67 results on '"Alex Robinson"'
Search Results
2. MiR-423-5p prevents MALAT1-mediated proliferation and metastasis in prostate cancer
- Author
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Carmela Ferri, Anna Di Biase, Marco Bocchetti, Silvia Zappavigna, Sarah Wagner, Pauline Le Vu, Amalia Luce, Alessia Maria Cossu, Jayakumar Vadakekolathu, Amanda Miles, David J. Boocock, Alex Robinson, Melanie Schwerdtfeger, Virginia Tirino, Federica Papaccio, Michele Caraglia, Tarik Regad, and Vincenzo Desiderio
- Subjects
Prostate ,Cancer ,miRNAs ,lncRNAs ,miR-423-5p ,Malat-1 ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Abstract Background The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), MALAT1, plays a key role in the development of different cancers, and its expression is associated with worse prognosis in patients. However, its mechanism of action and its regulation are not well known in prostate cancer (PCa). A general mechanism of action of lncRNAs is their interaction with other epigenetic regulators including microRNAs (miRNAs). Methods Using lentiviral stable miRNA transfection together with cell biology functional assays and gene expression/target analysis, we investigated the interaction between MALAT1 and miR-423-5p, defined as a target with in silico prediction analysis, in PCa. Results Through bioinformatic analysis of data available from TCGA, we have found that MALAT1 expression correlates with high Gleason grade, metastasis occurrence, and reduced survival in PCa patients. These findings were validated on a TMA of PCa showing a significant correlation between MALAT1 expression with both stage and grading. We report that, in PCa cells, MALAT1 expression and activity is regulated by miR-423-5p that binds MALAT1, downregulates its expression and inhibits its activity in promoting proliferation, migration, and invasion. Using NanoString analysis, we unraveled downstream cell pathways that were affected by miR-423-5p expression and MALAT1 downregulation and identified several alterations in genes that are involved in metastatic response and angiogenic pathways. In addition, we showed that the overexpression of miR-423-5p increases survival and decreases metastases formation in a xenograft mouse model. Conclusions We provide evidence on the role of MALAT1 in PCa tumorigenesis and progression. Also, we identify a direct interaction between miR-423-5p and MALAT1, which results in the suppression of MALAT1 action in PCa.
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- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. A Novel Lepidoptera bioassay analysed using a reduced GUTS model
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Claire Badder, Sylvain Bart, Alex Robinson, Helen Hesketh, Peter Kille, and David J. Spurgeon
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Cabbage Moth ,Insecticide ,Survival Test ,Toxicokinetics ,Toxicodynamics ,Effect modelling ,Environmental pollution ,TD172-193.5 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
Lepidopteran species can be both pests and also beneficial pollinators for agricultural crops. However, despite these important roles, the effects of pesticides on this diverse taxa are relatively understudied. To facilitate the assessment of pesticides and other chemical hazards on this taxa, we present a novel bioassay capable of testing chemical sensitivity to lepidopteran larvae through dietary exposure. We used Mamestra brassicae caterpillars as a model lepidopteran and tested their sensitivity for the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos. We exposed larvae to an artificial diet spiked with chlorpyrifos and monitored survival over time, as well as weight change over a 96-hour exposure period. To test the repeatability and reliability of the developed bioassay, the experiment was repeated three times. The survival in time data collected enabled analysis with the General Unified Threshold of Survival (GUTS) model, recently recognized by EFSA as a ready-to-use tool for regulatory purposes. The GUTS modelling was used to derive a set of relevant toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic parameters relating to the larval response to exposure over time. We found that across the three repeats studies there was no more than a threefold difference in LC₅₀ values (13.1, 18.7 and 8.1 mg/Kg) at 48 h and fourfold difference at 96 h, highlighting the repeatability of the bioassay. We also highlighted the potential of the method to observe sub-lethal effects such as changes in weight. Finally, we discuss the applications of this new bioassay method to chemical risk assessments and its potential for use in other scenarios, such as mixture or pulsed exposure testing.
