Urban wastewater as a source of reclaimed water for irrigation: barriers and future possibilities

Water resources are under pressure worldwide, resulting in scarcity and deterioration of freshwater quality. According to European directives, we could reduce the pressure on water resources in urban areas by increasing the reuse of treated wastewater, reducing the impact on water bodies, and promoting water recycling through multiple uses of urban wastewater. Besides the need to address water supply challenges, wastewater treatment systems show environmental stewardship and innovative practices. Using reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation is gaining interest because of the drought conditions experienced in Europe over the past few years. Furthermore, using treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation may help to restore nutrients (N and P) to natural biogeochemical cycles. This review highlights the importance of water reuse, current legislation, and existing technologies to implement in wastewater treatment systems to meet the minimum requirements to produce reclaimed water to reuse in agricultural irrigation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The use of muscle biomarkers for assessing physiological effects of heavy metal pollution in the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula)

The greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula has been used as a sentinel species for estimating environmental risks to human populations. Previous studies in mining areas have focused on the liver of shrews as the primary target of physiological and metabolic changes due to heavy metal pollution. However, populations persist even when detoxification by the liver seems to be compromised and damage is observed. These pollutant-adapted individuals inhabiting contaminated sites may exhibit altered biochemical parameters that confer increased tolerance in various tissues other than the liver. The skeletal muscle tissue of C. russula might be an alternative tissue that allows the survival of organisms inhabiting historically polluted sites due to the detoxification of redistributed metals. Organisms from two heavy metal mine populations and one population derived from an unpolluted site were used to determine the detoxification activities, antioxidant capacity, and oxidative damage, as well as cellular energy allocation parameters and acetylcholinesterase activity (a biomarker of neurotoxicity). Muscle biomarkers differ between shrews from polluted sites and shrews from the unpolluted location, with the mine animals showing: (1) a decreased energy consumption concomitant with increased energy reserves and total available energy; (2) reduced cholinergic activity, suggesting an impairment of neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction; (3) an overall decrease in detoxification capacity and enzymatic antioxidant response and a higher level of lipid damage. Also, some of these markers differed between females and males. These changes may have resulted from a decreased detoxifying capacity of the liver and could potentially bring about significant ecological effects for this highly active species. Heavy metal pollution induced physiological changes in Crocidura russula showing that skeletal muscle may serve as a backup sink organ allowing rapid species adaptation and evolution.publishe

Consequences of sexual harassment in sport for female athletes

Sexual harassment research was first undertaken in the workplace and educational settings. Research on sexual harassment in sport is scarce but has grown steadily since the mid-1980s. Even so, very little is known about the causes and/or characteristics and/or consequences of sexual harassment in sport settings. This article reports on the findings from interviews with 25 elite female athletes in Norway who indicated in a prior survey (N =572) that they had experienced sexual harassment from someone in sport. The consequences of the incidents of sexual harassment that were reported were mostly negative, but some also reported that their experiences of sexual harassment had had no consequences for them. “Thinking about the incidents”, a “destroyed relationship to the coach”, and “more negative view of men in general” were the most often negative consequences mentioned. In addition, a surprising number had chosen to move to a different sport or to drop out of elite sport altogether because of the harassment

Modified shock index - a strong preditor of outcome among patients presenting ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Prompt identification of higher risk patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention will allow a more assertive strategy and approach. Aim: To evaluate the modified shock index (MSI) - a ratio of heart rate (HR) to mean blood pressure (MAP), as a predictor of in hospital and 6-month mortality among patients (pts) admitted with STEMI. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 2389 pts admitted consecutively in our coronary care unit with acute coronary syndrome, from July of 2009 to June 2014 and we selected those who presented with STEMI (n=1140). They were divided in two groups: group 1 – pts with MSI <1.3, n=1076, 94.4%); group 2 – pts with MSI ≥1.3 (n=64, 5.6%). For each group we compared clinical and laboratory features and adverse events. Primary endpoint was the occurrence of death at 6 months; follow-up was completed in 99% of patients. Results: Patients of group 2 were older (62±14 vs 67±14; p=0.003), more frequent women (19% vs 37.5%; p1 (18.0% vs 56.3%; p<0.001), Killip=4 (2.9% vs 28.1%; p<0.001), anaemia (20.9% vs 48.4%; p<0.001) and renal insufficiency (eGFR<60 ml/min) (21.8% vs 42.6%; p<0,001). They also presented more severe coronary disease - left main coronary artery or 3 vessels disease (16.3% vs 31.3%; p=0.005) and higher prevalence of moderate to severe systolic dysfunction (48.3% vs 68.9%; p=0.009). They required more often aminergic support (7.4% vs 50%; p<0.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (2.9% vs 38.3%; p<0.001) and mechanical ventilation (2.6% vs 17.4%; p<0.001). They also had higher prevalence of malignant arrhythmias (6.1% vs 15.6%; p= 0.008) and mechanical complications (1.7 vs 6.3%; p=0.031). Compared with 1st group, the 2nd group had 6.42 times higher in hospital mortality [OR 6.42; 95% CI (4.07 – 12.67)]; p <0.001] and 7.18 times higher 6-month mortality [OR 7.18; 95% CI (3.30 - 12.46)]; p <0.001]. After adjusting for different baseline characteristics in multivariate analysis, MSI ≥1.3 remained as independent predictor of overall 6-month mortality [OR 3.81, 95% CI (1.81-8.03), p<0.001]. Conclusion: Modified shock index ≥1.3 is a stronger predictor of in hospital and 6 month mortality among patients with STEMI

