Water Footprint Differences of Producing Cultivars of Selected Crops in New Zealand

Water footprint (WF) is a measure of the amount of water used to produce goods and services. It is a very important concept on indicating how much water can be consumed to complete a process of growing or processing a product at a particular location. However, paucity of water footprint information in countries facing increased competition for water resources between industries limits market access and profit optimization. Water footprint differences of producing selected cultivars of potato, oca and pumpkin squash were determined under irrigation and rain-fed regimes. All crop husbandry practices were followed in potato, oca (3.3 plants m−2) and pumpkin squash (2.2 plants m−2). Water footprint was determined as the ratio of volume of evapotranspiration for irrigated and rain-fed crops plus grey water to total yield. The consumptive water use for the rain-fed crop was 75, 65 and 69% of the irrigated oca, potato and pumpkin squash, respectively, with high water consumption in heritage cultivars. The water footprint was low in pumpkin squash and highest in oca, while potato cultivars were intermediate. Irrigation reduced water footprint especially in crops more responsive to irrigation. Farmers should focus on improving the harvest index and irrigation to reduce water footprint

Effects of alternative forages on nitrate leaching under intensive sheep grazing

fals

Photodynamic inactivation of bacteriophage MS2: the A- protein is the target of virus inactivation

Singlet oxygen mediated oxidation has been shown to be responsible for photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of viruses in solution with photosensitisers such as 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridinio) porphyrin tetra p-toluenesulfonate (TMPyP). The capsids of non-enveloped viruses, such as bacteriophage MS2, are possible targets for viral inactivation by singlet oxygen oxidation. Within the capsid (predominantly composed of coat protein), the A-protein acts as the host recognition and attachment protein. The A-protein has two domains; an α-helix domain and a β-sheet domain. The α-helix domain is attached to the viral RNA genome inside the capsid while the β-sheet domain, which is on the surface of the capsid, is believed to be the site for attachment to the host bacteria pilus during infection. In this study, 4 sequence-specific antibodies were raised against 4 sites on the A-protein. Changes induced by the oxidation of singlet oxygen were compared to the rate of PDI of the virus. Using these antibodies, our results suggest that the rate of PDI is relative to loss of antigenicity of two sites on the A-protein. Our data further showed that PDI caused aggregation of MS2 particles and crosslinking of MS2 coat protein. However, these inter- and intra-capsid changes did not correlate to the rate of PDI we observed in MS2. Possible modes of action are discussed as a means to gaining insight to the targets and mechanisms of PDI of viruses

Geographies of authority

This is the final version. Available on open access from SAGE Publications via the DOI in this recordWe propose a geography that pluralises the sites, practices, and politics of authority. We defend an approach that tracks less perceptible forms of authority emerging through everyday micropolitics and experimental practices. In contrast to dominant definitions of authority as institutionalized legitimate power, we propose a definition of authority as a relation of guidance emerging from recognition of inequalities in access to truth, experience, or objectivity. Analysing four intersecting areas of authority (algorithmic, experiential, expert, and participatory authority), we propose analyses that trace authority’s affective force, and which address the tension between, but also mutual constitution of, authority and equality

Photodynamic inactivation of non-enveloped RNA viruses

We recently reported the photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of bacteriophage MS2 with a photosensitiser- 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridinio) porphyrin- tetra- p-toluene sulfonate (TMPyP) in solution and concluded that the A-protein of the virus is the main target of inactivation. Here, we have extended these studies and carried out PDI of bacteriophage Qβ, bovine enterovirus 2 (BEV-2) and type 1 murine norovirus (MNV-1). The rate of inactivation observed was in the order MS2 > Qβ > MNV-1 > BEV-2. Data suggested that TMPyP-treatment could also target the viral genome as well as result in disintegration/disassembly of viral particles. Although emergence of viral drug resistance is a well-documented phenomenon, it was not possible to generate PDI-resistant MS2. However, emergence of a mutation in the lysis protein was detected after serial exposure to PDI

Minimally invasive versus conventional aortic valve replacement: a propensity-matched study from the UK National Data

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) has been demonstrated as a safe and effective option but remains underused. We aimed to evaluate outcomes of isolated MIAVR compared with conventional aortic valve replacement (CAVR).Data from The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) were analyzed at seven volunteer centers (2006-2012). Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and midterm survival. Secondary outcomes were postoperative length of stay as well as cumulative bypass and cross-clamp times. Propensity modeling with matched cohort analysis was used.Of 307 consecutive MIAVR patients, 151 (49%) were performed during the last 2 years of study with a continued increase in numbers. The 307 MIAVR patients were matched on a 1:1 ratio. In the matched CAVR group, there was no statistically significant difference in in-hospital mortality [MIAVR, 4/307,(1.3%); 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4%-3.4% vs CAVR, 6/307 (2.0%); 95% CI, 0.8%-4.3%; P = 0.752]. One-year survival rates in the MIAVR and CAVR groups were 94.4% and 94.6%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in midterm survival (P = 0.677; hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.56-1.46). Median postoperative length of stay was lower in the MIAVR patients by 1 day (P = 0.009). The mean cumulative bypass time (94.8 vs 91.3 minutes; P = 0.333) and cross-clamp time (74.6 vs 68.4 minutes; P = 0.006) were longer in the MIAVR group; however, this was significant only in the cross-clamp time comparison.Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is a safe alternative to CAVR with respect to operative and 1-year mortality and is associated with a shorter postoperative stay. Further studies are required in high-risk (logistic EuroSCORE > 10) patients to define the role of MIAVR

