The battle for biomass: A systematic review of food-feed-fuel competition

We review 75 studies on the competition for biomass and production resources such as land, water, labour and capital across food, feed and fuel production. We identified seven factors that are key to the availability and effective use of biomass and production resources. These ranged from ones related to production, such as crop yields to ones related to policy. Many of these factors resulted in trade-offs across different uses of biomass. Studies had different perspectives (e.g. economic, biophysical) on setting priorities for biomass and suggested different solutions to address competition (e.g. marginal lands). To connect these perspectives we suggest a framework that prioritises biomass and production resources for the use of human food before its use as feed or bioenergy.<br/

Theoretical study of the mechanism of dry oxidation of 4H-SiC

Possible defect structures, arising from the interaction of O-2 molecules with an ideal portion of the SiC/SiO2 interface, have been investigated systematically using density functional theory. Based on the calculated total energies and assuming thermal quasiequilibrium during oxidation, the most likely routes leading to complete oxidation have been determined. The defect structures produced along these routes will remain at the interface in significant concentration when stopping the oxidation process. The results obtained for their properties are well supported by experimental findings about the SiC/SiO2 interface. It is found that carbon-carbon bonds can explain most of the observed interface states but not the high density near the conduction band of 4H-SiC

Omentectomy in endometrial cancer : an evidence-based insight

Omentectomy is the surgical removal of the omentum. It is a routine component of staging surgery for confirmed or suspected ovarian carcinoma; however there is currently no consensus regarding omentectomy in surgery performed for endometrial cancer. Additionally, the extent of omental resection in patients without macroscopic deposits is unclear. A systematic search of PubMed MEDLINE resources was performed using the MeSH terms ‘endometrium’ ‘uterus’ ‘omentum’ ‘surgery’ ‘neoplasms’, and ‘neoplasm metastasis’. The authors conducted a literature review of articles published through January 2016 to summarize the current evidence analyzing omental assessment in endometrial cancer and the repercussions its involvement could have on patient management and prognosis. Metastasis to the omentum is a significant finding in endometrial cancer cases as it indicates upstaging to Stage IV-B (FIGO 2009). Assessment for omental spread helps indicate whether neoplastic deposits are spread beyond the conventional radiotherapy field and assist decision-taking with regards to platinum therapy. Macroscopic assessment of the omentum at the time of abdominal surgery for endometrial carcinoma has been shown to be highly sensitive and specific, and thus advisable. Omental biopsies and histopathological examination are more likely to affect management planning in cases at high-risk of upstaging, these being poorly differentiated tumors (Grade 2 and above), non-endometroid cytologies, cases with > 50% myometrial invasion, or cervical or adnexal involvement of the tumor. Total omentectomy and thorough histological assessment is superior with regards to detection of neoplastic spread however presents a significant strain on hospital laboratory services. Maximal surgical cytoreduction including omentectomy has been shown to improve overall survival in Stage 3 or 4 patients with good performance status.peer-reviewe

Handheld cellular telephones and risk of acoustic neuroma

The hypothesis that intracranial energy deposition from handheld cellular telephones causes acoustic neuroma was tested in an epidemiologic study of 90 patients and 86 control subjects. The relative risk was 0.9 (p _ 0.07) and did not vary significantly by the frequency, duration, and lifetime hours of use. In patients who used cellular telephones, the tumor occurred more often on the contralateral than ipsilateral side of the head. Further efforts should focus on potentially longer induction periods

