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PubMed2001

The development of anaerobic treatment and its future.

Anaerobic treatment is well over 100 years old. Its initial development was for the treatment of domestic wastewaters, using anaerobic filters and hybrid processes that are still of interest today. It then progressed in application to separate sludge digestion, then to treatment of dilute industrial wastewaters. Several processes have been developed that accomplish efficient treatment of wastewaters at short detention times. Major contributions to the broad application of anaerobic treatment and the better understanding of this process has come from efforts by G. Lettinga and his colleagues. They have emphasized its importance for meeting the need for sustainable development in the future. Greater efforts are now needed for broad application of anaerobic treatment for ridding the environment of unwanted organic materials by converting them into methane, a renewable energy source.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2002

[Conservation of endangered species resources of Tibetan medicine in China].

OBJECTIVE: To further investigate and discuss the cause of species endangerment, the status and present problem of conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine in China. METHOD: Previous relevant investigations and literatures were summed up in the field. The present situation of conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine was analyzed. RESULT: The status of endangered resources, cause of species endangerment, the conserving status and conserving measures etc were elaborated. The classification was made and suggestion of species conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine were put forward. CONCLUSION: The endangered species conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine was carried out by building protective area of endangered species resources and plant garden, setting up germplasm bank, developing the domestication and cultivation of Tibetan medicinal herbs most in use, strengthening the investigation and study of endangered species, launching exchange and cooperation of conservation techniques on endangered species, enhancing the protective awareness of endangered species traditional Tibetan medicine etc. By so doing we can facilitate the sustainable development of traditional Tibetan medicine in China.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1996

Science, advocacy, human and environmental health.

Medicine and public health sciences are applied sciences. The research upon which these are based is mission-oriented and as such they are underlain by advocacy. Ecological sciences, by way of parallel, involve managing ecological systems so they can remain healthy to support productive natural processes and the human population. In any eco-system, however, renewal has associated with it naturally occurring background levels of diseases and death. These are normal in all biological systems. 'Sustainable development' has been focused on commodity-based, managed systems where the goal is to ensure that the needs of growing human populations are met, producing healthy people. This objective is deemed by the Ecological Society of America to be too narrow. Priority should rather be given to the sustainability of natural ecosystems, otherwise the biosphere that sustains all life forms is neglected. Epidemiologists concerned with the health of populations need to recognize that human health and the health of natural systems have entwined destinies. Some convictions about limits, about the role of disease, degeneration, and death in healthy, that is, stable and sustainable human ecologies, ought to be embedded into any ethics for epidemiologists.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Sustained virological response to antiviral therapy reduces mortality in HCV reinfection after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: HCV infection recurs almost in all HCV-positive patients receiving liver transplantation and carries a poor prognosis. Aim of this study was to analyze efficacy and effect on survival of antiviral therapy in this clinical setting. METHODS: Pegylated-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin were administered at a dose of 1 microg/kg of bwt weekly and 600-800 mg/day. Planned duration of treatment was 24 or 48 weeks according to HCV genotype. Patients who failed to respond at week 24 were considered as non-responders. RESULTS: 61 patients were enrolled. According to intention-to-treat analysis, 44 (72%) patients were considered as treatment failure (31 non-responders, 4 relapsers, 9 dropout). Sustained virological response was achieved in 17 cases (28%). Genotype 2, higher doses of antivirals and absence of histological cirrhosis were predictors of sustained virological response. In the follow up, patients with sustained virological response had a significantly lower mortality compared to patients with treatment failure (chi2=6.9; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Response rate to antiviral therapy in HCV reinfection after liver transplantation is higher if a full dose of antiviral drugs is administered and if treatment starts before histological cirrhosis has developed. Sustained virological response improves patient survival.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Forecasting municipal solid waste generation in a fast-growing urban region with system dynamics modeling.