Thrombotic microangiopathy following onasemnogene abeparvovec for spinal muscular atrophy: A case series

Spinal muscular atrophy is treated with onasemnogene abeparvovec, which replaces the missing survival motor neuron 1 gene via an adeno-associated virus vector. As of July 1, 2020, we had identified 3 infants who developed thrombotic microangiopathy following onasemnogene abeparvovec. Early recognition and treatment of drug-induced thrombotic microangiopathy may lessen mortality and morbidity

Misconceiving patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) as primarily a reporting requirement rather than a quality improvement tool: perceptions of independent healthcare sector stakeholders in the UK.

Availability of data and materials: The topic guide used for this qualitative research is available in Additional file 1.BACKGROUND: The independent healthcare sector in the UK collects PROMs for several surgical procedures, but implementation has been challenging. We aimed to understand the enablers and barriers to PROMs implementation in the independent healthcare sector in the UK. METHOD: Between January and May 2021, we remotely conducted semi-structured interviews with hospital consultants, hospital managers and other clinical staff using a topic guide developed from an implementation science framework called the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). RESULTS: We interviewed 6 hospital consultants, 5 hospital managers, and 3 other clinical staff (1 nurse and 2 physiotherapists) across 8 hospitals. Common barriers included: the perception that PROMs are predominantly a reporting requirement rather than a quality improvement tool, absence of feedback mechanisms for PROMs data for clinicians, poor awareness of PROMs among healthcare professionals and the public, absence of direction or commitment from leadership, and limited support from hospital consultants. Common enablers included: regular feedback of PROMs data to clinicians, designating roles and responsibilities, formally embedding PROMs collection into patient pathways, and involvement of hospital consultants in developing strategies to improve PROMs uptake. CONCLUSION: To support PROMs implementation, independent hospitals need to develop long-term organisational strategies that involve sustained leadership commitment, goals or targets, training opportunities to staff, and regular feedback of PROMs data at clinical or governance meetings. The primary purpose of PROMs needs to be reframed to independent healthcare sector stakeholders as a quality improvement tool rather than a reporting requirement.Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN

High-precision photometric redshifts from Spitzer/IRAC : extreme [3.6] - [4.5] colors identify galaxies in the redshift range z ~ 6.6 - 6.9.

One of the most challenging aspects of studying galaxies in the z 7 universe is the infrequent confirmation of their redshifts through spectroscopy, a phenomenon thought to occur from the increasing opacity of the intergalactic medium to Lyα photons at z \u3e 6.5. The resulting redshift uncertainties inhibit the efficient search for [C II] in z ~ 7 galaxies with sub-millimeter instruments such as ALMA, given their limited scan speed for faint lines. One means by which to improve the precision of the inferred redshifts is to exploit the potential impact of strong nebular emission lines on the colors of z ∼ 4 – 8 galaxies as observed by Spitzer/IRAC. At z ~ 6.8, galaxies exhibit IRAC colors as blue as[3.6] [4.5] 1 - ~- , likely due to the contribution of [O III]+Hβ to the 3.6 μm flux combined with the absence of line contamination in the 4.5 μm band. In this paper we explore the use of extremely blue [3.6] [4.5] - colors to identify galaxies in the narrow redshift window z ~ 6.6 – 6.9. When combined with an I-dropout criterion, we demonstrate that we can plausibly select a relatively clean sample of z ~ 6.8 galaxies. Through a systematic application of this selection technique to our catalogs from all five CANDELS fields, we identify 20 probable z ~ 6.6 – 6.9 galaxies. We estimate that our criteria select the ∼50% strongest line emitters at z ~ 6.8 and from the IRAC colors we estimate a typical [O III]+Hb rest-frame equivalent width of 1085 Å for this sample. The small redshift uncertainties on our sample make it particularly well suited for follow-up studies with facilities such as ALMA

Characterization and applications of a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus nucleoprotein-specific Affimer: Inhibitory effects in viral replication and development of colorimetric diagnostic tests

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) is one of the most widespread medically important arboviruses, causing human infections that result in mortality rates of up to 60%. We describe the selection of a high-affinity small protein (Affimer-NP) that binds specifically to the nucleoprotein (NP) of CCHFV. We demonstrate the interference of Affimer-NP in the RNA-binding function of CCHFV NP using fluorescence anisotropy, and its inhibitory effects on CCHFV gene expression in mammalian cells using a mini-genome system. Solution of the crystallographic structure of the complex formed by these two molecules at 2.84 Å resolution revealed the structural basis for this interference, with the Affimer-NP binding site positioned at the critical NP oligomerization interface. Finally, we validate the in vitro application of Affimer-NP for the development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent and lateral flow assays, presenting the first published point-of-care format test able to detect recombinant CCHFV NP in spiked human and animal sera