WaterRenew : wastewater polishing using renewable energy crops

The research described in this thesis is part of a wider EU-LIFE project, the WaterRenew project. The WaterRenew concept can be described as the recovery of nutrients from wastewater which can lead to eutrophication of surface waters, by irrigation of short rotation coppice in order to fertilise them. Such systems have been proven to function properly as nutrient removal systems when studied for N removal and have already been successfully and commercially implemented in different countries. However, the factors potentially preventing them from operating sustainably have not been identified nor their upper limits quantified with confidence. A WaterRenew system can indeed be looked at as a unit composed with three main compartments; soil, soil water and plant. Therefore, the sustainability of such a system will be compromised if at least one of these compartments is changed irreversibly. The limits can be hydrological with constant runoff or drainage being induced. They can also be chemical with inadequate amounts of nutrients removed from the effluent applied or irreversible accumulation of nutrients in soil. Finally, these limits can be physiological with the trees’ health being irreversibly compromised. Moreover, the relevance and effectiveness of such a system under UK conditions has not been established yet. In this context, a field trial was set up at Cranfield University sewage treatment works where the secondary treated effluent was irrigated on to Salix viminalis, Populus trichocarpa and Eucalyptus gunnii trees planted at a density of 13,060 trees.ha-1, on a chalky clayey soil, in order to maintain soil water content at field capacity. To tackle more specifically P fate processes understanding, an independent P leaching soil column experiment was also set up. With the latter settings, it was possible to apply high volumes of effluent (3625 mm for willow, 2895 mm for poplar and 3345 mm for eucalyptus for the 2 years of irrigation) and high amounts of nutrients (1023 kg-N.ha-1 and 134 kg-P.ha-1 for willow, 834 kg- N.ha-1 and 108 kg-P.ha-1 for poplar and 946 kg-N.ha-1 and 127 kg-P.ha-1for eucalyptus for the 2 years of irrigation). It was found that irrigation with effluent increased significantly tree yields so that they were within the range reported in the literature for willow and eucalyptus but slightly lower for poplar. The trees uptook between 20 % and 50 % of the total amounts of N and P applied with eucalyptus uptaking more nutrients than willow, which in turn took up more than poplar. Then, it was found that irrigation did not have any significant effect on N and P in soil and the amounts applied remained very low compared to the existing nutrients soil pools. However, irrigation did have a significant effect on increasing K and Na in soil. Na increased enough to induce a significant increase in soil SAR but soil remained neither saline nor alkali. The trees had a smaller impact on soil chemistry. Finally, it was found also that irrigation did not have any significant effect on N and P in soil water with no P detectable in any of the soil water and groundwater samples during the whole experiment. Irrigation did, however, increase significantly K and Na concentrations in soil water and for K also in groundwater. From the point of view of nutrients removal, although a tree effect was measurable, it was not as important as the functions of the soil. Thus, when a WaterRenew system is maintained under a hydrological constraint, with the soil moisture kept at field capacity, it was still possible to apply high volumes of effluent, even on a clayey soil. In addition, the consequent high amounts of nutrients applied were efficiently retained between tree uptakes and mainly soil organic and inorganic nutrients’ pools. Indeed, the amounts of nutrients lost by drainage remained low (<10 % of the total amounts applied) for N and P and groundwater was efficiently protected from pollution on this site. On P dynamic processes understanding, it was found that P leaching patterns depend highly on soil moisture and to a lesser extent on the amount of P applied. When soil is saturated, P will start leaching even when applied at a very low concentration. A model, the WR_MODEL, was developed which integrates the observations, measurements and understanding of Cranfield University sewage treatment work field trial and soil column experiment into a model. The purpose of WR_model is to help the design and implementation of a WaterRenew system in any location as long as climatic and soil data are available. The model default values are for England and Wales climatic and soil data

