Enhanced microbial activity in carbon-rich pillow lavas, Ordovician, Great Britain and Ireland

Date of acceptance: 09/07/2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A. Sandison and C. Taylor provided skilled technical support. Boyce is funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) support of the Isotope Community Support Facility at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre. NERC supported the project through facility grant IP-1235- 0511. The Raman spectroscopy facility at the University of Aberdeen is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. We are grateful to M. Feely, G. Purvis, and an anonymous reviewer for helpful criticism.Peer reviewedPostprin

End user voltage regulation to ease urban low-voltage distribution congestion

Owing to the increasing demand in the urban areas for new technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs), greater power capacity in low voltage (LV) distribution networks is becoming increasingly important. This study will investigate how to improve the power capacity through the implementation of point of use voltage regulation (PUVR). PUVR relies on a power electronics converter at each end-user. Most LV network cabling has a voltage limit of 1 kV, PUVR exploits this voltage rating to increase the network capacity. This study will describe and discuss the results from a viability study using data from a utility company, which shows that the capacity in the LV network could be increased by an additional 500 kVA. However, it was also found that PUVR using present off-the-shelf converters is not as cost-effective as replacing the LV network cables. Two power electronics topologies have been investigated in the simulation studies to date: the AC chopper circuit and the back-to-back inverter circuit. These two topologies were compared and the AC chopper was found to be a cheaper, more efficient topology. Therefore the AC chopper is more suitable for this application and may increase the viability of the PUVR

Use of rainfall and sea surface temperature monitoring for malaria early warning in Botswana

Improved prediction, prevention, and control of epidemics is a key technical element of the Roll Back Malaria partnership. We report a methodology for assessing the importance of climate as a driver of inter-annual variability in malaria in Botswana, and provide the evidence base for inclusion of climate information in a national malaria early warning system. The relationships of variability in rainfall and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) to malaria incidence are assessed at the national level after removing the impact of non-climatic trends and a major policy intervention. Variability in rainfall totals for the period December–February accounts for more than two-thirds of the inter-annual variability in standardized malaria incidence in Botswana (January–May). Both rainfall and annual malaria anomalies in December–February are significantly related to SSTs in the eastern Pacific, suggesting they may be predictable months in advance using seasonal climate forecasting methodologies

Comparison of global gridded precipitation products over a mountainous region of Africa

Five gridded monthly precipitation products are evaluated using a gauge network over complex topography in Africa. The global gridded products considered are produced by the Global Precipitation Climatology Center (GPCC), NOAA Climate Prediction Center (NOAA-CPC), and the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia (UEA-CRU). Three different products from GPCC are available at multiple spatial resolutions: 0.5, 1 and 2.5° ; the NOAA-CPC product has a spatial resolution of 2.5° while that of UEA-CRU is 0.5° . Comparisons of the GPCC and UEA-CRU products are carried out at spatial resolutions of 0.5, 1 and 2.5° , while NOAA-CPC is compared with the other products only at 2.5° resolution. There is very strong agreement between the gridded global products and the reference raingauge data. Average correlation coefficients are about 0.95, 0.92, and 0.90 at 2.5, 1.0 and 0.5° spatial resolutions, respectively. Both systematic and random errors are reasonably low. The performance of these products is highest during the wettest season (Jun-Aug), and relatively poor during the dry season (Dec-Feb). The seasonal differences are more prominent at high resolution. These results are very encouraging, particularly, when considering the complex terrain of the validation site