Both planning and design of municipal solid waste management systems require accurate prediction of solid waste generation. Yet achieving the anticipated prediction accuracy with regard to the generation trends facing many fast-growing regions is quite challenging. The lack of complete historical records of solid waste quantity and quality due to insufficient budget and unavailable management capacity has resulted in a situation that makes the long-term system planning and/or short-term expansion programs intangible. To effectively handle these problems based on limited data samples, a new analytical approach capable of addressing socioeconomic and environmental situations must be developed and applied for fulfilling the prediction analysis of solid waste generation with reasonable accuracy. This study presents a new approach--system dynamics modeling--for the prediction of solid waste generation in a fast-growing urban area based on a set of limited samples. To address the impact on sustainable development city wide, the practical implementation was assessed by a case study in the city of San Antonio, Texas (USA). This area is becoming one of the fastest-growing regions in North America due to the economic impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The analysis presents various trends of solid waste generation associated with five different solid waste generation models using a system dynamics simulation tool--Stella. Research findings clearly indicate that such a new forecasting approach may cover a variety of possible causative models and track inevitable uncertainties down when traditional statistical least-squares regression methods are unable to handle such issues.

Cities↗
PubMed2002

euroSCIENCE moves into sixth gear!

Neuroscientists across Europe have been busy finding or consolidating partnerships, and sharpening their e-pencils, as they prepare for the next tranche of research and technology development (RTD) funding to be coordinated by the European Union. Entitled the Sixth Framework Programme, this 16 billion Euro programme is the most ambitious that the European Commission has ever mounted. It covers a broad range of RTD activities, from the very small (nanotechnology and nanosciences) to the very grand (sustainable development, global change and ecosystems). Brain research finds its place at several points in the proposals of the Commission, notably under the heading of "Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health". This includes sub-sections entitled "Studying the brain and combating diseases of the nervous system" and "Studying development and ageing processes". The focus is likely to be on exploiting molecular genetics with respect to neuroscience. Our aim in this short article is to outline some of the novel features of this ambitious program and to touch on certain issues that have been raised about it.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed1999

[Health as premise for urban planning].

Concerns for health have been a foundation for planning in towns the cities in Norway from the 19th century up to the present. Doctors previously took active part in discussions of urban planning. Planners developed new concepts for urban design and town planning. Sun, air, low density and separation of functions were important tools to achieve a healthy city. Modern planning has led to dispersed cities requiring a great deal of transport. A more dense built-up urban area is necessary to achieve sustainable development. Higher population density and a mix of functions should be encouraged in order to reduce the need for transport. This strategy is contrary to the development of urban planning over the last 150 years. Health professionals must participate in the discussion on urban form and planning in order to avoid new health problems higher density and a mix of functions in our cities may cause.

Cities↗
PubMed2000

Atrial fibrillation produced by prolonged rapid atrial pacing is associated with heterogeneous changes in atrial sympathetic innervation.

BACKGROUND: Structural and electrophysiological changes of the atria occur with prolonged rapid rates; however, the effects of sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) on autonomic innervation of the atria are unknown. We hypothesized that electrophysiological remodeling from rapid atrial rates is accompanied by altered atrial autonomic innervation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six dogs (paced group) underwent atrial pacing at 600 bpm; 9 dogs (control animals) were not paced. All paced dogs developed sustained AF by week 4 of pacing. All 15 animals underwent positron emission tomography imaging of the atria with [C-11] hydroxyephedrine (HED) to label sympathetic nerve terminals. HED retention in the atria was significantly greater in paced dogs compared with control animals (P=0.03). Tissue samples from the atrial appendages had a greater concentration of norepinephrine in paced animals than in control animals (P=0.01). The coefficient of variation of HED retention was also greater in paced animals (P=0.05) and was greater in the right atrium than in the left atrium (P=0.004). Epicardial activation maps of AF were obtained in the paced animals at baseline and with autonomic manipulation. Mean AF cycle length was longer in the right atrium (109.2+/-5 ms) than in the left atrium (85.8+/-5.5 ms) at baseline (P=0.005). AF cycle length did not vary significantly from baseline (97.6+/-13.4 ms) with stellate stimulation (100.5+/-6 ms) but lengthened with propranolol (107.5+/-6.1 ms, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid rates of AF produce a heterogeneous increase in atrial sympathetic innervation. These changes parallel disparate effects of rapid pacing-induced AF on atrial electrophysiology.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Nutritional ecology: chances of public health services to shape procedures].

