Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 340 million infection cases (as of 21 January 2022) and more than 5.57 million deaths globally. In reaction, science, technology and innovation ...communities across the globe have organised themselves to contribute to national responses to COVID-19 disease. A significant contribution has been from the establishment of wastewater-based epidemiological (WBE) surveillance interventions and programmes for monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in at least 55 countries. Here, we examine and share experiences and lessons learnt in establishing such surveillance programmes. We use case studies to highlight testing methods and logistics considerations associated in scaling the implementing of such programmes in South Africa, the Netherlands, Turkey and England. The four countries were selected to represent different regions of the world and the perspective based on the considerable progress made in establishing and implementing their national WBE programmes. The selected countries also represent different climatic zones, economies, and development stages, which influence the implementation of national programmes of this nature and magnitude. In addition, the four countries' programmes offer good experiences and lessons learnt since they are systematic, and cover extensive areas, disseminate knowledge locally and internationally and partnered with authorities (government). The programmes also strengthened working relations and partnerships between and among local and global organisations. This paper shares these experiences and lessons to encourage others in the water and public health sectors on the benefits and value of WBE in tackling SARS-CoV-2 and related future circumstances.
•3/6 metaldehyde degraders attained at least 90% removal in batch tests at 2 µg•L−1.•2 strains attained compliance (0.1 µg•L−1) in water containing schmutzdecke.•Sand filter bioaugmentation with A. ...calcoaceticus E1 was ineffective at pilot-scale.•Addition of sphingobium CMET-H produced compliant water for more than14 d.
Metaldehyde is a polar, mobile, low molecular weight pesticide that is challenging to remove from drinking water with current adsorption-based micropollutant treatment technologies. Alternative strategies to remove this and compounds with similar properties are necessary to ensure an adequate supply of safe and regulation-compliant drinking water. Biological removal of metaldehyde below the 0.1 µg•L−1 regulatory concentration was attained in pilot-scale slow sand filters (SSFs) subject to bioaugmentation with metaldehyde-degrading bacteria. To achieve this, a library of degraders was first screened in bench-scale assays for removal at micropollutant concentrations in progressively more challenging conditions, including a mixed microbial community with multiple carbon sources. The best performing strains, A. calcoaceticus E1 and Sphingobium CMET-H, showed removal rates of 0.0012 µg•h−1•107 cells−1 and 0.019 µg•h−1•107 cells−1 at this scale. These candidates were then used as inocula for bioaugmentation of pilot-scale SSFs. Here, removal of metaldehyde by A. calcoaceticus E1, was insufficient to achieve compliant water regardless testing increasing cell concentrations. Quantification of metaldehyde-degrading genes indicated that aggregation and inadequate distribution of the inoculum in the filters were the likely causes of this outcome. Conversely, bioaugmentation with Sphingobium CMET-H enabled sufficient metaldehyde removal to achieve compliance, with undetectable levels in treated water for at least 14 d (volumetric removal: 0.57 µg•L−1•h−1). Bioaugmentation did not affect the background SSF microbial community, and filter function was maintained throughout the trial. Here it has been shown for the first time that bioaugmentation is an efficient strategy to remove the adsorption-resistant pesticide metaldehyde from a real water matrix in upscaled systems. Swift contaminant removal after inoculum addition and persistent activity are two remarkable attributes of this approach that would allow it to effectively manage peaks in metaldehyde concentrations (due to precipitation or increased application) in incoming raw water by matching them with high enough degrading populations. This study provides an example of how stepwise screening of a diverse collection of degraders can lead to successful bioaugmentation and can be used as a template for other problematic adsorption-resistant compounds in drinking water purification.
Display omitted .
The co-solvent 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) has been often used to aid formation of secondary structure in solution peptides or alternately as a denaturant within protein folding studies. Hen egg ...white lysozyme (HEWL) and a synthetic model peptide defining HEWL helix-4 were used as comparative model systems to systematically investigate the effect of increasing TFE concentrations on the structure of proteins and peptides. HEWL was analyzed using NMR, far-UV CD and fluorescence spectroscopy; with correlation of these results towards changes in enzymatic activity and the helix-4 peptide was analysed using NMR. Data illustrates two conflicting modes of interaction: Low TFE concentrations stabilize tertiary structure, observed from an increase in the number of NMR NOE contacts. Higher TFE concentrations denatured HEWL with the loss of lysozyme tertiary structure. The effects of TFE upon secondary structural elements within HEWL are distinct from those observed for the helix-4 peptide. This illustrates a dissimilar interaction of TFE towards both protein and peptide at equivalent TFE concentrations. The concentration that TFE promotes stabilization over denaturation is likely to be protein dependent although the structural action can be extrapolated to other protein systems with implications for the use of TFE in structural stability studies.