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- 2023
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4. Modelling the effects of the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin on the life cycle of the soil dwelling annelid Enchytraeus crypticus, an original experimental design to calibrate a DEB-TKTD model
- Author
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Sylvain Bart, Tjalling Jager, Stephen Short, Alex Robinson, Darren Sleep, M. Glória Pereira, David J. Spurgeon, and Roman Ashauer
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Energy budget ,Toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic modelling ,DEBtox ,Annelida ,Potworms ,Effect modelling ,Environmental pollution ,TD172-193.5 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
The Dynamic Energy Budget theory (DEB) enables ecotoxicologists to model the effects of chemical stressors on organism life cycles through the coupling of toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) models. While good progress has been made in the application of DEB-TKTD models for aquatic organisms, applications for soil fauna are scarce, due to the lack of dedicated experimental designs suitable for collecting the required time series effect data. Enchytraeids (Annelida: Clitellata) are model organisms in soil ecology and ecotoxicology. They are recognised as indicators of biological activity in soil, and chemical stress in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this, the application of DEB-TKTD models to investigate the impact of chemicals has not yet been tested on this family. Here we assessed the impact of the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin on the life cycle of Enchytraeus crypticus. We developed an original experimental design to collect the data required for the calibration of a DEB-TKTD model for this species. E. crypticus presented a slow initial growth phase that has been successfully simulated with the addition of a size-dependent food limitation for juveniles in the DEB model. The DEB-TKTD model simulations successfully agreed with the data for all endpoints and treatments over time. The highlighted physiological mode of action (pMoA) for cypermethrin was an increase of the growth energy cost. The threshold for effects on survival was estimated at 73.14 mg kg− 1, and the threshold for effects on energy budget (i.e., sublethal effects) at 19.21 mg kg− 1. This study demonstrates that DEB-TKTD models can be successfully applied to E. crypticus as a representative soil species, and may improve the ecological risk assessment for terrestrial ecosystems, and our mechanistic understanding of chemical effects on non-target species.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Treatment Strategies for GLILD in Common Variable Immunodeficiency: A Systematic Review
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Olivia A. C. Lamers, Bas M. Smits, Helen Louisa Leavis, Godelieve J. de Bree, Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, Virgil A. S. H. Dalm, Hsi-en Ho, John R. Hurst, Hanna IJspeert, Sabine M. P. J. Prevaes, Alex Robinson, Astrid C. van Stigt, Suzanne Terheggen-Lagro, Annick A. J. M. van de Ven, Klaus Warnatz, Janneke H. H. M. van de Wijgert, and Joris van Montfrans
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systematic review ,immunodeficiency ,common variable immunodeficiency ,CVID ,granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease ,GLILD ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 - Abstract
IntroductionBesides recurrent infections, a proportion of patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorders (CVID) may suffer from immune dysregulation such as granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD). The optimal treatment of this complication is currently unknown. Experienced-based expert opinions have been produced, but a systematic review of published treatment studies is lacking.GoalsTo summarize and synthesize the published literature on the efficacy of treatments for GLILD in CVID.MethodsWe performed a systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. Papers describing treatment and outcomes in CVID patients with radiographic and/or histologic evidence of GLILD were included. Treatment regimens and outcomes of treatment were summarized.Results6124 papers were identified and 42, reporting information about 233 patients in total, were included for review. These papers described case series or small, uncontrolled studies of monotherapy with glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressants, rituximab monotherapy or rituximab plus azathioprine, abatacept, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Treatment response rates varied widely. Cross-study comparisons were complicated because different treatment regimens, follow-up periods, and outcome measures were used. There was a trend towards more frequent GLILD relapses in patients treated with corticosteroid monotherapy when compared to rituximab-containing treatment regimens based on qualitative endpoints. HSCT is a promising alternative to pharmacological treatment of GLILD, because it has the potential to not only contain symptoms, but also to resolve the underlying pathology. However, mortality, especially among immunocompromised patients, is high.ConclusionsWe could not draw definitive conclusions regarding optimal pharmacological treatment for GLILD in CVID from the current literature since quantitative, well-controlled evidence was lacking. While HSCT might be considered a treatment option for GLILD in CVID, the risks related to the procedure are high. Our findings highlight the need for further research with uniform, objective and quantifiable endpoints. This should include international registries with standardized data collection including regular pulmonary function tests (with carbon monoxide-diffusion), uniform high-resolution chest CT radiographic scoring, and uniform treatment regimens, to facilitate comparison of treatment outcomes and ultimately randomized clinical trials.
