4,765 research outputs found
Comparative Genomics of Amphibian-like Ranaviruses, Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses of Poikilotherms
Recent research on genome evolution of large DNA viruses has highlighted a number of incredibly dynamic processes that can facilitate rapid adaptation. The genomes of amphibian-like ranaviruses – double-stranded DNA viruses infecting amphibians, reptiles, and fish (family Iridoviridae) – were examined to assess variation in genome content and evolutionary processes. The viruses studied were closely related, but their genome content varied considerably, with 29 genes identified that were not present in all of the major clades. Twenty-one genes had evidence of recombination, while a virus isolated from a captive reptile appeared to be a mosaic of two divergent parents. Positive selection was also found to be acting on more than a quarter of Ranavirus genes and was found most frequently in the Spanish common midwife toad virus, which has had a severe impact on amphibian host communities. Efforts to resolve the root of this group by inclusion of an outgroup were inconclusive, but a set of core genes were identified, which recovered a well-supported species tree
Singing from the Grave: DNA from a 180 Year Old Type Specimen Confirms the Identity of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens)
Copyright: © 2015 Price et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article
To deliver a sustainable built estate; the management and operationalisation of sustainable facilities management
This study determines the ability of FM to operationalise the management of sustainability through delivering a change in culture towards Sustainable Facilities Management (SFM). Delivering a sustainable built estate is an increasingly important aspect of society considering that it produces 45% of all UK Carbon emissions (Kelly, 2008). Through a combination of case study and observational research methods this study answers the query of where Facilities Management (FM) can fit in as part of the solution. A mixed methodological approach was taken using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A grounded theory was followed with the research findings developed through multiple stages. A content analysis conducted on 65 FM organisations established the current position of the industry towards SFM. Interviews were conducted with 10 FM professional to create an understanding of sustainability in the FM context. However, the main focus of the case study was a two year ethnographic study to test the response of an FM organisation to environmental policy. To test the result of this primary energy and waste data was used to analyse the impact of SFM operationally. Energy and waste were two sections of sustainability that were chosen to be used to further analysis due to the availability of measureable data. Finally, the impact of physical facilities upon the environmental behaviour of building occupants was tested through a questionnaire regarding recycling facilities; 500 questionnaires were issued, with a response rate of 38%. The research shows that FM is in a key position to participate in delivering environmental policy for the built environment. SFM can be operationalised to deliver a consistent, methodological approach that has sustainability as a core element. This shows that the model of FM is changing. Facility design and provision does impact on occupant behaviour, physical facilities should be considered as a factor implementing environmental behaviour
Anthropogenic and ecological drivers of amphibian disease (ranavirosis)
This is the final version. Available on open access from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this recordData Availability: The data analysed in this manuscript has been deposited in Dryad (doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.66k59). Third party data was obtained from Froglife and are therefore available through the charity Froglife (Registered Charity No. 1093372 in England and Wales). Please submit queries for data to [email protected] and asking for access to the data for research purposes. Further contact details can also be found on their website http://www.froglife.org/contact-us/.Ranaviruses are causing mass amphibian die-offs in North America, Europe and Asia, and have been implicated in the decline of common frog (Rana temporaria) populations in the UK. Despite this, we have very little understanding of the environmental drivers of disease occurrence and prevalence. Using a long term (1992-2000) dataset of public reports of amphibian mortalities, we assess a set of potential predictors of the occurrence and prevalence of Ranavirus-consistent common frog mortality events in Britain. We reveal the influence of biotic and abiotic drivers of this disease, with many of these abiotic characteristics being anthropogenic. Whilst controlling for the geographic distribution of mortality events, disease prevalence increases with increasing frog population density, presence of fish and wild newts, increasing pond depth and the use of garden chemicals. The presence of an alternative host reduces prevalence, potentially indicating a dilution effect. Ranavirosis occurrence is associated with the presence of toads, an urban setting and the use of fish care products, providing insight into the causes of emergence of disease. Links between occurrence, prevalence, pond characteristics and garden management practices provides useful management implications for reducing the impacts of Ranavirus in the wild
Availability of cancer decision-support tools: A cross-sectional survey of UK primary care
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Royal College of General Practitioners via the DOI in this record.Background Decision-support tools quantify the risk of undiagnosed cancer in symptomatic patients, and may help general practitioners (GPs) when making referrals.
Aims: To quantify the availability and use of cancer decision-support tools (QCancer® and Risk Assessment Tools). To explore the association between tool availability and two-week-wait referrals for suspected cancer.
Design and setting: Cross-sectional postal survey in UK primary care.
Methods: 4,600 GPs from a random sample of 975 UK general practices were invited to participate. Outcome measures included the proportions of UK general practices where: (1) cancer decision-support tools are available, and (2) at least one GP uses the tool. Weighted least-squares linear regression with robust errors tested the association between tool availability and number of two-week-wait referrals, adjusting for practice size, sex, age and index of multiple deprivation.
Results: 476 GPs in 227 practices responded (response rates: practitioner, 10.3%; practice, 23.3%). Cancer decision-support tools were available in 83/227 (36.6%, 95% confidence interval 30.3% to 43.1%) practices. Tools were available and likely to be used in 38/227 (16.7%, 12.1% to 22.2%) practices. In sub-group analyses of 172 English practices, there was no difference in mean two-week-wait referral rate between practices with tools and those without (mean adjusted difference in referrals per 100,000: 3.1, -5.5 to +11.7).