A simple method to evaluate, correlate and predict boiling and flash points of alkynes

Boiling points (T B) of acyclic alkynes are predicted from their boiling point numbers (Y BP) with the relationship T B(K) = -16.802Y BP2/3 + 337.377Y BP1/3 - 437.883. In turn, Y BP values are calculated from structure using the equation Y BP = 1.726 + Ai + 2.779C + 1.716M3 + 1.564M + 4.204E3 + 3.905E + 5.007P - 0.329D + 0.241G + 0.479V + 0.967T + 0.574S. Here Ai depends on the substitution pattern of the alkyne and the remainder of the equation is the same as that reported earlier for alkanes. For a data set consisting of 76 acyclic alkynes, the correlation of predicted and literature T B values had an average absolute deviation of 1.46 K, and the R² of the correlation was 0.999. In addition, the calculated Y BP values can be used to predict the flash points of alkynes

Low serum albumin – another prognostic marker?

Introduction: Population-based studies have suggested an association between low serum albumin levels and coronary atherosclerosis and heart failure. The role of albumin in the context of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remains unclear, however, seems to associate with an adverse prognosis. Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine whether low serum albumin levels are associated with development of heart failure in ACS. Methods: Study of patients consecutively admitted for ACS in a Coronary Unit over 6 months. Patients with infectious complications were excluded. Results: One hundred sixty-eight patients were eligible for analysis. Males were predominant (81.5%) and the mean age was 61.7±13.4 years old. Low serum albumin levels (serum albumin <3.5g/dl) were present in 44.6%. No significant differences were observed regarding demographic characteristics, except higher mean age (p <0.001) and a higher prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.04) in the hypoalbuminemia group. This group had lower values of hemoglobin (p<0.001) and higher levels of pro-BNP (p=0.018) and C Reactive Protein (p<0.001). In univariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia was associated with a higher prevalence of heart failure (p=0.015, OR 2.45 CI95% 1.17-5.10) and the use of intra-aortic balloon (p = 0.005) during hospitalization. There were no statistically significant differences in the use of ionotropic drugs and invasive ventilation as well as in-hospital mortality. At follow-up at 6 months showed a positive association between hypoalbuminemia and mortality (p <0.05). Conclusions: The hypoalbuminemia was associated with an increased risk of heart failure during hospitalization and death at 6 months. Although the etiology of hypoalbuminemia remain unclear, albumin assay may be useful in risk stratification of acute coronary syndromes

Helicobacter pylori colonization of the adenotonsillar tissue : fact or fiction?

Objective: The transmission of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori involves the oral route. Molecular techniques have allowed the detection of H. pylori DNA in samples of the oral cavity, although culture of H. pylori from these type of samples has been sporadic. Studies have tried to demonstrate the presence of H. pylori in adenotonsillar tissue, with contradictory results. Our aim was to clarify whether the adenotonsillar tissue may constitute an extra gastric reservoir for H. pylori. Methods: Sixty-two children proposed for adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy were enrolled. A total of 101 surgical specimens, 55 adenoid and 46 tonsils, were obtained. Patients were characterized for the presence of anti-H. pylori antibodies by serology. On each surgical sample rapid urease test, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a peptide nucleic acid probe for H. pylori, and polymerase chain reaction–DNA hybridization assay (PCR–DEIA) directed to the vacA gene of H. pylori were performed. Results: Thirty-nine percent of the individuals had anti-H. pylori antibodies. Rapid urease test was positive in samples of three patients, all with positive serology. Immunohistochemistry was positive in samples of two patients, all with negative serology. All rapid urease test or immunohistochemistry positive cases were negative by FISH. All samples tested were negative when PCR–DEIA for H. pylori detection was used directly in adenotonsillar specimens. Conclusions: The adenotonsillar tissue does not constitute an extra gastric reservoir for H. pylori infection, at least a permanent one, in this population of children. Moreover, techniques currently used for detecting gastric H. pylori colonization are not adequate to evaluate infection of the adenotonsillar tissues.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Hospital de São Marcos, Braga