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Water sector resilience in the United Kingdom and Ireland: The COVID-19 challenge
Get PDFThe outbreak of COVID-19 led to restrictions on movements and activities, which presented a serious challenge to the resilience of the water sector. It is essential to understand how successfully water companies responded to this unprecedented event so effective plans can be built for future disruptive events. This study aimed to evaluate how the water sectors in the UK and Ireland were affected from a holistic sustainability and resilience-based perspective. Using pre-COVID data for 18 indicators of company performance and comparing them to the first year of the pandemic, the direction and magnitudes of change varied across companies. Financial indicators were significantly negatively affected, with interest cover ratio, post-tax return on regulated equity, and operating profit, exhibiting the greatest average declines of 21%, 21%, and 18%, respectively, a trend that would be dangerous to provisions and company operations if continued. Despite this, service and environmental indicators improved during the first year of the pandemic, exemplified by unplanned outage, risk of sewer storm flooding, and water quality compliance risk decreasing by a mean average of 37%, 32%, and 27%, respectively. Analysis using the Hicks-Moorsteen Productivity Index concluded that average productivity increased by 35%. The results suggest that the water sector was relatively resilient to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of services, but adverse effects may have manifested in a deteriorated financial position that could exacerbate future challenges arising from exogenous pressures such as climate change. Specific advice for the UK water sector is to scrutinize non-critical spending, such as shareholder payments, during periods of economic downturn to ensure essential capital projects can be carried out. Although results are temporal and indicator selection sensitive, we recommend that policy, regulation, and corporate culture embrace frameworks that support long-term resilience to since the relative success in response to COVID-19 does not guarantee future success against differing challenges. This study generates a timely yet tentative insight into the diverse performance of the water sector during the pandemic, pertinent to the water industry, regulators, academia, and the public.<br/
Effect of fertilizer type on antibiotic resistance genes by reshaping the bacterial community and soil properties
Get PDFConventional and bio-organic fertilizers play an important role in maintaining soil health and promoting crop growth. However, the effect of organic fertilizers on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the vegetable cropping system has been largely overlooked. In this study, we investigated the impacts of soil properties and biotic factors on ARG profiles by analyzing ARG and bacterial communities in vegetable copping soils with a long-term history of manure and bio-organic fertilizer application. The ARG abundance in the soil was significantly increased by 116% with manure application compared to synthetic NPK fertilizer application. This finding was corroborated by our meta-analysis that the longer the duration of manure application, the greater the response of increased soil ARG abundance. However, bio-organic fertilizers containing Trichoderma spp. Significantly reduced ARG contamination by 31% compared to manure application. About half of the ARG variation was explained by changes in bacterial abundance and structure, followed by soil properties. The mitigation of ARG by Trichoderma spp. Is achieved by altering the structure of the bacterial community and weakening the close association between bacteria and ARG prevalence. Taken together, these findings shed light on the contribution of bio-organic fertilizers in mitigating ARG contamination in agricultural soils, which can help manage the ecological risk posed by ARG inputs associated with manure application.</p
Improved Understanding and Characterisation of Climate Hazards in the UK
Get PDFThis chapter describes new methods and datasets, developed through UK Climate Resilience Programme (UKCR) projects, to better understand climate hazards.We describe projections of hazards using new tools and provide examples of applications for decision-making.Going forward, this new physical and statistical understanding should be incorporated into climate risk assessments
Teaching and learning in the outdoors:The current state of outdoor learning in schools in Wales