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- 2021
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6. Species Sensitivity to Toxic Substances: Evolution, Ecology and Applications
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David Spurgeon, Elma Lahive, Alex Robinson, Stephen Short, and Peter Kille
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ecotoxicology ,toxicokinetics ,toxicodynamics ,mechanism of action ,predictive ecotoxicology ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
Because it is only possible to test chemicals for effects on a restricted range of species and exposure scenarios, ecotoxicologists are faced with a significant challenge of how to translate the measurements in model species into predictions of impacts for the wider range of species in ecosystems. Because of this challenge, within ecotoxicology there is no more fundamental aspect than to understand the nature of the traits that determine sensitivity. To account for the uncertainties of species extrapolations in risk assessment, “safety factors” or species sensitivity distributions are commonly used. While valuable as pragmatic tools, these approaches have no mechanistic grounding. Here we highlight how mechanistic information that is increasingly available for a range of traits can be used to understand and potentially predict species sensitivity to chemicals. We review current knowledge on how toxicokinetic, toxicodynamic, physiological, and ecological traits contribute to differences in sensitivity. We go on to discuss how this information is being used to make predictions of sensitivity using correlative and trait-based approaches, including comparisons of target receptor orthologs. Finally, we discuss how the emerging knowledge and associated tools can be used to enhance theoretical and applied ecotoxicological research through improvements in mechanistic modeling, predictive ecotoxicology, species sensitivity distribution development, mixture toxicity assessment, chemical design, biotechnology application and mechanistically informed monitoring.
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- 2020
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7. Ion source perturbation and control in intense laser plasma interaction
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B. Ramakrishna, S. Krishnamurthy, M. Tayyab, S. Bagchi, K. Makur, Raoul Trines, Robbie Scott, Alex Robinson, and J. A. Chakera
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Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity ,QC770-798 - Abstract
We present here experimental results on the optimization of the mega-electronvolt ion source from the target front surface by using relativistic (1018 W/cm2) interactions with ultra-short laser pulses (50 fs). The source perturbation in the accelerated proton/ion beam was primarily controlled by the addition of a pre-pulse to main pulse contrast ratio. The 2D particle-in-cell simulations agreed well with the observed experimental results for the ion source perturbation and mitigation. This work provides insights into ion source perturbations (temporal and spatial) and the need to control them in intense laser–plasma interactions. Our results may assist in the efficient guiding of proton/ion beams to the core of fusion fuel or of ions in cancer therapy.
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- 2020
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8. Older Adults and Photo-Elicited Perspectives on Shopping for Groceries in a Changing Community
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Lori E. Breeden, Alessandra Planera, Lauren Kirchner, Samantha Asencio, Matthew Branden, Evan Dunlap, Alex Robinson, Samantha Stevens, and Sally Wasmuth
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grocery shopping ,adapt ,community mobility ,transportation ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
Background: A community experiencing gentrification created challenges for older adults and their ability to access food. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine barriers and facilitators perceived by three urban-dwelling older adults during their grocery shopping experiences. Methods: The researchers conducted photo-elicitation supported interviews to gather information on grocery shopping from three older adults attending a local senior center. Photo-elicited interviews were conducted, and the thematic analysis examined the participants’ perspectives on their experiences. Results: Thematic analysis revealed the participants’ experiences in a changing landscape. In the categories of community resources, transportation, and the store, analysis revealed the following themes: encountering obstacles, becoming frustrated, and identifying strategies and facilitators. These themes represent a process for older adults whereby they adapt to obtain their needed or desired items when shopping for groceries. Conclusion: In a community facing urban renewal and gentrification, older adults encountered obstacles and adapted in ways that were productive but not always safe or supportive of good health. This study illustrates the adaptive (or maladaptive) strategies of the participants who are managing change in their community. Advocating for affordable transportation in communities and modifying grocery store layout can support the older adult shoppers.
