Our friend in the north: the origins, evolution and appeal of the cult of St Duthac of Tain in later Middle Ages

St Duthac of Tain was one of the most popular Scottish saints of the later middle ages. From the late fourteenth century until the reformation devotion to Duthac outstripped that of Andrew, Columba, Margaret and Mungo, and Duthac's shrine in Easter Ross became a regular haunt of James IV (1488-1513) and James V (1513-42). Hitherto historians have tacitly accepted the view of David McRoberts that Duthac was one of several local saints whose emergence and popularity in the fifteenth century was part of a wider self-consciously nationalist trend in Scottish religious practice. This study looks beyond the paradigm of nationalism to trace and explain the popularity of St Duthac from the shadowy origins of the cult to its heyday in the early sixteenth century

Anti-cancer properties of phenolics from apple waste on colon carcinogenesis in vitro

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Western countries. The World Health Organisation identifies diet as a critical risk factor in the development and progression of this disease and the protective role of high levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. Several studies have shown that apples contain several phenolic compounds that are potent anti-oxidants in humans. However, little is known about other beneficial properties of apple phenolics in cancer. We have used the HT29, HT115 and CaCo-2 cell lines as in vitro models to examine the effect of apple phenolics (0.01–0.1% apple extract) on key stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, namely; DNA damage (Comet assay), colonic barrier function (TER assay), cell cycle progression (DNA content assay) and invasion (Matrigel assay). Our results indicate that a crude extract of apple phenolics can protect against DNA damage, improve barrier function and inhibit invasion (p < 0.05). The anti-invasive effects of the extract were enhanced with twenty-four hour pretreatment of cells (p < 0.05). We have shown that a crude apple extract from waste, rich in phenolic compounds, beneficially influences key stages of carcinogenesis in colon cells in vitro

Techno-economic Analysis of BioChar Production and energy generation from poultry litter waste

AbstractThe technical, environmental and economic analysis of generating electricity and/or heat together with biochar from poultry litter (PL) waste is the subject of this study. To carry out this study, the process simulation software ECLIPSE is used. Modelling and simulation have been conducted over the selected system: the pyrolysis/gasification process integrated with an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The facility will initially be capable of processing 1500kg of PL waste at 30% moisture content every hour. The expansion plans of the facility are underway to deal with 3000kg of PL waste per hour. Based on the data gathered, the key technical, environmental and economic issues have been examined. The ECLIPSE simulation shows that when using the reference PL the yield of biochar in the process is around 391kg per hour with 37% of carbon content and the producer gas has a calorific value of 4.72MJ/Nm3. Electric power generated by the ORC system is 398kWhe. Recovered low grade heat for space heating is estimated at 1879kWhth.The results of the economic analysis demonstrate that when using the reference PL and paying 20£/tonne for receiving, handling and storing the feedstock without options of selling either heat or electricity, the Break-even selling price (BESP) of the biochar is estimated at £222 per tonne. If the sales of electricity and heat produced are considered to be about 60£/MWhe and 10£/MWhth, the BESP value will go down to £155 per tonne. The case studies also indicate that when a gate fee of 10£/tonne is introduced the BESP can be further reduced to £40 per tonne, accounting for 74% reduction. On the other hand if biochar generated has an average price of £120 per tonne in the market, the plant is still paying a receiving and handling fee of 20£/tonne for the PL feedstock but will receive one Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) from the UK Government, the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for the electricity generation will be 51£/MWhe, which is compatible with electricity generated by fossil fuel power plants