Nutrition ecology is the science that studies the impacts of human nutrition on the environment, on human health and on social systems. Environmental impacts are usually the result of intensive food production, food transport and food packaging; they include soil contamination and erosion, energy consumption, air contamination and waste disposal. Health impacts of contemporary western eating behavior concern nutrition-related diseases (diabetes, hypertension, gout, overweight etc) and their psychological and social consequences; nutrition ecology aims at a balanced diet and suitable eating behavior to reduce the risks of chronic disease. The social impacts of nutrition concern the effects of feed trade on poor working conditions and poverty, especially in developing countries. The strategies of nutrition ecology agree in many points with those of the agenda 21 and of Consumer Protection. As nutrition-related diseases are increasing further, the public health services in Germany discover nutrition as an important topic in health promotion and prevention. They will contribute remarkably to a sustainable development if they include the strategies of nutrition ecology in their projects.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2005

River contract in Wallonia (Belgium) and its application for water management in the Sourou valley (Burkina Faso).

Inspired by the experience of a river contract in Wallonia (Belgium) since 1990, the implementation of a first river contract has been initiated in a West African country, Burkina Faso. This application is not limited to a simple transposition of the Walloon model. The Burkina context calls for adaptation to the local environmental and socio-economical realities with an adequate partnership management. The importance of the mobilization around this project of institutional partners, as well as local collectivities, agricultural producers and water users in general reveals the great expectations of the actors concerning this new tool of water participative management. But will the latter be equal to the task? A first assessment has been drawn up one year after the launch. During the first year of the project, a participative diagnostic was implemented but the understanding of basic notions of water management such as 'river' (not translatable in the local language), 'watershed', 'contract' were not obvious. After the identification of functions and uses of water in the basin, an environmental survey was started. This approach allows study with the river committees of the priority actions to be developed as a first project of restoration of the gallery forest alongside the stream to fight against desertification. This project of integrated and participative management of water at sub-basin level is a concrete example of solidarity and exchange know-how between North and South in the context of a sustainable development.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1993

Usefulness of signal-averaged electrocardiogram in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy for identifying patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC), the relation between the signal-averaged electrocardiogram and ventricular tachycardia (VT) remains unclear. In this study, conventional time domain and frequency domain analyses (2-dimensional, spectral temporal mapping and spectral turbulence analysis) of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram were performed in 64 patients with IDC. Eight patients had a history of symptomatic sustained VT and an additional 24 had nonsustained VT recorded during ambulatory electrocardiography. Conventional time domain analysis, using the 25 and 40 Hz filter, and spectral temporal mapping, detected late potentials within the terminal QRS in 8 (13%), 14 (22%) and 18 (28%) patients, respectively. Late potentials were seen more often in patients with than without VT, and in patients with sustained versus nonsustained VT, but these differences were not significant. The predictive accuracy of these techniques in detecting either form of VT were: sensitivity, 22, 25 and 31%; specificity, 97, 81 and 75%; and overall predictive value, 59, 53 and 50%, respectively. Two-dimensional frequency domain analysis of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram revealed a higher energy and area ratio in patients with than without VT (entire QRS), and in patients with sustained versus nonsustained VT (entire QRS and terminal QRS). Spectral turbulence analysis was abnormal in 24 patients (39%), but no differences were observed between patients with and without VT. During follow-up (mean duration 18 +/- 14 months), 5 patients had arrhythmic events (3 died suddenly, 1 had aborted sudden death and 1 developed sustained VT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Factors influencing the sustained participation of farmers in participatory forestry: a case study in central Sal forests in Bangladesh.

Wide acceptance of sustainable development as a concept and as the goal of forest management has shifted forest management policies from a traditional to a people-oriented approach. Consequently, with its multiple new objectives, forest management has become more complex and an information gap exits between what is known and what is utilized, which hinders the sustained participation of farmers. This gap arose mainly due to an interrupted flow of information. With participatory forestry, the information flow requires a broad approach that goes beyond the forest ecosystem and includes the different stakeholders. Thus in participatory forest management strategies, policymakers, planners and project designers need to incorporate all relevant information within the context of the dynamic interaction between stakeholders and the forest environment. They should understand the impact of factors such as management policies, economics and conflicts on the sustained participation of farmers. This study aimed to use primary cross-sectional data to identify the factors that might influence the sustained participation of farmers in participatory forestry. Using stratified random sampling, 581 participants were selected to take part in this study, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire by interviewing the selected participants. To identify the dominant factors necessary for the sustained participation of farmers, logistic regression analyses were performed. The following results were observed: (a) sustained participation is positively and significantly correlated with (i) satisfaction of the participants with the tree species planted on their plots; (ii) confidence of the participants that their aspired benefits will be received; (iii) provision of training on different aspects of participatory forestry; (iv) contribution of participants' money to Tree Farming Funds. (b) The sustained participation of farmers is negatively and significantly correlated with the disruption of local peoples' interests through implementation of participatory forestry programs, and long delays in the harvesting of trees after completion of the contractual agreement period.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

Detecting environmental change: science and society-perspectives on long-term research and monitoring in the 21st century.