The impact of organic loading rate (OLR) on carbonaceous materials and ammonia removal was assessed in bench scale rotating media biofilm reactors treating real wastewater. Media composition ...influences biofilm structure and therefore performance. Here, plastic mesh, reticulated coarse foam and fine foam media were operated concurrently at OLRs of 15, 35 and 60 g sCOD m(-2)d(-1) in three bench scale shaft mounted advanced reactor technology (SMART) reactors. The sCOD removal rate increased with loading from 6 to 25 g sCOD m(-2)d(-1) (P < 0.001). At 35 g BOD5m(-2)d(-1), more than double the arbitrary OLR limit of normal nitrifying conditions (15 g BOD5m(-2)d(-1)); the removal efficiency of NH(4)-N was 82 ± 5, 27 ± 19 and 39 ± 8% for the mesh, coarse foam and fine foam media, respectively. Increasing the OLR to 35 gm(-2)d(-1) decreased NH(4)-N removal efficiency to 38 ± 6, 21 ± 4 and 21 ± 6%, respectively. The mesh media achieved the highest stable NH(4)(+)-N removal rate of 6.5 ± 1.6 gm(-2)d(-1) at a sCOD loading of 35 g sCOD m(-2)d(-1). Viable bacterial numbers decreased with increasing OLR from 2 × 10(10)-4 × 10(9) cells per ml of biofilm from the low to high loading, suggesting an accumulation of inert non-viable biomass with higher OLR. Increasing the OLR in permeable media is of practical benefit for high rate carbonaceous materials and ammonia removal in the pretreatment of wastewater.
Background
Mental ill health is the leading cause of sickness absence with high economic burden. Workplace interventions aimed at supporting employers with prevention of mental ill-health in the ...workforce are urgently required. Managing Minds at Work (MMW) is a digital intervention targeting support for line managers in any work setting to promote better mental health at work through a preventative approach.
Objectives
To describe the design and development of the MMW digital training programme, prior to feasibility testing. We adopted a collaborative participatory design involving co-design (users as partners) and principles of user-centred design (pilot and usability testing). Agile methodology was used to co-create intervention content with a stakeholder community of practice. Development processes were mapped to core elements of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions.
Results
The program covers five broad areas: (i) promoting self-care techniques among line managers; (ii) designing work to prevent work-related stress; (iii) management competencies to prevent and reduce stress; (iv) having conversations with employees about mental health; (v) building a psychologically safe work environment. Pilot and usability testing (n = 37 surveys) aligned with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) demonstrated that MMW was perceived to be useful, relevant, and easy to use by managers across sectors, organization types and sizes. We identified positive impacts on manager attitudes and behavioural intentions related to preventing mental ill-health and promoting good mental well-being at work.
Conclusions
MMW is a digital training programme for line managers that has been co-created using rigorous development processes and aims to support employers with primary prevention in mental health. The next step is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention with line managers in diverse employment settings.
Key messages
We used co-creation and participatory design to create Managing Minds at Work - a new digital intervention to support line managers in preventing mental ill-health at work.
The next step is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention with line managers in diverse employment settings.
Neutron damage of CVD diamond Allers, L.; Howard, A.S.; Hassard, J.F. ...
Diamond and related materials,
03/1997, Letnik:
6, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
CVD diamond is being evaluated for the vertex detectors in the Large Hadron Collider. At the positions where diamond detectors would be located, the dose of high energy particles is expected to be ...equivalent to 10
15 cm
−2 1-MeV neutrons year
−1. Three diamond films have been irradiated with 6 × 10
15 neutrons cm
−2. Before and after the full dose of irradiation, their cathodoluminescence and absorption spectra were recorded. The resistivity and the signal detected due to minimum ionising
β particles was measured before and after irradiation and at five intermediate doses. We estimated the concentration of vacancies from the absorption spectra. The production rate for single neutral vacancies was about 0.5 per neutron cm
−1. The signal detected when a minimum ionising
β passes through the diamonds increases with dose by about 40% after 10
15 neutrons cm
−2. It decreases to below its initial value after the final dose. These results show definitively that CVD diamond detectors will operate with little degradation for 10 years in the high radiation zones of the Large Hadron Collider.
Burden to Others and the Terminally Ill Chochinov, Harvey Max, MD, PhD; Kristjanson, Linda J., PhD; Hack, Thomas F., PhD, CPsych ...
Journal of pain and symptom management,
11/2007, Letnik:
34, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Abstract Studies of patients who are terminally ill consistently identify strong associations between “sense of burden to others” and marked end-of-life distress. However, little research has ...addressed the issue of burden to others among patients nearing death. The aim of this study was to carefully examine “burden to others” and clarify its relationship with various psychosocial, physical, and existential issues arising in patients who are terminally ill. A cohort of 211 patients with end-stage cancer was assessed, using an assortment of validated psychometrics to document psychosocial, physical, and existential aspects of their end-of-life experience. This included an assessment of their sense of “burden to others.” Forty percent of participants indicated a negligible sense of burden to others, scoring within the lowest quarter on an ordinal measure of “burden to others;” 25% scored within the second lowest quarter; 12% within the third quarter; and 23% within the highest or most severe range. The most highly correlated variables with “sense of burden to others” included depression ( r = 0.460; df = 201, P < 0.0001), hopelessness ( r = 0.420; df = 199, P < 0.0001), and outlook ( r = 0.362; df = 200, P < 0.0001). Four variables emerged in a multiple regression analysis predicting burden to others, including hopelessness, current quality of life, depression, and level of fatigue R2 adj = 0.32, F (6,174) = 13.76, P < 0.0001. There was no association between sense of burden to others and actual degree of physical dependency. Feeling a sense of burden to others is common among dying patients. Although 40% of the sample reported little in the way of sense of burden to others, the remainder endorsed higher degrees of burden-related distress, with 23% scoring within the most severe range. The lack of association between “sense of burden to others” and the degree of physical dependency suggests this perception is largely mediated through psychological and existential considerations. Strategies that target meaning and purpose, depression, and level of fatigue could lessen this source of distress and enhance quality, dignity-conserving care.
PDF