Structure and properties of ilmenite from first principles

Published versio

Equine transport and changes in Equid Herpesvirus' status

The risk of respiratory disease in the transported horse can increase as a consequence of immunosuppression and stress associated primarily with opportunistic bacterial proliferation and viral reactivation. This study examines the ecology of equid herpesviruses (EHV) in these horses, exploring reactivation and changes in infection and shedding associated with transport, and any potential contributions to transport- related respiratory disease. Twelve horses were subjected to an 8-h road-transport event. Antibodies to EHV-1 and EHV-4 were detected by ELISA in serum collected prior to, immediately after and 2 weeks post transport. Respiratory tract endoscopy and tracheal washes were collected prior to and 5 days after transportation. Nasal swabs collected prior to, immediately after, 1 and 5 days following transport were screened for EHV-1,-2,-4,-5 using qPCR. Six horses had persistent neutrophilic airway infiltrates post transportation, indicative of subclinical respiratory disease. No horses were qPCR positive for either of the alphaherpesviruses (i.e., EHV-1/-4) nor did any seroconvert to either virus. Four out of nine horses positive for either EHV-2 or EHV-5 on qPCR prior to transport developed neutrophilic airway inflammation. Five horses showed increasingly positive readings on qPCR (i.e., reduced Cq) for EHV-2 after transportation and seven out of eleven horses positive for EHV-2 after transport shared strains of high sequence similarity with other horses in the study. One EHV- 2 virus detected in one horse after transport was genetically different which may be due to reactivation. The clinical significance of EHV-2 and EHV-5 remains in question. However these results indicate that transportation may lead to increased shedding, transmission and reactivation of EHV-2 and EHV-5 but not EHV-1/-4. Unlike previous work focusing on the role of alphaherpesviruses, this research suggests that investigation of the gammaherpesviruses (i.e., EHV-2/-5) in transport-related disease should not be dismissed, particularly given that these viruses can encode suppressive immunomodulators that may affect host health

Defects in SiO2 as the possible origin of near interface traps in the SiC∕SiO2 system: A systematic theoretical study

A systematic study of the level positions of intrinsic and carbon defects in SiO2 is presented, based on density functional calculations with a hybrid functional in an alpha-quartz supercell. The results are analyzed from the point of view of the near interface traps (NIT), observed in both SiC/SiO2 and Si/SiO2 systems, and assumed to have their origins in the oxide. It is shown that the vacancies and the oxygen interstitial can be excluded as the origin of such NIT, while the silicon interstitial and carbon dimers give rise to gap levels in the energy range inferred from experiments. The properties of these defects are discussed in light of the knowledge about the SiC/SiO2 interface

Tliet Grazzji

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Id-disinn t’Alla fin-nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl f’Malta ta’ Dun Karm – Il-Lupu u l-Mogħża ta’ R. M. B. – Mawra sal-Buskett ta’ L. Cutajar – Dun Mikiel Xerri ta’ Dun Karm – It-Tliet Grazzji ta’ Ivo Muscat-Azzopardi.N/

Charting the endometrial cancer care pathway : a baseline audit

Introduction: Longer waiting times from diagnosis to surgical resection have been found to negatively impact the overall survival and quality of life of women with endometrial cancer. The Cancer Care Pathway Directorate adopted the UK National Waiting Times Monitoring Dataset Guidance, to improve the timeliness of services along the cancer care pathway. From this, three key targets were identified: 1) Maximum 14-day wait from urgent GP referral for suspected cancer to first outpatient attendance (operational standard of 93%), 2) Maximum 31-day wait from decision to treat to first definitive treatment (operational standard of 96%), and 3) Maximum 62-day wait from urgent GP referral for suspected cancer to first treatment (operational standard of 85%). The aim of this baseline audit was to chart the time-frames of the various stages in the endometrial cancer pathway of patients diagnosed with this disease between 2015 and 2016 to assess for and identify delays in referral, investigation and care. -- Methods: A tool was developed following consultation with key stakeholders. Data protection clearance was obtained. Patient medical and oncology files, hospital databases, and MDT documentation for confirmed endometrial cancer cases were reviewed between September 2017 – March 2018. -- Results: A total of 101 endometrial cancer cases were included in the audit. The proportion of cases which met the 14-day, 31-day and 62-day wait KPIs operational standards were 39.1%, 81.2% and 17.2% respectively. -- Conclusion: The endometrial cancer care pathway timeframes did not meet the KPIs operational standards. Fast-track coordinators and nurse navigators could improve continuity and coordination of patient care.peer-reviewe