Constructed wetlands for environmental pollution control: a review of developments, research and practice in Ireland

For the purpose of synthesizing a compendium of efforts aimed at environmental pollution control through the use of constructed wetlands systems (CWs) in Ireland, a detailed review of CWs was undertaken. Emphasis was placed on the diverse range of development, practice and researches on CWs technology, placing them in the overall context of the need for low-cost and sustainable wastewater treatment systems. The potential use of CWs in protecting estuarine quality within the current legislative framework is considered, as well as the emerging concept of integrated constructed wetlands (ICWs). In addition, an assessment of the efficiency of CWs in operation in Ireland towards abating environmental pollution was done, and compared with CWs operating in other European countries. The need for sufficient and appropriate data to assist in further development of CWs and modelling studies, and instilling confidence in the public is also highlighted.

Changing trends in the management of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis--an audit over 11 years

BACKGROUND

This article is a follow-up to an audit performed by the Department of Surgery and published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in 1996. This audit reviewed all cases of Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis (IHPS) operated on over 22 years up to 1991.

AIMS

We aim to demonstrate that radiologic investigations, namely barium meal and ultrasound, have been increasingly employed in the diagnosis of IHPS. In addition, ultrasound is now the investigation of choice.

METHODS

We have reviewed all cases of IHPS, at the same institution, over the subsequent 11 years, with reference to any radiological investigations performed. In the previous study, the diagnosis of IHPS was made clinically in 92.6% with the remainder diagnosed radiologically.

RESULTS

Over 11 years, 157 patients were diagnosed with IHPS. Male to female ratio was 4.06:1. Median age was four weeks (range 1-18 weeks).Twenty-four per cent had a barium meal, 36% had an ultrasound and 13% had both performed.

CONCLUSION

We conclude a change in practice in the management of IHPS with radiology, particularly ultrasound, playing an increasing role.

A Full-Color Electroluminescent Device and Patterned Photoalignment Using Light-Emitting Liquid Crystals

Blue, green, and red polymerizable light-emitting liquid crystals have been patterned photolithographically in a full-color liquid-crystal electroluminescent display. A new hole-transporting photoalignment copolymer is also reported and the spatial patterning of the polarization direction of emission is demonstrated.

Measurement of day and night neutrino energy spectra at SNO and constraints on neutrino mixing parameters

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) has measured day and night solar neutrino energy spectra and rates. For charged current events, assuming an undistorted 8B spectrum, the night minus day rate is 14.0%+/-6.3%(+1.5%)(-1.4%) of the average rate. If the total flux of active neutrinos is additionally constrained to have no asymmetry, the nu(e) asymmetry is found to be 7.0%+/-4.9%(+1.3%)(-1.2%). A global solar neutrino analysis in terms of matter-enhanced oscillations of two active flavors strongly favors the large mixing angle solution.

Direct evidence for neutrino flavor transformation from neutral-current interactions in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Observations of neutral-current nu interactions on deuterium in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory are reported. Using the neutral current (NC), elastic scattering, and charged current reactions and assuming the standard 8B shape, the nu(e) component of the 8B solar flux is phis(e) = 1.76(+0.05)(-0.05)(stat)(+0.09)(-0.09)(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1) for a kinetic energy threshold of 5 MeV. The non-nu(e) component is phi(mu)(tau) = 3.41(+0.45)(-0.45)(stat)(+0.48)(-0.45)(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1), 5.3sigma greater than zero, providing strong evidence for solar nu(e) flavor transformation. The total flux measured with the NC reaction is phi(NC) = 5.09(+0.44)(-0.43)(stat)(+0.46)(-0.43)(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1), consistent with solar models.

CdTe nanocrystals: synthesis, optical characterization, and pseudopotential calculation of the band gap

CdTe nanocrystals were synthesized in aqueous solution using 1-thioglycerol and 2-mercaptoethanol as surface stabilizers. The nanocrystals were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction and UV-vis absorption measurements. The UV-vis absorption spectra exhibit two distinct transition lines. Comparison of the experimental measurements with the results of the empirical pseudopotential calculations of the CdTe nanocrystals showed that the lower energy absorption line can be assigned to the heavy-hole exciton transition, whereas the higher energy absorption line can be attributed to the light-hole exciton transition.

Inhibition of active sodium absorption leads to a net liquid secretion into in vivo rabbit lung at two levels of alveolar hypoxia

Active sodium transport across alveolar epithelium is known to contribute to the resolution of pulmonary oedema. We have attempted to assess whether sodium transport is essential to prevent liquid accumulation in healthy pulmonary alveoli exposed to mild hypoxia, and whether its contribution to liquid absorption differs between mild and moderate levels of hypoxia. In twenty-four anaesthetized adult rabbits we used direct bronchial cannulation to measure liquid movement from the liquid-filled left lung over 3.5 h. Half of the rabbits were studied at a level of mixed venous (and alveolar) oxygen partial pressure, PVO2, of 6.5 kPa and half at 4.5 kPa. PVO2 was altered by changing the inspired oxygen fraction in the ventilated right lung. Alveolar hydrostatic pressure was 0.3 kPa. In each group of 12, six animals with inhibitors of sodium transport in the isosmotic instillate were compared with six controls. We have shown an alveolar liquid secretion (approximately 0.6 microl min(-1) (kg body weight)(-1)) in the presence of inhibitors of active transport and an absorption (approximately 4 microl min(-1) (kg body weight)(-1)) in controls. Changing PVO2 had no influence on these movements. We conclude that, in this model of pulmonary oedema, active sodium transport appears to be essential for prevention of alveolar liquid accumulation via secretion. Furthermore, the contribution of active sodium transport to liquid absorption remains constant at oxygen tensions between 4.5 and 6.5 kPa.