Get PDFThis report presents the findings of a study investigating the knowledge of, access to and purposes for, outdoor learning in Wales. Outdoor learning played a significant role in the health and wellbeing of children and young people during the Covid-19 pandemic (Sefton, 2021) and a previous WG commissioned report found that during, between, and directly subsequent to Covid-19 lockdowns, ‘outdoor learning played an increased role, both in and out of school, in supporting physical and mental wellbeing’ (French, Horder, Jones, Parry, Mahoney, Moody and Rhys-Jones, 2021, p. 79). With the importance of outdoor learning as a pedagogical approach that has both physical and cognitive benefits having been established, the current study attempted to provide an indication of how outdoor learning was being utilised in schools across Wales. The research utilised a small convenience sample to provide indicative findings of the frequency, type of activity and purposes of activity undertaken by schools. The study deployed a survey-based data capture instrument and research design based on an effective methodology from three studies conducted in Scotland (commissioned by Scottish Government), commencing in the late 2000s through to 2018. The data collection instrument was modified to suit the Welsh context in terms of school types and provision, and in light of the transitional period between the previous iteration of, and the current Curriculum for Wales. The study found that amongst the schools surveyed, sessions ranged in duration from 30 mins to full days (6 hours), with groups ranging from 4 children to 29. There were between 1 and 4 adults supervising the children during these sessions who were teachers and teaching assistants, associate teachers (a term frequently used by ITE partnerships to describe student teachers) or outdoor instructors. The main purposes of the sessions were to develop teamworking skills, and to draw direct links with the Curriculum for Wales. Fewer sessions were delivered for the specific purposes of extra-curricular health and well-being or to experience nature and a sense of place (cynefin), and there were very few sessions reported for the purpose of field work, being creative, adventure or to study or conserve local heritage or learn about Wales. The main stated curriculum links were to the health and well-being and language literacy and communication areas of learning and experience. There were very few sessions with clear links to recognised award schemes such as the John Muir Award. The reported impact of the sessions on the children and young people concerned was primarily concerned with developing personal choice and overcoming challenge.Other findings concerned the challenges of collecting data by the research team resulting from the over-researching of practitioners during challenging times (still during the Covid-19 recovery period for instance) and the plethora of similar projects that also utilised existing HEI/school networks so the same schools are routinely asked to contribute. The report concluded that the timing of data collection came at a time of year when the weather in Wales requires more protective clothing to remain comfortable and thus there were potentially fewer episodes of outdoor learning than might have been expected from the literature review, and that whilst outdoor learning was valued by the schools that engaged in the survey, the sample size was very small and therefore findings are indicative rather than generalised across Wales. The project timing and scale were constrained by the timescale of the commission, but did highlight that there is still a lack of clarity concerning a definition of outdoor learning. Between the completion of this study and the submission of this report, definitions of outdoor learning, adventure education and outdoor education (specific to the Welsh educational context) have been suggested in the presentation to the Outdoor Activity Sector Senedd Cross Party Group on 28th September 2022.<br/
A Qualitative Evaluation of the Mechanisms of Action in an Early Childhood Parenting Programme to Prevent Violence Against Children in Jamaica
Get PDFBackground: Violence against children (VAC) is a global public health problem and parenting programmes are a key strategy to reduce VAC at home. We developed and evaluated a preschool-based, early childhood, violence-prevention, parenting programme, (The Irie Homes Toolbox) in Jamaica, and reported significant reductions to parents’ use of VAC (Effect size (ES)=-0.29) and increases in parents’ positive practices (ES=0.30). This study presents qualitative findings on the mechanisms of action of the programme.Methods: As part of a cluster-randomised trial, 115 parents from nine preschools participated in the Irie Homes Toolbox parenting programme. The programme consisted of eight ninety-minute sessions with groups of six parents and focussed on strengthening parent-child relationships, understanding children’s behaviour, use of appropriate discipline strategies, and understanding and managing emotions. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a stratified random sample of 28 parents (2-4 parents/school) and with 9 preschool teachers (1 teacher/preschool). Topic guides were developed to explore participants’ perspectives of the mechanisms of action of the programme. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and data were analysed using the framework approach. Results: The most salient direct pathways to reduced VAC by both parent and teacher reports were through parents use’ of alternative strategies to manage child misbehaviour and through improved parent well-being, especially parents’ self-management skills. Other factors leading to reduced VAC by parents, reported by both parents and teachers, included self-identification as an ‘Irie parent’, using proactive parenting strategies and through improved child behaviour. Parents reported that the main factors leading to continued use of VAC were their inconsistency in using the positive discipline strategies and poor emotional self-regulation. Conclusion: Reports from participating parents and preschool teachers indicate that content related to parental self-management and how to use positive discipline strategies to manage child misbehaviour were important factors on the pathway to reduced VAC.<br/