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- 2019
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9. Size Class Dependent Relationships between Temperature and Phytoplankton Photosynthesis-Irradiance Parameters in the Atlantic Ocean
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Alex Robinson, Heather A. Bouman, Gavin H. Tilstone, and Shubha Sathyendranath
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Atlantic Ocean ,phytoplankton size ,photosynthesis parameters ,primary production ,temperature ,Science ,General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution ,QH1-199.5 - Abstract
Over the past decade, a number of methods have been developed to estimate size-class primary production from either in situ phytoplankton pigment data or remotely-sensed data. In this context, the first objective of this study was to compare two methods of estimating size class specific (micro-, nano-, and pico-phytoplankton) photosynthesis-irradiance (PE) parameters from pigment data. The second objective was to analyse the relationship between environmental variables (temperature, nitrate and PAR) and PE parameters in the different size-classes. A large dataset was used of simultaneous measurements of the PE parameters (n = 1,260) and phytoplankton pigment markers (n = 2,326), from 3 different institutes. There were no significant differences in mean PE parameters of the different size classes between the chemotaxonomic method of Uitz et al. (2008) and the pigment markers and carbon-to-Chl a ratios method of Sathyendranath et al. (2009). For both methods, mean maximum photosynthetic rates (PmB) for micro-phytoplankton were significantly lower than those for pico-phytoplankton and nano-phytoplankton. The mean light limited slope (αB) for nano-phytoplankton were significantly higher than for the other size taxa. For micro-phytoplankton dominated samples identified using the Sathyendranath et al. (2009) method, both PmB and αB exhibited a significant, positive linear relationship with temperature, whereas for pico-phytoplankton the correlation with temperature was negative. Nano-phytoplankton dominated samples showed a positive correlation between PmB and temperature, whereas for αB and the light saturation parameter (Ek) the correlations were not significant. For the Uitz et al. (2008) method, only micro-phytoplankton PmB, pico-phytoplankton αB, nano- and pico-phytoplankton Ek exhibited significant relationships with temperature. The temperature ranges occupied by the size classes derived using these methods differed. The Uitz et al. (2008) method exhibited a wider temperature range compared to those derived from the Sathyendranath et al. (2009) method. The differences arise from the classification of mixed populations. Based on these patterns, we therefore recommend using the Sathyendranath et al. (2009) method to derive micro-phytoplankton PE parameters at sea water temperatures up to 8°C during monospecific blooms and the Uitz et al. (2008) method to derive PE parameters of mixed populations over the temperature range from 8 to 18°C. Both methods exhibited similar relationships between pico-phytoplankton PE parameters and temperatures >18°C.
- Published
- 2018
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10. Comparing bee species responses to chemical mixtures: Common response patterns?
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Alex Robinson, Helen Hesketh, Elma Lahive, Alice A Horton, Claus Svendsen, Agnes Rortais, Jean Lou Dorne, Jan Baas, Matthew S Heard, and David J Spurgeon
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Pollinators in agricultural landscapes can be exposed to mixtures of pesticides and environmental pollutants. Existing mixture toxicity modelling approaches, such as the models of concentration addition and independent action and the mechanistic DEBtox framework have been previously shown as valuable tools for understanding and ultimately predicting joint toxicity. Here we apply these mixture models to investigate the potential to interpret the effects of semi-chronic binary mixture exposure for three bee species: Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis within potentiation and mixture toxicity experiments. In the potentiation studies, the effect of the insecticide dimethoate with added propiconazole fungicide and neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin with added tau-fluvalinate pyrethroid acaricide showed no difference in toxicity compared to the single chemical alone. Clothianidin toxicity showed a small scale, but temporally conserved increase in exposure conducted in the presence of propiconazole, particularly for B. terrestris and O. bicornis, the latter showing a near three-fold increase in clothianidin toxicity in the presence of propiconazole. In the mixture toxicity studies, the dominant response patterns were of additivity, however, binary mixtures of clothianidin and dimethoate in A. mellifera, B. terrestris and male O. bicornis there was evidence of a predominant antagonistic interaction. Given the ubiquitous nature of exposures to multiple chemicals, there is an urgent need to consider mixture effects in pollinator risk assessments. Our analyses suggest that current models, particularly those that utilise time-series data, such as DEBtox, can be used to identify additivity as the dominant response pattern and also those examples of interactions, even when small-scale, that may need to be taken into account during risk assessment.