A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa

Rainfall and temperature are two of the major factors triggering malaria epidemics in warm semi-arid (desert-fringe) and high altitude (highland-fringe) epidemic risk areas. The ability of the mosquitoes to transmit Plasmodium spp. is dependent upon a series of biological features generally referred to as vectorial capacity. In this study, the vectorial capacity model (VCAP) was expanded to include the influence of rainfall and temperature variables on malaria transmission potential. Data from two remote sensing products were used to monitor rainfall and temperature and were integrated into the VCAP model. The expanded model was tested in Eritrea and Madagascar to check the viability of the approach. The analysis of VCAP in relation to rainfall, temperature and malaria incidence data in these regions shows that the expanded VCAP correctly tracks the risk of malaria both in regions where rainfall is the limiting factor and in regions where temperature is the limiting factor. The VCAP maps are currently offered as an experimental resource for testing within Malaria Early Warning applications in epidemic prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa. User feedback is currently being collected in preparation for further evaluation and refinement of the VCAP model

Sixth Report (Months 31-40)

This is the sixth, and final, issue of the progress reports for this project. It recognizes changes in the project amendment agreements: the first on January 1, 2009, which removed any reliance on the expected 50% joint project funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF), and where, as a result, it was agreed that the geographical scale of the project would be scaled back from regional to national with a focus on Ethiopia; the second on March 30, 2010 following required shifts in effort to IRI and University of Reading staff given the repeated failures to secure both UK and US visas for some Ethiopian trainees that lead to greater emphasis on training in region. While the primary geographical focus of activity has centered on Ethiopia the final months of the project have placed additional emphasis on travel in order to ensure project completion, maximum visibility and dissemination of project outcomes., to maximize regional awareness/impact where available

Improving epidemic malaria planning, preparedness and response in Southern Africa

Malaria is a major public health problem for countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). While the endemicity of malaria varies enormously across this region, many of the countries have districts that are prone to periodic epidemics, which can be regional in their extent, and to resurgent outbreaks that are much more localized. These epidemics are frequently triggered by climate anomalies and often follow periods of drought. Many parts of Southern Africa have suffered rainfall deficit over the past three years and countries expect to see increased levels of malaria when the rains return to more 'normal' levels. Problems with drug and insecticide resistance are documented widely and the region contains countries with the highest rates of HIV prevalence to be found anywhere in the world. Consequently, many communities are vulnerable to severe disease outcomes should epidemics occur. The SADC countries have adopted the Abuja targets for Roll Back Malaria in Africa, which include improved epidemic detection and response, i.e., that 60% of epidemics will be detected within two weeks of onset, and 60% of epidemics will be responded to within two weeks of detection. The SADC countries recognize that to achieve these targets they need improved information on where and when to look for epidemics. The WHO integrated framework for improved early warning and early detection of malaria epidemics has been recognized as a potentially useful tool for epidemic preparedness and response planning. Following evidence of successful adoption and implementation of this approach in Botswana, the SADC countries, the WHO Southern Africa Inter-Country Programme on Malaria Control, and the SADC Drought Monitoring Centre decided to organize a regional meeting where countries could gather to assess their current control status and community vulnerability, consider changes in epidemic risk, and develop a detailed plan of action for the forthcoming 2004–2005 season. The following is a report on the 1(st )Southern African Regional Epidemic Outlook Forum, which was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, 26(th)–29(th )September, 2004

Raised temperatures over the Kericho Tea Estates: revisiting the climate in the East African highlands malaria debate: Supplemental Information

Supplemental information to a study examining a time series of quality controlled daily temperature and rainfall data from Kericho, in the Kenyan Highlands, for the 30-year period 1 January 1979 to 31 December 2009

Exercise4Psychosis:A randomised control trial assessing the effect of moderate-to-vigorous exercise on inflammatory biomarkers and negative symptom profiles in men with first-episode psychosis