WaterRenew : wastewater polishing using renewable energy crops

The research described in this thesis is part of a wider EU-LIFE project, the WaterRenew project. The WaterRenew concept can be described as the recovery of nutrients from wastewater which can lead to eutrophication of surface waters, by irrigation of short rotation coppice in order to fertilise them. Such systems have been proven to function properly as nutrient removal systems when studied for N removal and have already been successfully and commercially implemented in different countries. However, the factors potentially preventing them from operating sustainably have not been identified nor their upper limits quantified with confidence. A WaterRenew system can indeed be looked at as a unit composed with three main compartments; soil, soil water and plant. Therefore, the sustainability of such a system will be compromised if at least one of these compartments is changed irreversibly. The limits can be hydrological with constant runoff or drainage being induced. They can also be chemical with inadequate amounts of nutrients removed from the effluent applied or irreversible accumulation of nutrients in soil. Finally, these limits can be physiological with the trees’ health being irreversibly compromised. Moreover, the relevance and effectiveness of such a system under UK conditions has not been established yet. In this context, a field trial was set up at Cranfield University sewage treatment works where the secondary treated effluent was irrigated on to Salix viminalis, Populus trichocarpa and Eucalyptus gunnii trees planted at a density of 13,060 trees.ha-1, on a chalky clayey soil, in order to maintain soil water content at field capacity. To tackle more specifically P fate processes understanding, an independent P leaching soil column experiment was also set up. With the latter settings, it was possible to apply high volumes of effluent (3625 mm for willow, 2895 mm for poplar and 3345 mm for eucalyptus for the 2 years of irrigation) and high amounts of nutrients (1023 kg-N.ha-1 and 134 kg-P.ha-1 for willow, 834 kg- N.ha-1 and 108 kg-P.ha-1 for poplar and 946 kg-N.ha-1 and 127 kg-P.ha-1for eucalyptus for the 2 years of irrigation). It was found that irrigation with effluent increased significantly tree yields so that they were within the range reported in the literature for willow and eucalyptus but slightly lower for poplar. The trees uptook between 20 % and 50 % of the total amounts of N and P applied with eucalyptus uptaking more nutrients than willow, which in turn took up more than poplar. Then, it was found that irrigation did not have any significant effect on N and P in soil and the amounts applied remained very low compared to the existing nutrients soil pools. However, irrigation did have a significant effect on increasing K and Na in soil. Na increased enough to induce a significant increase in soil SAR but soil remained neither saline nor alkali. The trees had a smaller impact on soil chemistry. Finally, it was found also that irrigation did not have any significant effect on N and P in soil water with no P detectable in any of the soil water and groundwater samples during the whole experiment. Irrigation did, however, increase significantly K and Na concentrations in soil water and for K also in groundwater. From the point of view of nutrients removal, although a tree effect was measurable, it was not as important as the functions of the soil. Thus, when a WaterRenew system is maintained under a hydrological constraint, with the soil moisture kept at field capacity, it was still possible to apply high volumes of effluent, even on a clayey soil. In addition, the consequent high amounts of nutrients applied were efficiently retained between tree uptakes and mainly soil organic and inorganic nutrients’ pools. Indeed, the amounts of nutrients lost by drainage remained low (<10 % of the total amounts applied) for N and P and groundwater was efficiently protected from pollution on this site. On P dynamic processes understanding, it was found that P leaching patterns depend highly on soil moisture and to a lesser extent on the amount of P applied. When soil is saturated, P will start leaching even when applied at a very low concentration. A model, the WR_MODEL, was developed which integrates the observations, measurements and understanding of Cranfield University sewage treatment work field trial and soil column experiment into a model. The purpose of WR_model is to help the design and implementation of a WaterRenew system in any location as long as climatic and soil data are available. The model default values are for England and Wales climatic and soil data.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Pdz adaptors: Their regulation of epithelial transporters and involvement in human diseases