Conclusions: This is the first survey of cancer decision-support tool availability and use. It suggests that the tools are an underused resource in the UK. Given the cost of cancer investigation, a randomised controlled trial of such clinical decision-support aids would be appropriate.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR
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3D ground-use optimisation for sustainable urban development planning: a case-study from Earls Court, London, UK
Cities provide opportunities for economic growth, cultural and social
development and scientific and technological innovation. Yet they
have often developed without coordination and integration of the mutual
benefits that could be provided by using urban underground space
(UUS), often to the detriment or exclusion of other potential city functions
(Parriaux et al., 2004). Given that 60% of the area expected to be
urbanised by 2030 has yet to be built (World Economic Forum, 2016)
there is significant opportunity to influence future city planning and design using subsurface engineering geological ground models as a component part of a UUS management system. For future city development to be sustainable and resilient to change, an integrated approach that crosses disciplines and facilitates desirable urban futures while minimising the likelihood of undesirable ones is required (Lombardi et al., 2012; Price et al., 2016).University of Cambridge Future Cities Fellowshi
Comparison of the Spinels Co3O4 and NiCo2O4 as Bifunctional Oxygen Catalysts in Alkaline Media
Data from experiments with both rotating disc electrodes (RDEs) and gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are used to investigate the properties of the spinels, Co3O4 and NiCo2O4, as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. Emphasis is placed on catalyst compositions and electrode structures free of carbon. Oxygen evolution and reduction occur at surfaces where the transition metals are in different oxidation states but the surface can be repeatedly cycled between these two states without significant change. It is shown that carbon-free, NiCo2O4 catalysed GDEs can be fabricated using structures based on stainless steel cloth or nickel foam. Those based on nickel foam can be cycled extensively and allow both O2 evolution and reduction at current densities up to 100 mA cm−2.European Commission (Theme 2010.7.3.1) Energy Storage Systems for Power Distribution NetworksMinistry of National Education, Republic of Turke
New insights into the relationship between draw solution chemistry and trace organic rejection by forward osmosis
© 2019 This study elucidates the impact of draw solution chemistry (in terms of pH and draw solute species) and membrane fouling on water flux and the rejection of trace organic contaminants by forward osmosis. The results show that draw solution chemistry could induce a notable impact on both water flux and TrOCs rejection. In addition, the impact was further influenced by membrane fouling. The reverse flux of proton (or hydroxyl) could alter the feed solution pH, which governed the separation of ionisable TrOCs. In addition, charged compounds generally exhibited higher rejections than neutral ones by the clean membrane. Electrostatic interaction, rather than size exclusion, was therefore the dominant rejection mechanism for most compounds. There was also a weak correlation between rejection and molecular sizes of the 43 TrOCs. Compared with Na+, Li+ with a larger hydrated radius showed a significantly lower reverse salt flux, resulting in a lower ionic strength and therefore a stronger electrostatic interaction. A fouling cake layer consisted of low molecular weight neutral organics could also affect TrOC rejection due to pore blockage and cake-enhanced concentration polarisation
An anaerobic membrane bioreactor – membrane distillation hybrid system for energy recovery and water reuse: Removal performance of organic carbon, nutrients, and trace organic contaminants
© 2018 In this study, a direct contact membrane distillation (MD) unit was integrated with an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) to simultaneously recover energy and produce high quality water for reuse from wastewater. Results show that AnMBR could produce 0.3–0.5 L/g CODadded biogas with a stable methane content of approximately 65%. By integrating MD with AnMBR, bulk organic matter and phosphate were almost completely removed. The removal of the 26 selected trace organic contaminants by AnMBR was compound specific, but the MD process could complement AnMBR removal, leading to an overall efficiency from 76% to complete removal by the integrated system. The results also show that, due to complete retention, organic matter (such as humic-like and protein-like substances) and inorganic salts accumulated in the MD feed solution and therefore resulted in significant fouling of the MD unit. As a result, the water flux of the MD process decreased continuously. Nevertheless, membrane pore wetting was not observed throughout the operation
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NICE guidance on the use of carmustine wafers in high grade gliomas: a national study on variation in practice
BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) working in oncology aims to improve outcomes for patients with cancer. One role is to ensure the implementation of best practice and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance. In this study, we have assessed the role of MDT in implementing the TA121 appraisal of the use of carmustine wafers in high grade gliomas. METHODS: 296 patients with high-grade glioma suitable for maximal resection were recruited from 17 Neurosurgical Centres. The number of patients treated with carmustine wafers and reasons for not using this were recorded. Complications at 48 hours post-operatively and at 6 weeks post-radiotherapy were recorded. RESULTS: 94/296 (32%) of suitable patients received carmustine wafers. In 55% of cases carmustine was not used due to either surgeon preference or a lack of an MDT decision. There was no increased complication rate with carmustine use at either 48 hours post-surgery or at 6 weeks post radiotherapy. Use of carmustine wafers did not decrease access to and use of chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: One third of patients suitable for carmustine wafers received them. Their use was neither associated with more frequent complications, nor decreased use of chemoradiotherapy. Implementation of NICE TA121 Guidance is extremely variable in different MDTs across the United Kingdom.Stephen Price is funded by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Institute for Health Research. This study was sponsored through an unrestricted educational grant from Archimedes Pharma (Reading, Berks, UK)
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