INTRODUCTION: First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) is a devastating mental health condition that commonly emerges during early adulthood, and is characterised by a disconnect in perceptions of reality. Current evidence suggests that inflammation and perturbed immune responses are involved in the pathology of FEP and may be associated specifically with negative symptoms. Exercise training is a potent anti-inflammatory stimulus that can reduce persistent inflammation, and can improve mood profiles in general populations. Therefore, exercise may represent a novel adjunct therapy for FEP. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of exercise on biomarkers of inflammation, negative symptoms of psychosis, and physiological health markers in FEP.METHODS: Seventeen young males (26.67 ± 6.64 years) were recruited from Birmingham Early Intervention in Psychosis Services and randomised to a 6-week exercise programme consisting of two-to-three sessions per week that targeted 60-70 % heart-rate max (HRMax), or a treatment as usual (TAU) condition. Immune T-helper (Th-) cell phenotypes and cytokines, symptom severity, functional wellbeing, and cognition were assessed before and after 6-weeks of regular exercise.RESULTS: Participants in the exercise group (n = 10) achieved 81.11 % attendance to the intervention, with an average exercise intensity of 67.54 % ± 7.75 % HRMax. This led to favourable changes in immune cell phenotypes, and a significant reduction in the Th1:Th2 ratio (-3.86 %) compared to the TAU group (p = 0.014). After the exercise intervention, there was also a significant reduction in plasma IL-6 concentration (-22.17 %) when compared to the TAU group (p = 0.006). IL-8, and IL-10 did not show statistically significant differences between the groups after exercise. Symptomatically, there was a significant reduction in negative symptoms after exercise (-13.54 %, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, (PANSS) Negative) when compared to the TAU group (p = 0.008). There were no significant change in positive or general symptoms, functional outcomes, or cognition (all p &gt; 0.05).DISCUSSION: Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is feasible and attainable in clinical populations. Exercise represents a physiological tool that is capable of causing significant inflammatory biomarker change and concomitant symptom improvements in FEP cohorts, and may be useful for treatment of symptom profiles that are not targeted by currently prescribed antipsychotic medication.</p

Raised temperatures over the Kericho tea estates: revisiting the climate in the East African highlands malaria debate

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whether or not observed increases in malaria incidence in the Kenyan Highlands during the last thirty years are associated with co-varying changes in local temperature, possibly connected to global changes in climate, has been debated for over a decade. Studies, using differing data sets and methodologies, produced conflicting results regarding the occurrence of temperature trends and their likelihood of being responsible, at least in part, for the increases in malaria incidence in the highlands of western Kenya. A time series of quality controlled daily temperature and rainfall data from Kericho, in the Kenyan Highlands, may help resolve the controversy. If significant temperature trends over the last three decades have occurred then climate should be included (along with other factors such as land use change and drug resistance) as a potential driver of the observed increases in malaria in the region.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Over 30 years (1 January 1979 to 31 December 2009) of quality controlled daily observations ( > 97% complete) of maximum, minimum and mean temperature were used in the analysis of trends at Kericho meteorological station, sited in a tea growing area of Kenya's western highlands. Inhomogeneities in all the time series were identified and corrected. Linear trends were identified via a least-squares regression analysis with statistical significance assessed using a two-tailed t-test. These 'gold standard' meteorological observations were compared with spatially interpolated temperature datasets that have been developed for regional or global applications. The relationship of local climate processes with larger climate variations, including tropical sea surface temperatures (SST), and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was also assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An upward trend of ≈0.2°C/decade was observed in all three temperature variables (P < 0.01). Mean temperature variations in Kericho were associated with large-scale climate variations including tropical SST (r = 0.50; p < 0.01). Local rainfall was found to have inverse effects on minimum and maximum temperature. Three versions of a spatially interpolated temperature data set showed markedly different trends when compared with each other and with the Kericho station observations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study presents evidence of a warming trend in observed maximum, minimum and mean temperatures at Kericho during the period 1979 to 2009 using gold standard meteorological observations. Although local factors may be contributing to these trends, the findings are consistent with variability and trends that have occurred in correlated global climate processes. Climate should therefore not be dismissed as a potential driver of observed increases in malaria seen in the region during recent decades, however its relative importance compared to other factors needs further elaboration. Climate services, pertinent to the achievement of development targets such as the Millennium Development Goals and the analysis of infectious disease in the context of climate variability and change are being developed and should increase the availability of relevant quality controlled climate data for improving development decisions. The malaria community should seize this opportunity to make their needs heard.</p