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系Homeostasis in the body is at least partially maintained by mechanisms that control membrane permeability, and thereby serve to control the uptake of essential substances (e.g., nutrients) and the efflux of unwanted substances (e.g., xenobiotics and metabolites) in epithelial cells. Various transporters play fundamental roles in such bidirectional transport, but little is known about how they are organized on plasma membranes. Protein-protein interactions may play a key role: several transporters in epithelial cells interact with the so-called adaptor proteins, which are membrane anchored and interact with both transporters and other membranous proteins. Although most of the evidences for transporter-adaptor interaction has been obtained in vitro, recent studies suggest that adaptor-mediated transporter regulation does occur in vivo and could be relevant to human diseases. Thus, protein-protein interaction is not only associated with the formation of macromolecular complexes but is also involved in various cellular events, and may provide transporters with additional functionality by forming transporter networks on plasma membranes. Interactions between xenobiotic transporters and PSD95/Dlg/ZO1 (PDZ) adaptors were previously reviewed by Kato and Tsuji (2006. Eur J Pharm Sci 27:487-500); the present review focuses on the latest findings about PDZ adaptors as regulators of transporter networks and their potential role in human diseases. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Quality of life of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic : a 1-year follow-up study

This study aimed to reveal changes in the quality of life (QOL) of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their parents, and the interaction between their QOL and parental mental state during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Eighty-nine school-aged children and parents participated in surveys in May 2020 (T1) and May 2021 (T2). The parents completed questionnaires that assessed their QOL, depression, parenting stress, and living conditions. Children's temporary mood status was evaluated using the self-reported visual analog scale (VAS). Children's QOL and VAS at T2 were higher than their QOL at T1. Parents' QOL at T2 was lower than their QOL at T1. Severe parental depression at T1 had a synergistic effect on severe parenting stress and severe depressive state at T2. Additionally, children's high QOL at T1 had a synergistic effect on low parenting stress and children's high QOL at T2. Furthermore, children's low VAS scores and parents' low QOL at T2 were associated with deterioration of family economic status. Children and parents' QOL changed during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Improvement in children's QOL was influenced by reduced maternal depressive symptoms. Public support for parental mental health is important to avoid decreasing QOL.Peer reviewe

The New School Absentees Reporting System for Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 Infection in Japan

Objective: To evaluate the new Japanese School Absentees Reporting System for Infectious Disease (SARSID) for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection in comparison with the National epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Disease (NESID). Methods:We used data of 53,223 students (97.7%) in Takamatsu city Japan. Data regarding school absentees in SARSID was compared with that in NESID from Oct 13, 2009 to Jan 12, 2010. Results: Similar trends were observed both in SARSID and NESID. However, the epidemic trend for influenza in SARSID was thought to be more sensitive than that in NESID. Conclusion: The epidemic trend for influenza among school-aged children could be easily and rapidly assessed by SARSID compared to NESID. SARSID might be useful for detecting the epidemic trend of influenza

Sustainability in a changing world: integrating human health and wellbeing, urbanisation, and ecosystem services

There is an urgent need to address interlinked sustainability issues in a world challenged by inequality, finite resources and unprecedented changes across Earth’s systems. As Future Earth Fellows, based on our collective expertise in a diverse range of sustainability issues, here we identify a specific need to recognise and respond appropriately to the nexus between human health and wellbeing, urbanisation, and ecosystem services (the ‘WUE nexus’). This nexus is a priority area for research, policy and practice. In particular, it provides a useful pathway to meet the challenges of successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this brief, we present the following policy recommendations:1. By emphasising urban-rural linkages, foster an integrated approach to ensure food security, food safety, and health promotion;2. Secure resilient livelihoods for all, in particular for vulnerable groups; and3. Integrate co-production of knowledge in science for decision-making, including the co-design of implementation frameworks, and the adoption of a nexus approach.<br/