Comparison of dense optical flow and PIV techniques for mapping surface current flow in tidal stream energy sites
Get PDFMarine renewable energy site and resource characterisation, in particular tidal stream energy, require detailed flow measurements which often rely on high-cost in situ instrumentation which is limited in spatial extent. We hypothesise uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) offer a low-cost and low-risk data collection method for tidal stream environments, as recently techniques have been developed to derive flow from optical videography. This may benefit tidal and floating renewable energy developments, providing additional insight into flow conditions and complement traditional instrumentation. Benefits to existing data collection methods include capturing flow over a large spatial extent synchronously, which could be used to analyse flow around structures or for site characterisation; however, uncertainty and method application to tidal energy sites is unclear. Here, two algorithms are tested: large-scale particle image velocimetry using PIVlab and dense optical flow. The methods are applied on video data collected at two tidal stream energy sites (Pentland Firth, Scotland, and Ramsey Sound, Wales) for a range of flow and environmental conditions. Although average validation measures were similar (~ 20–30% error), we recommend PIVlab processed velocity data at tidal energy sites because we find bias (underprediction) in optical flow for higher velocities (> 1 m/s)
Prevention of Postpartum Haemorrhage: Economic evaluation of the novel Butterfly device in a UK setting
Get PDFObjectivesTo explore the cost-effectiveness of a novel PPH device as compared with usual care.DesignA decision analytical model was used to explore the cost-effectiveness of the PPH Butterfly device compared with usual care. This was part of a United Kingdom, UK, clinical trial ISRCTN15452399 using a matched historical cohort who had standard PPH management without the use of the PPH Butterfly device. The economic evaluation was conducted from a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective.SettingLiverpool Women’s Hospital, UK.Participants57 women with 113 matched controls.InterventionThe PPH Butterfly is a novel device that has been invented and developed in the UK to facilitate bimanual compression of the uterus in the treatment of PPH.Main outcome measuresMain outcome measures included healthcare costs, blood loss, and maternal morbidity events.ResultsMean treatment costs in the Butterfly cohort were £3,459.66 as compared with standard care £3,223.93. Treatment with the Butterfly device resulted in decreased total blood loss in comparison with standard care. The Butterfly device had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £3,795.78 per PPH progression avoided (defined as ≤ 1000 ml additional blood loss from device insertion point). If the NHS is prepared to pay £8,500 per PPH progression avoided, then the Butterfly device is cost-effective with a probability of 87 percent. In the PPH Butterfly treatment arm there were 9% fewer cases of massive obstetric haemorrhage (severe PPH of more than 2000mls or more than 4 units of blood transfusion required) recorded as compared with the standard care historical cohort. As a low-cost device, the PPH Butterfly device is cost-effective but can be cost-saving to the NHS.ConclusionThe PPH pathway can result in high-cost resource use such as blood transfusion or high dependence unit hospital stays. The Butterfly device is a relative low-cost device in a UK NHS setting with a high probability of being cost-effective. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) can use this evidence in considering the adoption of innovative technologies such as the Butterfly device in the NHS. Extrapolation on an international scale to lower and middle-income countries could prevent mortality associated with PPH
Understanding parent experiences of end-of-life care for children: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis:A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis
Get PDFBackground:: An estimated 21 million children worldwide would benefit from palliative care input and over 7 million die each year. For parents of these children this is an intensely emotional and painful time through which they will need support. There is a lack of synthesised research about how parents experience the care delivered to their child at the end of life. Aim:: To systematically identify and synthesise qualitative research on parents’ experiences of end-of-life care of their child. Design:: A qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021242946). Data sources:: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases were searched for qualitative studies published post-2000 to April 2020. Studies were appraised for methodological quality and data richness. Confidence in findings was assessed by GRADE-CERQual. Results:: About 95 studies met the eligibility criteria. A purposive sample of 25 studies was taken, of good-quality papers with rich data describing the experience of over 470 parents. There were two overarching themes: parents of children receiving end-of-life care experienced a profound need to fulfil the parental role; and care of the parent. Subthemes included establishing their role, maintaining identity, ultimate responsibility, reconstructing the parental role, and continuing parenting after death. Conclusions:: Services delivering end-of-life care for children need to recognise the importance for parents of being able to fulfil their parental role and consider how they enable this. What the parental role consists of, and how it’s expressed, differs for individuals. Guidance should acknowledge the need to enable parents to parent at their child’s end of life
Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Variant-Associated Mutations in Wastewater Using Real-Time RT-PCR
Get PDFWithin months of the COVID-19 pandemic being declared on March 20, 2020, novel, more infectious variants of SARS-CoV-2 began to be detected in geospatially distinct regions of the world. With international travel being a lead cause of spread of the disease, the importance of rapidly identifying variants entering a country is critical. In this study, we utilized wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to monitor the presence of variants in wastewater generated in managed COVID-19 quarantine facilities for international air passengers entering the United Kingdom. Specifically, we developed multiplex reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for the identification of defining mutations associated with Beta (K417N), Gamma (K417T), Delta (156/157DEL), and Kappa (E154K) variants which were globally prevalent at the time of sampling (April to July 2021). The assays sporadically detected mutations associated with the Beta, Gamma, and Kappa variants in 0.7%, 2.3%, and 0.4% of all samples, respectively. The Delta variant was identified in 13.3% of samples, with peak detection rates and concentrations observed in May 2021 (24%), concurrent with its emergence in the United Kingdom. The RT-qPCR results correlated well with those from sequencing, suggesting that PCR-based detection is a good predictor for variant presence; although, inadequate probe binding may lead to false positive or negative results. Our findings suggest that WBE coupled with RT-qPCR may be used as a rapid, initial assessment to identify emerging variants at international borders and mass quarantining facilities. With the global spread of COVID-19, it is essential to identify emerging variants which may be more harmful or able to escape vaccines rapidly. To date, the gold standard to assess variants circulating in communities has been the sequencing of the S gene or the whole genome of SARS-CoV-2; however, that approach is time-consuming and expensive. In this study, we developed two duplex RT-qPCR assays to detect and quantify defining mutations associated with the Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Kappa variants. The assays were validated using RNA extracts derived from wastewater samples taken at quarantine facilities. The results showed good correlation with the results of sequencing and demonstrated the emergence of the Delta variant in the United Kingdom in May 2021. The assays developed here enable the assessment of variant-specific mutations within 2 h after the RNA extract was generated which is essential for outbreak rapid response
Multilevel comparison of Indian Naja venoms and their cross-reactivity with Indian polyvalent antivenoms
Get PDFSnake envenoming is caused by many biological species, rather than a single infectious agent, each with a multiplicity of toxins in their venom. Hence, developing effective treatments is challenging, especially in biodiverse and biogeographically complex countries such as India. The present study represents the first genus-wide proteomics analysis of venom composition across Naja species (N. naja, N. oxiana, and N. kaouthia) found in mainland India. Venom proteomes were consistent between individuals from the same localities in terms of the toxin families present, but not in the relative abundance of those in the venom. There appears to be more compositional variation among N. naja from different locations than among N. kaouthia. Immunoblotting and in vitro neutralization assays indicated cross-reactivity with Indian polyvalent antivenom, in which antibodies raised against N. naja are present. However, we observed ineffective neutralization of PLA2 activities of N. naja venoms from locations distant from the source of immunizing venoms. Antivenom immunoprofiling by antivenomics revealed differential antigenicity of venoms from N. kaouthia and N. oxiana, and poor reactivity towards 3FTxs and PLA2s. Moreover, there was considerable variation between antivenoms from different manufacturers. These data indicate that improvements to antivenom manufacturing in India are highly desirable