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- 2017
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11. Overview of Sensors and Needs for Environmental Monitoring
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Mary J. Davis, David R. Miller, Alex Robinson, and Clifford K. Ho
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environmental monitoring ,sensors ,regulatory standards. ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
This paper surveys the needs associated with environmental monitoring and longtermenvironmental stewardship. Emerging sensor technologies are reviewed to identifycompatible technologies for various environmental monitoring applications. Thecontaminants that are considered in this report are grouped into the following categories:(1) metals, (2) radioisotopes, (3) volatile organic compounds, and (4) biologicalcontaminants. United States regulatory drivers are evaluated for different applications (e.g.,drinking water, storm water, pretreatment, and air emissions), and sensor requirements arederived from these regulatory metrics. Sensor capabilities are then summarized according tocontaminant type, and the applicability of the different sensors to various environmentalmonitoring applications is discussed.
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- 2005
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12. Alentejo
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Alex Robinson
- Published
- 2019
13. Comparison of Palm Oil and Rice Business Feasibilities: Study of Land Function Conversion Lubuk Pinang District, Mukomuko Regency
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Alex Robinson Siagian, Ketut Sukiyono, and Reswita Reswita
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Embryology ,Cell Biology ,Anatomy ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
This study aims to (1) analyze the level of financial and non-financial feasibility of oil palm and rice farming, (2) analyze the sensitivity level of oil palm and rice farming, (3) determine the comparability of the feasibility of oil palm and rice farming and to know what is the most profitable in Lubuk Pinang District, Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province. The data used in this study are primary data and secondary data. The sampling of oil palm farmers in this study used a stratified random sampling technique, while the rice farmers used accidental sampling techniques. The data analysis technique used in this study is the analysis of the Present Net Value (NPV) and Net B / C Ratio. The results showed that from a financial perspective, oil palm and rice farming in Lubuk Pinang District, Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province, were declared feasible to continue; this can be seen from the NPV and B / C Ratio values. The NPV value in oil palm farming is IDR 44,682,270.66, while the NPV in rice farming is IDR 168,218,082.21. The Net B / C Ratio in oil palm farming was 2.31, while the Net B / C Ratio value in rice farming was 6.94. From a non-financial perspective, oil palm and rice farming are considered feasible due to the availability of production factors for both farms, such as seeds, labor, and other production inputs.
- Published
- 2022
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14. Disability-Related Costs of Children with Disabilities in the Philippines
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Agcaoili, Ludovico Carraro, Alex Robinson, Bilal Hakeem, Abner Manlapaz, and Rosela
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disability ,children ,extra costs ,standard of living ,Philippines - Abstract
The assessment of disability-related costs among children remains a largely under-researched subject with related questions rarely included in surveys. This paper addresses this issue through a unique mixed methods study conducted in the Philippines combining a nationally representative survey and in-depth interviews with families and health professionals. To quantify the extra costs associated with disabilities, the research used the standard of living approach, whereby expenditure levels of families with children with and without disabilities were compared in relation to different measures of living standards. The results find consistent evidence of high extra costs among households that have children with disabilities and point to health expenses as the leading source. Using an asset index as the indicator of living standards, a child with a disability is estimated to require between 40% and 80% extra expenditure to reach the same living standard of other children. However, the size of extra costs is substantially higher when the measure of the standard of living relies on a broader set of deprivations. In such cases, higher estimates of extra costs are likely to be the result of the lack of an inclusive environment. Critically, this points to the need to provide not only financial support but also inclusive services, especially in health and education.