Widespread concern over the state of the environment and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on ecosystem services and functions has highlighted the need for high-quality, long-term datasets for detecting and understanding environmental change. In July 2001, an international conference reviewed progress in the field of long-term ecosystem research and monitoring (LTERM). Examples are given which demonstrate the need for long-term environmental monitoring and research, for palaeoecological reconstructions of past environments and for applied use of historical records that inform us of past environmental conditions. LTERM approaches are needed to provide measures of baseline conditions and for informing decisions on ecosystem management and environmental policy formulation. They are also valuable in aiding the understanding of the processes of environmental change, including the integrated effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers and pressures, recovery from stress and resilience of species, populations, communities and ecosystems. The authors argue that, in order to realise the full potential of LTERM approaches, progress must be made in four key areas: (i) increase the number, variety and scope of LTERM activities to help define the operational range of ecosystems; (ii) greater integration of research, monitoring, modelling, palaeoecological reconstruction and remote sensing to create a broad-scale early warning system of environmental change; (iii) development of inter-disciplinary approaches which draw upon social and environmental science expertise to understand the factors determining the vulnerability and resilience of the nature-society system to change; and (iv) more and better use of LTERM data and information to inform the public and policymakers and to provide guidance on sustainable development.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Mechanisms of bombesin-induced arachidonate mobilization in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

A peptide mitogen bombesin, which activates the phospholipase C-protein kinase C signaling pathway, induces a mepacrine-sensitive, dose-dependent increase in the release of [3H]arachidonic acid and its metabolites ([3H]AA) from prelabeled Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. The effect is temporally composed of two phases, i.e. an initial transient burst that is essentially independent of extracellular Ca2+, and a following sustained phase that is absolutely dependent on the extracellular Ca2+. The initial transient [3H]AA liberation occurs concomitantly with bombesin-induced 45Ca efflux from prelabeled cells: both responses being substantially attenuated by loading cells with a Ca2+ chelator quin2. However, bombesin-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by itself is not sufficient as a signal for the initial transient [3H]AA liberation, since A23187 potently stimulates 45Ca efflux to an extent comparable to bombesin but fails to induce [3H]AA release in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The second sustained phase of the bombesin-induced [3H]AA release is abolished by reducing extracellular Ca2+ to 0.03 mM, although bombesin effects on phospholipase C and protein kinase C activation are barely affected by the same procedure. A protein kinase C activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate induces an extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent, slowly developing sustained increase in [3H]AA release, and markedly potentiates both phases of bombesin-induced [3H]AA release. Down-regulation of cellular protein kinase C completely abolishes all of the effects of phorbol dibutyrate, and partially inhibits the second but not the first phase of bombesin-induced [3H]AA release. These results indicate that bombesin-induced receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase A2 involves multiple mechanisms, including intracellular Ca2+ mobilization for the first phase, protein kinase C activation plus Ca2+ influx for the second phase, and as yet unknown mechanism(s) independent of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization or protein kinase C for both of the phases.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The HOCS paradigm shift from disciplinary knowledge (LOCS)--to interdisciplinary evaluative, system thinking (HOCS): what should it take in science-technology-environment-society oriented courses, curricula and assessment?

