Australian policies on water management and climate change: are they supporting the sustainable development goals and improved health and well-being?

BACKGROUND: Sustainable management of the natural environment is essential. Continued environmental degradation will lead to worsened health outcomes in countries and across generations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for viewing the preservation of natural environments and the promotion of health, well-being and health equity as interconnected pursuits. Within the SDG framework the goals of promoting environmental sustainability and human health are unified through attention to the social determinants of health and health equity (SDH/HE). This paper presents findings from a document analysis of all Australian environment sector policies and selected legislation to examine whether and how current approaches support progress toward achieving SDG goals on water, climate change, and marine ecosystems (Goals 6, 13 and 14), and to consider implications for health and health equity. RESULTS: Consideration of a broad range of SDH/HE was evident in the analysed documents. Related collaborations between environment and health sectors were identified, but the bulk of proposed actions on SDH/HE were initiated by the environment sector as part of its core business. Strengths of Australian policy in regard to SDGs 6, 13 and 14 are reflected in recognition of the effects of climate change, a strong cohesive approach to marine park protection, and recognition of the need to protect existing water and sanitation systems from future threats. However, climate change strategies focus predominately on resilience, adaptation and heat related health effects, rather than on more comprehensive mitigation policies. The findings emphasise the importance of strengthened cross-sectoral action to address both the drivers and effects of environmental degradation. A lack of policy coherence between jurisdictions was also evident in several areas, compounded by inadequate national guidance, where vague strategies and non-specific devolution of responsibilities are likely to compromise coordination and accountability. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on planetary health recognises the interconnectedness of environmental and human health and, as such, suggests that ineffective management of climate change and water pose serious risks to both the natural environment and human well-being. To address these risks more effectively, and to achieve the SDGs, our findings indicate that cross-jurisdiction policy coherence and national coordination must be improved. In addition, more action to address global inequities is required, along with more comprehensive approaches to climate change mitigation

Identification of BACE1 cleavage sites in human voltage-gated sodium channel beta 2 subunit

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The voltage-gated sodium channel β2 subunit (Navβ2) is a physiological substrate of BACE1 (β-site APP cleaving enzyme) and γ-secretase, two proteolytic enzymes central to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Previously, we have found that the processing of Navβ2 by BACE1 and γ-secretase regulates sodium channel metabolism in neuronal cells. In the current study we identified the BACE1 cleavage sites in human Navβ2.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found a major (147-148 L↓M, where ↓ indicates the cleavage site) and a minor (144145 L↓Q) BACE1 cleavage site in the extracellular domain of human Navβ2 using a cell-free BACE1 cleavage assay followed by mass spectrometry. Next, we introduced two different double mutations into the identified major BACE1 cleavage site in human Navβ2: 147LM/VI and 147LM/AA. Both mutations dramatically decreased the cleavage of human Navβ2 by endogenous BACE1 in cell-free BACE1 cleavage assays. Neither of the two mutations affected subcellular localization of Navβ2 as confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy and subcellular fractionation of cholesterol-rich domains. Finally, wildtype and mutated Navβ2 were expressed along BACE1 in B104 rat neuroblastoma cells. In spite of α-secretase still actively cleaving the mutant proteins, Navβ2 cleavage products decreased by ~50% in cells expressing Navβ2 (147LM/VI) and ~75% in cells expressing Navβ2 (147LM/AA) as compared to cells expressing wildtype Navβ2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We identified a major (147-148 L↓M) and a minor (144-145 L↓Q) BACE1 cleavage site in human Navβ2. Our <it>in vitro </it>and cell-based results clearly show that the 147-148 L↓M is the major BACE1 cleavage site in human Navβ2. These findings expand our understanding of the role of BACE1 in voltage-gated sodium channel metabolism.</p

Unconventional spin density wave in (TMTSF)2PF6 below T* ~ 4K

The presence of subphases in spin-density wave (SDW) phase of (TMTSF)2PF6 below T* ~ 4K has been suggested by several experiments but the nature of the new phase is still controversial. We have investigated the temperature dependence of the angular dependence of the magnetoresistance in the SDW phase which shows different features for temperatures above and below T*. For T > 4K the magnetoresistance can be understood in terms of the Landau quantization of the quasiparticle spectrum in a magnetic field, where the imperfect nesting plays the crucial role. We propose that below T* ~ 4K the new unconventional SDW (USDW) appears modifying dramatically the quasiparticle spectrum. Unlike conventional SDW the order parameter of USDW depends on the quasiparticle momentum. The present model describes many features of the angular dependence of magnetoresistance reasonably well. Therefore, we may conclude that the subphase in (TMTSF)2PF6 below T* ~ 4K is described as SDW plus USDW.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, RevTeX4; misprint corrected, references updated, a few sentences adde

