The feed-in tariff in the UK : a case study focus on domestic photovoltaic systems

This paper explores the photovoltaic (PV) industry in the United Kingdom (UK) as experienced by those who are working with it directly and with consideration of current standards, module efficiencies and future environmental trends. The government's consultation on the comprehensive review for solar PV tariffs, proposes a reduction of the generation tariff for PV installations in the UK of more than 50%. The introduction of the Feed-In Tariffs scheme (FITs) has rapidly increased deployment of PV technologies at small scale since its introduction in April 2010. The central principle of FIT policies is to offer guaranteed prices for fixed periods to enable greater number of investors. A financial analysis was performed on two real-life installations in Cornwall, UK to determine the impact of proposed cuts to the FIT will make to a typical domestic PV system under 4 kW. The results show that a healthy Return on Investment (ROI) can still be made but that future installations should focus on off-setting electricity required from the national grid as a long term push for true sustainability rather than subsidised schemes. The profitability of future installations will have to be featured within in-service and end-of-service considerations such as the feed-in tariff, module efficiencies and the implications of costs associated with end-of-life disposal

The calcium-Activated potassium channel KCa3.1 is an important modulator of hepatic injury

The calcium-Activated potassium channel KCa3.1 controls different cellular processes such as proliferation and volume homeostasis. We investigated the role of KCa3.1 in experimental and human liver fibrosis. KCa3.1 gene expression was investigated in healthy and injured human and rodent liver. Effect of genetic depletion and pharmacological inhibition of KCa3.1 was evaluated in mice during carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic fibrogenesis. Transcription, protein expression and localisation of KCa3.1 was analysed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Hemodynamic effects of KCa3.1 inhibition were investigated in bile duct-ligated and carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats. In vitro experiments were performed in rat hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes. KCa3.1 expression was increased in rodent and human liver fibrosis and was predominantly observed in the hepatocytes. Inhibition of KCa3.1 aggravated liver fibrosis during carbon tetrachloride challenge but did not change hemodynamic parameters in portal hypertensive rats. In vitro, KCa3.1 inhibition leads to increased hepatocyte apoptosis and DNA damage, whereas proliferation of hepatic stellate cells was stimulated by KCa3.1 inhibition. Our data identifies KCa3.1 channels as important modulators in hepatocellular homeostasis. In contrast to previous studies in vitro and other tissues this channel appears to be anti-fibrotic and protective during liver injury

The Burgeoning Information Universe: Implication for Social Work Education and Practice

The information universe is fierce and ubiquitous, replete with a 24 hour news cycle, trolls, bots, fake news, predatory publishers, and paywalls. The exponential acceleration in access to information during these nascent years of the 21st century is simultaneously a victory for egalitarianism and promotion of social equity as well as a daunting hotbed for scurrilous and obfuscated resources requiring discerning and supple information literacy skills to efficiently and effectively navigate an ever burgeoning wealth of knowledge. If, as the above quotations imply, life-long learning and contribution to the knowledge foundation is an ethical standard for professional social workers and if such is facilitated by information literacy skills, what does this mean for social work education now and in future? The co-authors of this proposal both hold Masters degrees in social work and library / information science. Between us, we have nearly 20 years of experience as clinician, case manager, and administrator in residential and out-patient settings engaging with adults, children and families impacted by substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, chronic mental illness, and trauma. Employed by a large, urban public institution of higher education since 2011, we are currently on the faculty of the Library Department and serve as academic instructional librarians to the School of Social Work. We are proud to claim our memberships of two helping professions with historical roots deeply intertwined in progressive social justice movements. From this unique vantage point, we are well versed in the information literacy needs of social work professionals and the challenges facing schools of social work to meaningfully integrate information literacy instruction into an already rigorous course of study. There is a small but recently growing cannon of literature about information literacy and social work education. The authors were able to identify only twelve scholarly articles concerning this topic published between 2005-2015. Since 2015, including the researcher’s own contribution, there have been seven new scholarly articles published, perhaps a reflection of increased attention to information literacy by accreditation entities. Regardless, the general consensus strongly concurs that formal social work education would benefit from a broad inculcation of information literacy instruction into standard social work curricula in collaboration with information literacy specialists (librarians) on the local level. Additionally, while this research team’s published scholarship and instructional efforts are in evidence within the discipline of librarianship and to our local social work colleagues, it appears not to have garnered attention from the larger community of social work educators. The co-authors are seeking to utilize a poster presentation at the Council for Social Work Education’s APM to invite our social work colleagues, into this discourse. Specifically, we hope to share central elements and themes of our ongoing scholarship and its application to our unique sequence of four progressive information literacy instructional modules embedded into core courses in the social work curriculum, a program now in its fourth year. Our poster presentation will cover: A peer-reviewed 2015 publication (completed by one co-author with the proposal’s research contributor) detailing a three year study assessing awareness and use of library services and resources by social work students in our program; A peer-reviewed 2016 publication (completed by the same research team as above) detailing a national survey of social work librarians across 250 CSWE accredited MSW programs in the United States; A review of a qualitative study currently underway in follow up to findings in the above study. For this study, the co-authors conducted 27 interviews with social work librarians across the country using an IRB approved protocol; An overview of the team’s embedded instructional program consisting of a four-module instructional sequence, each mapped to CSWE’s EPAS, ACRL’s competency standards, and explicit learning outcomes

