from the SSIS team. • Mental health risk factors associated with suicide included mood disorder of the deceased, mental disorder of family members, history of deliberate self harm and lifetime alcohol abuse in the year prior to death. • Major precipitating factors in the month prior to suicide included significant losses, significant or perceived significant disruption of a primary relationship and significant life changes. Evidence was found for the impact of the economic recession in terms of job loss, increased suicide risk associated with specific occupations, financial problems and loss of possessions, such as house etc. • Evidence was found for long term adversity in the lives of people who died by suicide, often starting in childhood or early adolescence and continuing in later life, such as mental and physical maltreatment, problems in making contact with others and loneliness over a long period of time. • The majority of the deceased had been in contact with their GP or a mental health service in the year prior to death, and those who had contacted their GP had done so 4 times or more. • Challenges exist in the contact with health services including difficulties in accessing health care services, difficulties in adhering to treatment appointments and lack of compliance with instructions related to prescribed medication. • The SSIS has been able to use official data sooner than the CSO, which has facilitated the identification of emerging suicide clusters. • Through the multiple sources of information accessed by the SSIS, contagion effects could be identified and direct and indirect relationships among the suicide cluster cases could be established. • Even though the number of open verdicts was relatively small, comparison with confirmed suicide cases revealed more similarities than differences, such as alcohol consumption at time of death, history of deliberate self harm, a high prevalence of mood disorders and use of psychotropic medication. • During the SSIS pilot phase, first analyses were performed to link the SSIS data with the data from the National Registry of Deliberate Self Harm (NRDSH). Examination of suicides and deaths classified as open verdicts ascertained by the SSIS between 2008 and 2010 showed that at least 10% of the cases had been medically treated for deliberate self harm in the Cork region over the time period 2007-2009. Key recommendations: 1. The outcomes of the SSIS pilot study and the independent evaluation by the University of Manchester recommend the maintenance of the SSIS in Cork and expansion to other regions in the country, in particular regions with high rates of suicide and a history of suicide clusters. Recommended options for expansion of the SSIS include: a) Phased implementation in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality;1 b) Phased implementation in collaboration with suicide bereavement support services.1 2. Pro-active facilitation of bereavement support would be the recommended approach for services working with families bereaved by suicide, ensuring that all families bereaved by suicide are offered bereavement support through the services currently in place. 3. It is recommended to increase the awareness of coroners of local bereavement services and materials and to offer these as a matter of course. 4. The association between the impact of the recession (unemployment, financial problems, loss of possessions) and suicide, as identified by the SSIS, underlines the fact that suicide prevention programmes should be prioritised during times of economic recession. 5. Based on the association between alcohol/drug abuse and suicide as identified by the SSIS, it is recommended that: a) National strategies to increase awareness of the risks involved in the use and misuse of alcohol should be intensified, starting at pre-adolescent age b) National strategies to reduce access to alcohol and drugs should be intensified c) Active consultation and collaboration between the mental health services and addiction treatment services be arranged in the best interest of patients who present with dual diagnosis (psychiatric disorder and alcohol/drug abuse) 6. The fact that the majority of people who died by suicide had been in contact with their GP 4 times or more in the year prior to death provides evidence for increased suicide awareness and skills training for GPs. 7. In areas with emerging suicide clusters, it is recommended to encourage involvement of GPs and other primary care professionals in a response plan and in early identification of people at risk of suicidal behaviour. 8. It is recommended to improve access to health care services for people who have engaged in deliberate self harm, people at high risk of suicide and people with multiple mental health and social problems. 9. In areas with emerging suicide clusters, the HSE-NOSP guidelines for responding to suicide clusters should be implemented and supported by additional capacity and specialist expertise as a matter of priority. 10. Comparing the characteristics of confirmed cases of suicide to open verdicts, the SSIS identified more similarities than differences, which underlines the need for further in-depth investigation into cases classified as open verdicts

Modelling of intra-urban variability of prevailing ambient noise at different temporal resolution

