Correlation between Key Organic Substrate Characteristics and Biogas Production

In this study, wastewater sludge (WW), foodwaste (FW) and fats, oils and grease (FOG) were characterized and mono digested. Out of the three feedstocks, 10 subsamples were prepared using volume to volume ratios and co-digested. The study was carried out with biomethane potential assays operating at mesophilic temperature. At the end of the experiments, wastewater mono digestion yielded the lowest specific methane of 118ml CH4/g VS while the co-digestion of 50% WW and 50% FOG gave the highest specific methane of 1040ml CH4/g VS. In general, all co-digestion assays yielded higher methane compared to mono digestion assays. Also, lipid-rich samples produced more biogas than samples rich in proteins and carbohydrates. However, samples rich in proteins and carbohydrates had faster gas production rate than lipid-rich samples. Overall, co-digestion of substrates with good proportion of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates lead to significant biogas output

Association of adult attachment with delays in accessing specialist care in women with ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: Advanced stage at diagnosis and delayed presentation are common in ovarian cancer (OC). The objective of the current study was to explore the association of adult attachment pattern with delays in accessing specialist oncology care in patients with OC. METHODS: A cross-sectional structured interview study of patients with OC presenting to an Indian cancer center was undertaken. Consenting patients completed Experiences of Close Relationships-Relationship Style questionnaire (ECR-RS) and Medical Outcome Survey-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS). Multivariate linear regression with "time to presentation to cancer specialist" as the dependent variable was undertaken. RESULTS: In all, 132 of 155 (85%) patients with OC who were invited were interviewed. An increased ECR-RS attachment anxiety score (P = .01) and being part of a multigenerational extended household (P = .04) were both independently associated with delay in presentation to a cancer specialist. There was no association between delay in presentation and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with OC, adult attachment may contribute to delays in presentation. It may be important for the cancer symptom awareness efforts in primary care to include educating physicians on recognizing and interacting with patients with insecure attachment styles. The association of delays in presentation for women with OC living in multigenerational extended households needs more indepth exploration. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2022.2025510

Cryptococcus gattii Virulence Composite: Candidate Genes Revealed by Microarray Analysis of High and Less Virulent Vancouver Island Outbreak Strains

Human and animal cryptococcosis due to an unusual molecular type of Cryptococcus gattii (VGII) emerged recently on Vancouver Island, Canada. Unlike C. neoformans, C. gattii causes disease mainly in immunocompetent hosts, despite producing a similar suite of virulence determinants. To investigate a potential relationship between the regulation of expression of a virulence gene composite and virulence, we took advantage of two subtypes of VGII (a and b), one highly virulent (R265) and one less virulent (R272), that were identified from the Vancouver outbreak. By expression microarray analysis, 202 genes showed at least a 2-fold difference in expression with 108 being up- and 94 being down-regulated in strain R265 compared with strain R272. Specifically, expression levels of genes encoding putative virulence factors (e.g. LAC1, LAC2, CAS3 and MPK1) and genes encoding proteins involved in cell wall assembly, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were increased in strain R265, whereas genes involved in the regulation of mitosis and ergosterol biosynthesis were suppressed. In vitro phenotypic studies and transcription analysis confirmed the microarray results. Gene disruption of LAC1 and MPK1 revealed defects in melanin synthesis and cell wall integrity, respectively, where CAS3 was not essential for capsule production. Moreover, MPK1 also controls melanin and capsule production and causes a severe attenuation of the virulence in a murine inhalational model. Overall, this study provides the basis for further genetic studies to characterize the differences in the virulence composite of strains with minor evolutionary divergences in gene expression in the primary pathogen C. gattii, that have led to a major invasive fungal infection outbreak

Insights into the school assessment policies across Australia for students with special needs

The reporting policies across Australia are critiqued. In the Australian Capital Territory, the reporting is carried out against the goals and priorities identified in the Individual Learning Plan. Reporting in the Northern Territory is facilitated by providing a reference for communicating the level of student achievement throught a standardised judgement. In New South Wales, the reporting structure is standards based emphasizing students' achievements and to set expectations for the next stage. In Tasmania, the reports for students with special needs are negotiated on an individual basis as part of each child's Individual Education Programme. In Western Australia, school-based and external assessments are combined in equal proportion for reporting. Queensland reports student progress against clear achievement expectations and standards using a five point scale. The Negotiated Education Plan forms the back-bone of reporting in South Australia. The individual learning plan provides an important focus for reporting to parents in Victoria.Tania Aspland and Poulomee Datt

Transitioning into the Australian higher education experience : The perspective of international doctoral students

This research explored the academic and non-academic lived experiences of higher degree onshore international doctoral students studying in one Australian university. While the academic dimension of experiences included curricular, resource, research and supervision issues, the non-academic dimension focussed on students' inter-personal experiences. Students were required to engage in a series of personal and professional transitions to engage with higher degree research programs in Australia. The findings of this research revealed that, for international doctoral students to survive and succeed at the Australian postgraduate university experience in one Australian context, several factors are important, and a series of transitions must occur. These factors and transitions range from matters related to university guidance and counselling, research and supervision experience, and the difficulties implicit in developing both pedagogical and interpersonal or intercultural relationships. The findings provide deeper insights into the experiences of international doctoral students through transitional positioning of their personal and professional behaviours

*WINNER* Microplastics Sampling and Identification in Wastewater Treatment Plants around Middle Tennessee

Recent research has shown that microplastics (MPs) are present ubiquitously in natural and drinking water systems. One of the possible sources of MPs are municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Because of their key role in maintaining public health, WWTPs can give insight into how much MPs are being disposed by human activities, and if existing treatment plants can process these emerging pollutants. The goal of the research study was to address the inconsistencies present in other research methodologies by determining the efficacies of collection and preparation methods for MPs in wastewater. In order to accomplish this, samples were collected via grab, composite, and pump filtration from two WWTPs in middle Tennessee to be processed and analyzed. The facilities chosen for this study were selected to account for variables such as population density, hydraulic capacity, treatment processes, and receiving streams where wastewater effluent is discharged. Through experimentation, this study will process the samples using hydrogen peroxide oxidation and zinc chloride density separation. The future outcomes from analysis of the collected and processed samples using epifluorescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to quantify and identify MPs will give results to the adequacy of research methodologies for the overall goal of understanding the fate of MPs in WWTPs