Qualitative protocol for understanding the contribution of Australian policy in the urban planning, justice, energy and environment sectors to promoting health and health equity

Introduction: A well-established body of literature demonstrates that health and equity are strongly influenced by the consequences of governments’ policy and resultant actions (or inactions) outside the health sector. Consequently, the United Nations, and its agency the WHO, have called for national leadership and whole-of-government action to understand and address the health impacts of policies in all sectors. This research responds to that call by investigating how policymaking in four sectors—urban planning, justice, energy and environment—may influence the social determinants of health and health equity (SDH/HE). Methods and analysis: The research design is informed by a critical qualitative approach. Three successive stages are included in the design. The first involves analysing all strategic policy documents and selected legislative documents from the four sectors (n=583). The document analysis is based on a coding framework developed to identify alignment between the documents and the SDH/HE. Two policies that demonstrate good practice in regard to SDH/HE will be selected from each sector during the second stage for embedded case study analysis (total n=8). This is intended to illuminate which factors have supported recognition and action on SDH/HE in the selected policies. The third stage involves progressive theoretical integration and development to understand political and institutional facilitators and barriers to action on SDH/HE, both within and between sectors. Ethics and dissemination: The research will provide much needed evidence about how coherent whole-of-government action on SDH/HE can be advanced and contribute knowledge about how health-enhancing policy activity in the four sectors may be optimised. Learnings from the research will be shared via a project advisory group, policy briefings, academic papers, conference presentations and research symposia. Ethics approval has been secured for the embedded case studies, which involve research participants

Raman Scattering versus Infrared Conductivity: Evidence for one-dimensional Conduction in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4}

Raman and Infrared (IR) spectra of an underdoped La_{1.90}Sr_{0.10}CuO_{4} single crystal have been measured as a function of temperature. Both techniques provide unconventional low-energy spectra. The IR conductivity exhibits features peaked at finite frequencies which do not have a counterpart in the Raman response. Below approximately 100 K a transfer of both Raman and IR spectral weight towards lower energies is found and a new component in the Raman response builds up being characterized by a very long lifetime of electrons propagating along the Cu-O bonds.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figure

Antibacterial electrospun PVA/Enzymatic synthesized poly(catechol) nanofibrous mid-layer membrane for ultrafiltration

Two different nanofibrous antibacterial membranes containing enzymatically synthesized poly(catechol) (PC) or silver nitrate (AgNO3, positive control) blended with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and electrospun onto a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) basal disc to generate thin-film composite mid-layers were produced for water ultrafiltration applications. The developed membranes were thoroughly characterized in terms of morphology, chemical composition and general mechanical and thermal features, antimicrobial activity and ultrafiltration capabilities. The electrospun blends were recognized as homogeneous. Data revealed relevant conformational changes in the PVA side groups, attributed to hydrogen bonding, and high thermal stability and residual mass. PVDF+PVA/AgNO3 membrane displayed 100% growth inhibition of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains, despite the wide range of fiber diameters generated, from 24 to 125 nm, formation of numerous beads and irregular morphology. The PVDF+PVA/PC membrane showed a good growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (92%) and revealed a smooth morphology, with no relevant bead formations and diameters ranging from 68 to 131 nm. The ultrafiltration abilities of the membrane containing PVA/PC were tested in a dead-end high-pressure cell (4 bar) using a reactive dye in distilled water and seawater. After 5 cycles, a maximum rejection of ≈ 85% with an average flux rate of 70 L m-2 h-1 for distilled water and ≈ 64% with an average flux rate of 62 L m-2 h-1 for seawater were determined with an overall salt rejection of ≈ 5%.This work was funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Competitiveness Programme – COMPETE and by National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) –under the project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-009389 (PTDC/CTM/100627/2008). A. Zille and H. P. Felgueiras also acknowledge funding from FCT within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136 and UID/CTM/00264.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Stability of vortex lines in liquid 3He-4He mixtures at zero temperature