Given the current world state of affairs, striving for sustainability and the consequent paradigm shift: growth-to-sustainable development, correction-to-prevention and options selection-to-options generation: the corresponding paradigm shift in science-technology-environment-society (STES) education is unavoidable. Accordingly, the essence of the current reform in STES education, worldwide, is a purposed effort to develop students' higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) capability; i.e., question-asking, critical system thinking, decision making and problem solving, at the expense of the "delivery" of lower-order cognitive skills (LOCS)-oriented knowledge. This means a paradigm shift from the contemporary prevalent LOCS algorithmic teaching to HOCS evaluative learning and HOCS-promoting courses, curricula, teaching strategies and assessment methodologies, leading, hopefully to evaluative thinking and transfer. Following the formulation of selected relevant axioms, major paradigm shift in STES research and education for sustainability have been identified. The consequent shift, in the STES context, from disciplinary to inter- and transdisciplinary learning, in science technology and environmental engineering education is discussed, followed by selected examples of successfully implemented HOCS-promoting courses, and assessment methodologies. It is argued, that transferable "HOCS learning" for sustainability can and should be done.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Bioequivalence study of nicardipine solution versus nicardipine tablets.

The bioequivalence of a solution (investigational product) and a tablet (reference product) formulation of the dihydropyridine-type derivative Ca2+ antagonist nicardipine were investigated by measuring plasma levels of the compound after single randomized administration of 20 mg of the two formulations. Drugs were given orally in a single dose to 24 healthy volunteers (12 males and 12 females) at the beginning of the experiment and after a two weeks wash-out. Nicardipine is available in oral and intravenous formulations, the second being used for the short-term treatment of hypertensive crises. Oral formulations of nicardipine most diffused include immediate release (20 or 30 mg, three times a day administration), sustained release (30 mg, 45 mg or 60 mg, twice a day administration) and modified release (80 mg, once a day administration) tablets. A nicardipine solution is available only in Spain, but no published studies on the kinetics of this formulation are available. In the last 15 years, the main efforts were aimed to develop sustained or controlled release formulations of nicardipine to improve patient compliance by reducing the number of doses required each day. However, the use of twice a day or once a day administration of Ca2+ antagonists should be not overemphasized in particular situations like those of possible risk of cerebrovascular and/or coronary steal effect primarily in the elderly. The oral formulation of nicardipine investigated with a bioequivalence range > 70% compared to nicardipine immediate release tablets may represent an additional resource for treating elderly patients with concomitant cerebrovascular or coronary heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Homelessness--on the health agenda in Wales?

Building a sustainable and inclusive future for Wales is at the heart of the constitution of the National Assembly for Wales, which means forging a crosscutting approach to social policy. Improving health is a strategic priority within this agenda, and homelessness and housing appear to be at the center of the Assembly Government's vision of developing sustainable and cohesive communities and promoting social inclusion. This article considers the links between homelessness and mental and physical ill health and the importance of combating homelessness and poor housing within the health agenda in Wales. The article cites the links between homelessness and health identified in the United Kingdom and in international research and highlights the growth in homelessness witnessed during the late 1990s and beginning of the 21st Century. The paper considers the significant increase of homelessness and assesses whether, in reality, sufficient practical measures are being taken to combat homelessness as a means of tackling ill health in Wales. The authors conclude that although Wales is making progress toward an integrated approach to health and well-being and that the need to tackle broader health determinants has gained recognition, investment in effectively tackling homelessness and exclusion is needed. Integrating the broader housing, homelessness, and health agendas could contribute to health gains in Wales.

Health Policy↗
PubMed1982

Effect of calcium concentration on collateral arteries from the hind limb of the dog.

Changes in extracellular calcium on collateral arteries were compared with noncollateral branch arteries from the normotensive extremity. Six weeks and 4 months after occlusion of the right superficial femoral artery, a collateral, a segment of branch artery from the opposite extremity and both anterior tibial arteries were removed. Exposure to calcium-free medium rapidly decreased the response of developing collaterals to l-epinephrine (10(-6) M) and initially increased the response by branch arteries. The fast response, dependent on intracellular calcium stores, decreased in collaterals but increased in branch arteries up to 40 min in calcium-free medium. The slow response, which is dependent on extracellular calcium, could not be sustained. Developing collateral and branch arteries responded similarly to [Ca++] 0.2 to 6.0 mM. Fast and slow components were unaffected in developing collaterals by calcium concentration. Fully developed collaterals were more sensitive to the effects of calcium depletion and to high and low calcium concentrations than developing collateral arteries. To evaluate the role of hypotension, anterior tibial arteries exposed to low blood pressure were compared with contralateral normal anterior tibial arteries. No differences were observed at 6 weeks or 4 months. The role of calcium in the response of developing collateral arteries differs from that in similarly sized branch arteries. These differences are not due to the pressure differential.

Aging↗