Daily reduction of oral malodor with the use of a sonic tongue brush combined with an antibacterial tongue spray in a randomized cross-over clinical investigation

Abstract The objective of this clinical investigation was to test the effectiveness on breath odor of a newly designed sonic tongue brush (TongueCare+, TC). It consists of a soft silicone brush optimally designed based on the tongue's anatomy to remove bacterial biofilm from the tongue's complex surface, and it is coupled with a sonic power toothbrush handle. TC was used in combination with an antibacterial tongue spray (BreathRx, BRx) containing 0.09% cetylpyridinium chloride and 0.7% zinc gluconate. A total of 21 participants with oral malodor exceeding the threshold for recognition took part in this cross-over clinical investigation, which consisted of a single use of four treatment arms with one week washout period in between. The treatments consisted of: (1) TC  +  BRx, (2) TC  +  water, (3) BRx and (4) water. Malodor levels and bacterial density were monitored up to 6 h by organoleptic scoring and selective plating, respectively. The organoleptic score and bacterial density were significantly lower after using TC  +  BRx compared to all alternative treatments at all time points. A significant decrease in both parameters was detected after a single use of TC  +  BRx, from levels characteristic of high oral malodor, to barely noticeable levels after treatment and this was maintained up to 6 h. Moreover, we identified a significant positive correlation between bacterial density and organoleptic score, confirming that bacterial tongue biofilm is the root cause of oral malodor in these subjects. The results of this clinical investigation demonstrated that the combined treatment of a sonic tongue brush with the antibacterial tongue spray is able to deliver more than 6 h of fresh breath following a single use. The clinical investigation was registered at the ISRCTN registry under study identification number ISRCTN38199132

Copeptin as an Indicator of Hemodynamic Derangement and Prognosis in Liver Cirrhosis

Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing study of subgingival microbiota of healthy subjects and patients with periodontitis from four different countries.

peer reviewed[en] AIM: To investigate the differences between the subgingival microbiota of healthy subjects (HS) and periodontitis patients (PP) from four different countries through a metagenomic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subgingival samples were obtained from subjects from four different countries. Microbial composition was analysed through high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The country of origin, diagnosis and clinical and demographic variables of the subjects were used to analyse the microbial profiles. RESULTS: In total, 506 subgingival samples were analysed: 196 from HS and 310 from patients with periodontitis. Differences in richness, diversity and microbial composition were observed when comparing samples pertaining to different countries of origin and different subject diagnoses. Clinical variables, such as bleeding on probing, did not significantly affect the bacterial composition of the samples. A highly conserved core of microbiota associated with periodontitis was detected, while the microbiota associated with periodontally HS was much more diverse. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal diagnosis of the subjects was the main variable explaining the composition of the microbiota in the subgingival niche. Nevertheless, the country of origin also had a significant impact on the microbiota and is therefore an important factor to consider when describing subgingival bacterial communities