At low temperatures and 3He concentrations below 6.6 %, there is experimental evidence about the existence in liquid helium mixtures, of stable vortices with 3He-rich cores. When the system is either supersaturated or submitted to a tensile strength, vortices lose stability becoming metastable and eventually completely unstable, so that their cores freely expand. Within a density functional approach, we have determined the pressure-3He concentration curve along which this instability appears at zero temperature.Comment: Typeset using Revtex, 9 pages and 5 Postscript figure

Developing reduced SNP assays from whole-genome sequence data to estimate C-lineage introgression in the Iberian honeybee (Apis mellifera iberiensis)

The honeybee has been subject to a growing number of threats. In Western Europe one such threat is large-scale introductions of commercial strains (C-lineage), which is leading to introgressive hybridization and even the local extinction of native populations (M-lineage). Here, we developed reduced assays of highly informative SNPs from 176 whole genomes to estimate C-lineage introgression in ;M-lineage subspecies Apis mellifera iberiensis. We started by evaluating the effects of sample size and sampling a geographically restricted area on the number of highly informative SNPs. We demonstrated that a bias in the number of fixed SNPs (FST=1) is introduced when the sample size is small (N≤10) and when sampling only captures a small fraction of a population’s genetic diversity. These results underscore the importance of having a representative sample when developing reliable reduced SNP assays for organisms with complex genetic patterns. We used a training dataset to design four independent SNP assays selected from pairwise FST between the Iberian and C-lineage honeybees. The designed assays, which were validated in holdout and simulated hybrid datasets, proved to be highly accurate and can be readily used for monitoring populations not only in the native range of A. m. iberiensis in Iberia but also in the introduced range in the Balearic islands, Macaronesia, and South America, in a time- and cost-effective manner. While our approach used the Iberian honeybee as model system, it has a high value in a wide range of scenarios for the monitoring and conservation of potentially hybridized domestic and wildlife populations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Função de genes associados à precipitação envolvidos na adaptação local da abelha ibérica

O aparecimento de novas tecnologias em estudos genómicos permite-nos realizar análises mais aprofundadas e compreender de que modo as forças evolutivas atuam sobre o genoma dos organismos. Um scan genómico realizado previamente na abelha ibérica, revelou genes associados a imunidade, detoxificação e mecanismo da visão, estando alguns deles associados a variáveis ambientais (Chávez-Galarza et al. 2013). Na sequência deste estudo procurou se sinais de seleção em genomas completos de 84 indivíduos de abelha ibérica, integrando informação genética, geográfica e ambiental. Detetou-se a presença 315 genes associados à precipitação. O principal objetivo é caracterizar a função destes genes, e também tentar perceber que tipos de substituições nucleotídicas ocorrem nas sequências codificantes das proteínas. Para isso utilizaram se diversas bases genómicas, como o NCBI, BeeBase e Flybase, as quais mostraram que 51 das variações, presentes em 28 genes, são não-sinónimas, originando aminoácidos diferentes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Searching for signatures of selection in Iberian honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis) using whole genome sequences

The Iberian Peninsula comprises a diverse set of habitats. It was an important glacial refugium during the Pleistocene and has served as a bridge for populations migrating between Africa and Europe, resulting in a complex mix of ancestry and diversity. The Iberian honey bee (A. m. iberiensis) is no exception and has been the subject of numerous incongruent population genetic surveys. Recent mtDNA and SNP analyses indicate a steep northeastern-southwestern cline of African ancestry along the peninsula, which has been explained by selection. Advances in DNA sequencing technology and computational tools provide unprecedented opportunities to study demography, search for signatures of selection across the genome and illuminate its role in shaping genomic diversity. We used Illumina technology to sequence the whole genomes of 86 Iberian honeybees, collected across three longitudinal transects in the Iberian Peninsula and spanning semi-arid climates in the southeastern peninsula to oceanic in the North-West. The dataset was first analyzed for FST-outliers, CLR (composite-likelihood ratio) and EHH (Extended Haplotype Homozygosity) methods were further deployed to evaluate polymorphisms implicated in local adaptation and possibly in the response to human- mediated environmental changes, including known and novel variants in genes related to behavior, vision, xenobiotic detoxification and immune response.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio