Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme ERAMMP Report-65: The development of a hazard map to inform an environmental AMR monitoring programme in Welsh rivers.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) one of the most serious global health threats facing society. Anthropogenic sources of pollution, e.g., human, animal and industrial wastewater and agriculture, have been implicated in the dissemination, selection and transmission of AMR in the environment. This project was commissioned by the Welsh Government as a response to recommendations suggested in the Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme (ERAMMP)-55 report (Singer et al., 2021). This project aimed to undertake an evidence-gathering phase compiling data on sources of AMR and AMR driving chemicals (ARDCs) to the environment, and to use these data to inform the creation of hazard maps investigating the effects of catchment-scale pollution on AMR in Welsh river environments. This report details the outcomes of this project. For the evidence-gathering phase of this project, data was sourced that would influence AMR in the natural environment. This included data on anthropogenic sources with the potential to release and/or elevate concentrations of ARDCs, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). Datasets were collated by searching government websites, asking key experts in the field and generating datasets that were previously non-existent (or not publicly available). A total of 54 datasets of relevance were identified and compiled in a spreadsheet along with their attributes (including URL, description, relevance to environmental monitoring of AMR, and spatial and temporal completeness). Hazard maps were produced from the number of datasets included in the data register, attributing a level of AMR hazard to each catchment within Wales. Firstly, a map showing catchments with potentially elevated levels of AMR in the environment was produced. This map was influenced by data indicating total population equivalents served by wastewater treatment plants, combined sewer overflows spills and duration, hospital bed numbers, and the presence of various agricultural inputs. The catchment with the highest unadjusted hazard score, indicative of having the highest likelihood of elevated levels of AMR in the environment, was the Dee Estuary catchment. Secondly, a map ranking catchments by likelihood of human exposure to environmental AMR was produced. This map was driven by the location of designated recreational bathing waters and wild swimming in catchments. The catchments with the highest potential likelihood of exposure of humans to AMR in the environment, were the Dwyfor, Dyfi Lower and Gwyrafi Seiont catchments. Finally, both the AMR abundance hazard map and the exposure map were combined to create a map showing the hazard posed by AMR abundance in catchments where human exposure is likely to occur. Notably, the Gwyrafi Seiont catchment had the highest adjusted hazard score for potential for AMR abundance in catchments where human exposure is most likely to occur (i.e. using these metrics, human exposure to high levels of AMR is most likely to occur). These hazard maps can inform and guide future AMR monitoring campaigns, as well as to test and refine our understanding of the drivers of AMR in the Welsh aquatic environments. The conclusions presented in this report are constrained by the availability of data. The availability of more granular, and temporally and spatially complete data will result in more refined estimations of AMR hazard. The hazard maps are to be used to test assumptions about AMR drivers in the aquatic environment in Wales

Field line distribution of mass density at geostationary orbit

The distribution of mass density along the field lines affects the ratios of toroidal (azimuthally oscillating) Alfv\u27{e}n frequencies, and given the ratios of these frequencies we can get information about that distribution. Here we assume the commonly used power law form for the field line distribution, rho_{m} = rho_{m,eq} ( L R_{E} /R )^alpha, where rho_{m,eq} is the value of the mass density rho_{m} at the magnetic equator, L is the L shell, R_{E} is the Earth\u27s radius, R is the geocentric distance to a point on the field line, and alpha is the power law coefficient. Positive values of alpha indicate that rho_{m} increases away from the magnetic equator, zero value indicates that rho_{m} is constant along the magnetic field line, and negative alpha indicates that there is a local peak in rho_{m} at the magnetic equator. Using 12 years of observations of toroidal Alfven frequencies by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), we study the typical dependence of inferred values of alpha on the magnetic local time (MLT), the phase of the solar cycle as specified by the F10.7 extreme ultraviolet solar flux, and geomagnetic activity as specified by the auroral electrojet (AE) index. Over the mostly dayside range of the observations, we find that alpha decreases with respect to increasing MLT and F10.7, but increases with respect to increasing AE. We develop a formula that depends on all three parameters, alpha_{3Dmodel} = 2.2 + 1.3 cos(MLT 15 degrees) + 0.0026 {AE} cos((MLT-0.8) 15 degrees) + 2.1 10^{-5} {AE} {F10.7} - 0.010 {F10.7},\r\nthat models the binned values of alpha within a standard deviation of 0.3. While we do not yet have a complete theoretical understanding of why alpha should depend on these parameters in such a way, we do make some observations and speculations about the causes. At least part of the dependence is related to that of rho_{m,eq}; higher alpha, corresponding to steeper variation with respect to MLAT, occurs when rho_{m,eq} is lower

Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme - ERAMMP Report-55: Evidence Review on the Entry and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the Rural Water Environment in Wales

Antimicrobials (antivirals, antibacterials, antifungals, antiprotozoals, anthelmintics) represent a fraction of all chemicals that are known to select for or aid in the dispersal of ARGs. The chemicals that drive AMR, i.e., antimicrobial resistance-driving chemicals (ARDCs), include metals, biocides, pesticides and many other environmental pollutants. Areas of significant anthropogenic impact can be areas of elevated AMR, including manufacturing and industry discharge, agriculture, municipal wastewater (wastewater treatment plants [WWTPs], combined-sewer outfalls, sewage sludge) and meat animal, egg, sport animal and dairy production activities (feed, chemotherapy, biosecurity, manure, slurry). Concentrations of ARDCs that do not kill bacteria (i.e. sub-lethal concentrations) have been shown to be sufficient to drive the selection and mobilisation of ARGs in many environmental compartments, e.g., freshwater and soils, as would also be the case in humans, e.g., the gut. In addition to chemical pollution, environmental pollutants that can increase the dissemination of ARGs represent a major mechanism for ARG dissemination, particularly from major human and animal waste sources such as wastewater and meat animal production

Extracellular nucleases and extracellular DNA play important roles in Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation

Biofilms are a preferred mode of survival for many microorganisms including Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the severe secretory diarrhoeal disease cholera. The ability of the facultative human pathogen V. cholerae to form biofilms is a key factor for persistence in aquatic ecosystems and biofilms act as a source for new outbreaks. Thus, a better understanding of biofilm formation and transmission of V. cholerae is an important target to control the disease. So far the Vibrio exopolysaccharide was the only known constituent of the biofilm matrix. In this study we identify and characterize extracellular DNA as a component of the Vibrio biofilm matrix. Furthermore, we show that extracellular DNA is modulated and controlled by the two extracellular nucleases Dns and Xds. Our results indicate that extracellular DNA and the extracellular nucleases are involved in diverse processes including the development of a typical biofilm architecture, nutrient acquisition, detachment from biofilms and the colonization fitness of biofilm clumps after ingestion by the host. This study provides new insights into biofilm development and transmission of biofilm-derived V. cholerae

Influence of Carbon Concentration on the Superconductivity in MgCxNi3

The influence of carbon concentration on the superconductivity (SC) in MgC$_{x}$Ni$_3$ has been investigated by measuring the low temperature specific heat combined with first principles electronic structure calculation. It is found that the specific heat coefficient $\gamma_n=C_{en}/T$ of the superconducting sample ($x\approx1$) in normal state is twice that of the non-superconducting one ($x\approx 0.85$). The comparison of measured $\gamma_n$ and the calculated electronic density of states (DOS) shows that the effective mass renormalization changes remarkably as the carbon concentration changes. The large mass renormalization for the superconducting sample and the low $T_{c}$(7K) indicate that more than one kind of boson mediated electron-electron interactions exist in MgC$_{x}$Ni$_3$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Thermopower and thermal conductivity of superconducting perovskite MgCNi3MgCNi_3

The thermopower and thermal conductivity of superconducting perovskite $MgCNi_3$ ($T_c \approx$ 8 K) have been studied. The thermopower is negative from room temperature to 10 K. Combining with the negative Hall coefficient reported previously, the negative thermopower definetly indicates that the carrier in $MgCNi_3$ is electron-type. The nonlinear temperature dependence of thermopower below 150 K is explained by the electron-phonon interaction renormalization effects. The thermal conductivity is of the order for intermetallics, larger than that of borocarbides and smaller than $MgB_2$. In the normal state, the electronic contribution to the total thermal conductivity is slightly larger than the lattice contribution. The transverse magnetoresistance of $MgCNi_3$ is also measured. It is found that the classical Kohler's rule is valid above 50 K. An electronic crossover occures at $T^* \sim 50 K$, resulting in the abnormal behavior of resistivity, thermopower, and magnetoresistance below 50 K.Comment: Revised on 12 September 2001, Phys. Rev. B in pres

Recommendations for Next‐Generation Ground Magnetic Perturbation Validation

Data‐model validation of ground magnetic perturbation forecasts, specifically of the time rate of change of surface magnetic field, dB/dt, is a critical task for model development and for mitigation of geomagnetically induced current effects. While a current, community‐accepted standard for dB/dt validation exists (Pulkkinen et al., 2013), it has several limitations that prevent more complete understanding of model capability. This work presents recommendations from the International Forum for Space Weather Capabilities Assessment Ground Magnetic Perturbation Working Team for creating a next‐generation validation suite. Four recommendations are made to address the existing suite: greatly expand the number of ground observatories used, expand the number of events included in the suite from six to eight, generate metrics as a function of magnetic local time, and generate metrics as a function of activity type. For each of these, implementation details are explored. Limitations and future considerations are also discussed.Plain Language SummarySpace weather forecast models of magnetic field perturbations are important for protecting the power grid and other vulnerable infrastructure. These models must be validated by comparing their predictions to observations. This paper makes recommendations for how future models should be validated in order to best test their capabilities.Key PointsWe present a new validation suite for models of ground magnetic perturbations, dB/dt, of interest for geomagnetically induced currentsThe existing standard remains useful but provides limited information, so an expanded set of metrics is defined hereThis work is a result of the International Forum for Space Weather Capabilities Assessment and represents a new community consensusPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147786/1/swe20777_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147786/2/swe20777.pd

Two-Component Fluid Membranes Near Repulsive Walls: Linearized Hydrodynamics of Equilibrium and Non-equilibrium States

We study the linearized hydrodynamics of a two-component fluid membrane near a repulsive wall, via a model which incorporates curvature- concentration coupling as well as hydrodynamic interactions. This model is a simplified version of a recently proposed one [J.-B. Manneville et al. Phys. Rev. E, 64, 021908 (2001)] for non-equilibrium force-centres embedded in fluid membranes, such as light-activated bacteriorhodopsin pumps incorporated in phospholipid (EPC) bilayers. The pump/membrane system is modeled as an impermeable, two-component bilayer fluid membrane in the presence of an ambient solvent, in which one component, representing active pumps, is described in terms of force dipoles displaced with respect to the bilayer midpoint. We first discuss the case in which such pumps are rendered inactive, computing the mode structure in the bulk as well as the modification of hydrodynamic properties by the presence of a nearby wall. We then discuss the fluctuations and mode structure in steady state of active two-component membranes near a repulsive wall. We find that proximity to the wall smoothens membrane height fluctuations in the stable regime, resulting in a logarithmic scaling of the roughness even for initially tensionless membranes. This explicitly non-equilibrium result, a consequence of the incorporation of curvature-concentration coupling in our treatment, also indicates that earlier scaling arguments which obtained an increase in the roughness of active membranes near repulsive walls may need to be reevaluated.Comment: 39 page Latex file, 3 encapsulated Postscript figure