The impact of temporal aspects of noise data on model development and intra-urban variability on environmental noise levels are often ignored in the development of models used to predict its spatiotemporal variation within a city. Using a Land Use Regression approach, this study develops a framework which uses routine noise monitors to model the prevailing ambient noise, and to develop a noise variability map showing the variation within a city caused by land-use setting. The impact of data resolution on model development and the impact of meteorological variables on the noise level which are often ignored were also assessed. Six models were developed based on monthly, daily and hourly resolutions of both the noise and predictor data. Cross validation highlighted that only the hourly resolution model having 59%explanatory power of the observed data (adjusted R2) and a potential of explaining at least 0.47% variation of any independent dataset (cross validation R2), was a suitable candidate among all the developed models for explaining intraurban variability of noise

Effectiveness of Ultrasound-guided versus Landmark-based Glucocorticoid Injection in the Treatment of First Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis is a debilitating degenerative disease more pronounced in elderly affecting many joints. The first carpometacarpal joint (CMC1) is commonly affected. Pain is the major complaint, which can impact patient’s daily activities. Intra-articular glucocorticoid injection can be considered if conservative measures fail and ultrasound guided injection might be superior to the traditional anatomic landmark-guided technique. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus landmark-based approach to intra-articular CMC1 injection using the Australian Canadian osteoarthritis hand index (AUSCAN). Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with symptomatic CMC1 osteoarthritis who failed conservative measures were enrolled. In this prospective observational cohort study, utilizing a convenience sample, intra-articular corticosteroid injection was administered either by ultrasound-guided technique or landmark-based approach. Pain, stiffness and function in 10-points scale at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks were collected and analyzed using descriptive analysis. Results: There were 33 patients enrolled. Mean age was 63 years, with females making up the majority of participants (n = 28, 84.8%). Mean duration of CMC1 pain was 10 months (SD=2.5) up to the point of receiving the injection.  Ultrasound guided injection was performed in 60.6% (n=20), while 39.4% (n=13) had the landmark approach. Both groups achieved a statistically and clinically significant level of change in AUSCAN score at week 6 (P≤ 0.05) but with a recurrence of symptoms at week 12 (P ≤ 0.05). At both intervals the AUSCAN scores were better than baseline (P ≤ 0.05). There was no difference between the two groups regarding baseline pain VAS score (mean ultrasound group= 6.6 vs landmark group= 7.5; P = 0.18). No significant differences were identified between two groups in terms of changes from baseline to 6, 12 and between 6 to 12 weeks in pain, stiffness and hand function (P > 0.05). Conclusion: No difference was found between the ultrasound-guided and landmark-based approaches for CMC1 injection on pain score, stiffness, or function

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Targets S100β +

BACKGROUND. Stem cells present in the vessel wall may be triggered in response to injurious stimuli to undergo differentiation and contribute to vascular disease development. Our aim was to determine the effect of moderate alcohol (EtOH) exposure on the expansion and differentiation of S100 calcium-binding protein B positive (S100β(+)) resident vascular stem cells and their contribution to pathologic vessel remodeling in a mouse model of arteriosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS. Lineage tracing analysis of S100β(+) cells was performed in male and female S100β-eGFP/Cre/ERT2–dTomato transgenic mice treated daily with or without EtOH by oral gavage (peak BAC: 15mM or 0.07%) following left common carotid artery ligation for 14 days. Carotid arteries (ligated or sham-operated) were harvested for morphological analysis and confocal assessment of fluorescent-tagged S100β (+) cells in FFPE carotid cross sections. Ligation-induced carotid remodeling was more robust in males than in females. EtOH-gavaged mice had less adventitial thickening and markedly reduced neo-intimal formation compared to controls, with a more pronounced inhibitory effect in males compared to females. There was significant expansion of S100β (+) marked cells in vessels post-ligation, primarily in the neo-intimal compartment. EtOH treatment reduced the fraction of S100β (+) cells in carotid cross-sections, concomitant with attenuated remodeling. In vitro, EtOH attenuated Sonic Hedgehog-stimulated myogenic differentiation (as evidenced by reduced calponin and myosin heavy chain expression) of isolated murine S100β (+) vascular stem cells. CONCLUSIONS. These data highlight resident vascular S100β (+) stem cells as a novel target population for alcohol, and suggest that regulation of these progenitors in adult arteries, particularly in males, may be an important mechanism contributing to the anti-atherogenic effects of moderate alcohol consumption