Expression of CD82 in Human Trophoblast and Its Role in Trophoblast Invasion

BACKGROUND: Well-controlled trophoblast invasion at maternal-fetal interface is a critical event for the normal development of placenta. CD82 is a member of transmembrane 4 superfamily, which showed important role in inhibiting tumor cell invasion and migration. We surmised that CD82 are participates in trophoblast differentiation during placenta development. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: CD82 was found to be strongly expressed in human first trimester placental villous and extravillous trophoblast cells as well as in trophoblast cell lines. To investigate whether CD82 plays a role in trophoblast invasion and migration, we further utilized human villous explants culture model on matrigel and invasion/migration assay of trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo. CD82 siRNA significantly promoted outgrowth of villous explants in vitro (P<0.01), as well as invasion and migration of HTR8/SVneo cells (P<0.05), whereas the trophoblast proliferation was not affected. The enhanced effect of CD82 siRNA on invasion and migration of trophoblast cells was found associated with increased gelatinolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase MMP9 while over-expression of CD82 markedly decreased trphoblast cell invasion and migration as well as MMP9 activities. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that CD82 is an important negative regulator at maternal-fetal interface during early pregnancy, inhibiting human trophoblast invasion and migration

Proteomics-Based Systems Biology Modeling of Bovine Germinal Vesicle Stage Oocyte and Cumulus Cell Interaction

BACKGROUND: Oocytes are the female gametes which establish the program of life after fertilization. Interactions between oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells at germinal vesicle (GV) stage are considered essential for proper maturation or 'programming' of oocytes, which is crucial for normal fertilization and embryonic development. However, despite its importance, little is known about the molecular events and pathways involved in this bidirectional communication. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used differential detergent fractionation multidimensional protein identification technology (DDF-Mud PIT) on bovine GV oocyte and cumulus cells and identified 811 and 1247 proteins in GV oocyte and cumulus cells, respectively; 371 proteins were significantly differentially expressed between each cell type. Systems biology modeling, which included Gene Ontology (GO) and canonical genetic pathway analysis, showed that cumulus cells have higher expression of proteins involved in cell communication, generation of precursor metabolites and energy, as well as transport than GV oocytes. Our data also suggests a hypothesis that oocytes may depend on the presence of cumulus cells to generate specific cellular signals to coordinate their growth and maturation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Systems biology modeling of bovine oocytes and cumulus cells in the context of GO and protein interaction networks identified the signaling pathways associated with the proteins involved in cell-to-cell signaling biological process that may have implications in oocyte competence and maturation. This first comprehensive systems biology modeling of bovine oocytes and cumulus cell proteomes not only provides a foundation for signaling and cell physiology at the GV stage of oocyte development, but are also valuable for comparative studies of other stages of oocyte development at the molecular level

Identification of a Novel Binding Partner of Phospholipase Cβ1: Translin-Associated Factor X

Mammalian phospholipase Cβ1 (PLCβ1) is activated by the ubiquitous Gαq family of G proteins on the surface of the inner leaflet of plasma membrane where it catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate. In general, PLCβ1 is mainly localized on the cytosolic plasma membrane surface, although a substantial fraction is also found in the cytosol and, under some conditions, in the nucleus. The factors that localize PLCβ1in these other compartments are unknown. Here, we identified a novel binding partner, translin-associated factor X (TRAX). TRAX is a cytosolic protein that can transit into the nucleus. In purified form, PLCβ1 binds strongly to TRAX with an affinity that is only ten-fold weaker than its affinity for its functional partner, Gαq. In solution, TRAX has little effect on the membrane association or the catalytic activity of PLCβ1. However, TRAX directly competes with Gαq for PLCβ1 binding, and excess TRAX reverses Gαq activation of PLCβ1. In C6 glia cells, endogenous PLCβ1 and TRAX colocalize in the cytosol and the nucleus, but not on the plasma membrane where TRAX is absent. In Neuro2A cells expressing enhanced yellow and cyano fluorescent proteins (i.e., eYFP- PLCβ1 and eCFP-TRAX), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is observed mostly in the cytosol and a small amount is seen in the nucleus. FRET does not occur at the plasma membrane where TRAX is not found. Our studies show that TRAX, localized in the cytosol and nucleus, competes with plasma-membrane bound Gαq for PLCβ1 binding thus stabilizing PLCβ1 in other cellular compartments