Proteomic Analysis of Polypeptides Captured from Blood during Extracorporeal Albumin Dialysis in Patients with Cholestasis and Resistant Pruritus

Albumin dialysis using the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) is a new therapeutic approach for liver diseases. To gain insight into the mechanisms involved in albumin dialysis, we analyzed the peptides and proteins absorbed into the MARS strong anion exchange (SAX) cartridges as a result of the treatment of patients with cholestasis and resistant pruritus. Proteins extracted from the SAX MARS cartridges after patient treatment were digested with two enzymes. The resulting peptides were analyzed by multidimensional liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We identified over 1,500 peptide sequences corresponding to 144 proteins. In addition to the proteins that are present in control albumin-derived samples, this collection includes 60 proteins that were specific to samples obtained after patient treatment. Five of these proteins (neutrophil defensin 1 [HNP-1], secreted Ly-6/uPAR-related protein 1 [SLURP1], serum amyloid A, fibrinogen alpha chain and pancreatic prohormone) were confirmed to be removed by the dialysis procedure using targeted selected-reaction monitoring MS/MS. Furthermore, capture of HNP-1 and SLURP1 was also validated by Western blot. Interestingly, further analyses of SLURP1 in serum indicated that this protein was 3-fold higher in cholestatic patients than in controls. Proteins captured by MARS share certain structural and biological characteristics, and some of them have important biological functions. Therefore, their removal could be related either to therapeutic or possible adverse effects associated with albumin dialysis

Spontaneous life-threatening hemobilia during acute liver failure successfully treated with transarterial embolization

A 28-year-old patient admitted with jaundice, vomiting and deteriorating coagulopathy was diagnosed with acute liver failure. After listing for urgent transplantation, he developed Boerhaave’s syndrome and massive hemobilia, two life-threatening complications. Massive hemobilia secondary to a fistula between the right hepatic artery and the right bile duct occurred several days after transjugular biopsy and was controlled with fluid resuscitation, transfusion and arterial embolization. Two days later he was transplanted successfully, and is currently doing well after more than 72 months. Aggressive treatment of potentially reversible complications during acute liver failure whilst awaiting transplantation is mandatory to allow survival of these patients

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have distinct effects on the hemodynamics of the liver

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The NO - cGMP system plays a key role in the regulation of sinusoidal tonus and liver blood flow with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) terminating the dilatory action of cGMP. We, therefore, investigated the effects of PDE-5 inhibitors on hepatic and systemic hemodynamics in rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hemodynamic parameters were monitored for 60 min. after intravenous injection of sildenafil and vardenafil [1, 10 and 100 μg/kg (sil1, sil10, sil100, var1, var10, var100)] in anesthetized rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cardiac output and heart rate remained constant. After a short dip, mean arterial blood pressure again increased. Systemic vascular resistance transiently decreased slightly. Changes in hepatic hemodynamic parameters started after few minutes and continued for at least 60 min. Portal (var10 -31%, sil10 -34%) and hepatic arterial resistance (var10 -30%, sil10 -32%) decreased significantly (p < 0.05). At the same time portal venous (var10 +29%, sil10 +24%), hepatic arterial (var10 +34%, sil10 +48%), and hepatic parenchymal blood flow (var10 +15%, sil10 +15%) increased significantly (p < 0.05). The fractional liver blood flow (total liver flow/cardiac output) increased significantly (var10 26%, sil10 23%). Portal pressure remained constant or tended to decrease. 10 μg/kg was the most effective dose for both PDE-5 inhibitors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low doses of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have distinct effects on hepatic hemodynamic parameters. Their therapeutic use in portal hypertension should therefore be evaluated.</p