Measurement of the rate of nu(e) + d --> p + p + e(-) interactions produced by (8)B solar neutrinos at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Solar neutrinos from (8)B decay have been detected at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory via the charged current (CC) reaction on deuterium and the elastic scattering (ES) of electrons. The flux of nu(e)'s is measured by the CC reaction rate to be straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) = 1.75 +/- 0.07(stat)(+0.12)(-0.11)(syst) +/- 0.05(theor) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1). Comparison of straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) to the Super-Kamiokande Collaboration's precision value of the flux inferred from the ES reaction yields a 3.3 sigma difference, assuming the systematic uncertainties are normally distributed, providing evidence of an active non- nu(e) component in the solar flux. The total flux of active 8B neutrinos is determined to be 5.44+/-0.99 x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1).

Target recognition by EcoKI: the recognition domain is robust and restriction-deficiency commonly results from the proteolytic control of enzyme activity

We report a genetic and biochemical analysis of a target recognition domain (TRD) of EcoKI, a type I restriction and modification enzyme. The TRDs of type I R-M systems are within the specificity subunit (HsdS) and HsdS confers sequence specificity to a complex endowed with both restriction and modification activities. Random mutagenesis has revealed that most substitutions within the amino TRD of EcoKI, a region comprising 157 amino acid residues, have no detectable effect on the phenotype of the bacterium, even when the substitutions are non- conservative. The structure of the TRD appears to be robust. All but one of the six substitutions that confer a restriction-deficient, modification-deficient (r(-)m(-)) phenotype were found to be in the interval between residues 80 and 110, a region predicted by sequence comparisons to form part of the protein-DNA interface. Additional site-directed mutations affecting this interval commonly impair both restriction and modification. However, we show that an r(-) phenotype cannot be taken as evidence that the EcoKI complex lacks endonuclease activity; in response to even a slightly impaired modification efficiency, the endonuclease activity of EcoKI is destroyed by a process dependent upon the ClpXP protease. Enzymes from mutants with an r(-)m(-) phenotype commonly retain some sequence-specific activity; methylase activity can be detected on hemimethylated DNA substrates and residual endonuclease activity is implied whenever the viability of the r(-)m(-) bacterium is dependent on ClpXP. Conversely, the viability of ClpX(-) r(-)m(-) bacteria can be used as evidence for little, or no, endonuclease activity. Of 14 mutants with an r(-)m(-) phenotype, only six are viable in the absence of ClpXP. The significance of four of the six residues (G91, G105, F107 and G141) is enhanced by the finding that even conservative substitutions for these residues impair modification, thereby conferring an r(-)m(-) phenotype.

Patents are pivotal

This seminar was the first in a series organized by Southern Bioscience, and examined the role of patent agents in protecting inventions. Presentations covered application for patent protection, exploitation of patent rights, and licenses and infringements.

Education and training in health promotion and health education: trends, challenges and critical issues

What we now think of as the field of health promotion has grown rapidly in the last 15 years, mainly out of the field of health education. With this expansion, has come the need to develop education and training programmes for current and future health promotion practitioners.

From the lab to full-scale SBR operation: treating high strength and variable industrial wastewaters

This paper describes the path taken from client objectives through laboratory studies and detailed design to full-scale SBR operation and current research. Conventional municipal design principles have often been used to develop treatment processes for industrial wastewaters. The use of scientific trials to test design criteria offers the client a "tailor made" design fir for their particular wastewater character. In this project, a waste management company wished to upgrade their physical-chemical treatment plant to incorporate a biological reactor for treating a range of industrial wastewaters. Laboratory-scale trials were undertaken to determine appropriate design criteria for a full-scale biological process. These laboratory studies indicated that conventional design criteria were not appropriate and that a SBR configuration was optimal compared with an IDAR configuration. It was also found that a novel fungal:bacterial mixed liquor consortium developed, resulting in good effluent quality and settling properties. The treatment plant was able to be constructed and operational within a tight timeframe and budget, allowing the client to take advantage of a commercial opportunity. The plant has been operating since 1997 and meets its discharge conditions. By combining scientific studies with engineering principles, the end-user obtained a complete treatment plant to meet their specific needs. A further benefit of the laboratory trials is current research into the development of a fungal:bacterial SBR to treat industrial wastewaters. This offers ongoing knowledge to the operational full-scale SBR.