- Published
- 2023
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15. Wastewater monitoring can anchor global disease surveillance systems
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Aparna Keshaviah, Megan B Diamond, Matthew J Wade, Samuel V Scarpino, Warish Ahmed, Fabian Amman, Olusola Aruna, Andrei Badilla-Aguilar, Itay Bar-Or, Andreas Bergthaler, Julie E Bines, Aaron W Bivins, Alexandria B Boehm, Jean-Martin Brault, Jean-Baptiste Burnet, Joanne R Chapman, Angela Chaudhuri, Ana Maria de Roda Husman, Robert Delatolla, John J Dennehy, Megan Beth Diamond, Celeste Donato, Erwin Duizer, Abiodun Egwuenu, Oran Erster, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Aldo Gaggero, Deirdre F Gilpin, Brent J Gilpin, Tyson E Graber, Christopher A Green, Amanda Handley, Joanne Hewitt, Rochelle H Holm, Heribert Insam, Marc C Johnson, Rabia Johnson, Davey L Jones, Timothy R Julian, Asha Jyothi, Tamar Kohn, Katrin G Kuhn, Giuseppina La Rosa, Marie Lesenfants, Douglas G Manuel, Patrick M D'Aoust, Rudolf Markt, John W McGrath, Gertjan Medema, Christine L Moe, Indah Kartika Murni, Humood Naser, Colleen C Naughton, Leslie Ogorzaly, Vicka Oktaria, Christoph Ort, Popi Karaolia, Ekta H Patel, Steve Paterson, Mahbubur Rahman, Pablo Rivera-Navarro, Alex Robinson, Monica C Santa-Maria, Heike Schmitt, Theodore Smith, Lauren B Stadler, Jorgen Stassijns, Alberta Stenico, Renee A Street, Elisabetta Suffredini, Zachary Susswein, Monica Trujillo, Marlene K Wolfe, Habib Yakubu, and Maria Ines Zanoli Sato
- Subjects
General Medicine - Abstract
To inform the development of global wastewater monitoring systems, we surveyed programmes in 43 countries. Most programmes monitored predominantly urban populations. In high-income countries (HICs), composite sampling at centralised treatment plants was most common, whereas grab sampling from surface waters, open drains, and pit latrines was more typical in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Almost all programmes analysed samples in-country, with an average processing time of 2·3 days in HICs and 4·5 days in LMICs. Whereas 59% of HICs regularly monitored wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 variants, only 13% of LMICs did so. Most programmes share their wastewater data internally, with partnering organisations, but not publicly. Our findings show the richness of the existing wastewater monitoring ecosystem. With additional leadership, funding, and implementation frameworks, thousands of individual wastewater initiatives can coalesce into an integrated, sustainable network for disease surveillance?one that minimises the risk of overlooking future global health threats.
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- 2023
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16. A Holistic Evaluation of Buried Power Rails and Back-Side Power for Sub-5 nm Technology Nodes
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S. S. Teja Nibhanupudi, Divya Prasad, Shidhartha Das, Odysseas Zografos, Alex Robinson, Anshul Gupta, Alessio Spessot, Peter Debacker, Diederik Verkest, Julien Ryckaert, Geert Hellings, James Myers, Brian Cline, and Jaydeep P. Kulkarni
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Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials - Published
- 2022
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17. Sketch2code: Generating a website from a paper mockup.
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Alex Robinson
- Published
- 2019
18. Disability Related Costs of Children With Disabilities in the Philippines
- Author
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Ludovico Carraro, Alex Robinson, Bilal Hakeem, Abner Manlapaz, and Rosela Agcaoili
- Abstract
The assessment of disability related costs among children remains a largely under-researched subject with related questions rarely included in surveys. This paper addresses this issue through a unique mixed methods study conducted in the Philippines combining a nationally representative survey and in-depth interviews with families and health professionals. To quantify the extra costs associated with disability the research used the standard of living approach, whereby expenditure levels of families with children with and without disabilities are compared in relation to different measures of living standards. The results find consistent evidence of high extra costs among households that have children with disabilities and point to health expenses as the leading source. Using an asset index as the indicator of living standards, a child with disability is estimated to require between 40 and 80% extra expenditure to reach the same living standard of other children. However, the size of extra costs is substantially higher when the measure of standard of living relies on a broader set of deprivations. In such cases, higher estimates of extra costs are likely to be the result of the lack of an inclusive environment. Critically, this points to the need not only to provide financial support, but also inclusive services, especially in health and education.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. Adjoint Klein-Nishina Sampling Methods: Efficiency, Speed, and Applications
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Eli Moll, Alex Robinson, Douglass L. Henderson, and Luke J. Kersting
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Physics ,Nuclear Energy and Engineering ,Applied mathematics - Published
- 2021
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20. Rio de Janeiro & Minas Gerais
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Alex Robinson, Gardênia Robinson
- Published
- 2016
21. Brazil
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Alex Robinson, Gardênia Robinson
- Published
- 2016
22. Sao Paulo
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Alex Robinson, Gardênia Robinson
- Published
- 2016
23. Comparison of Palm Oil and Rice Business Feasibilities: Study of Land Function Conversion Lubuk Pinang District, Mukomuko Regency
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Siagian, Alex Robinson, primary, Sukiyono, Ketut, additional, and Reswita, Reswita, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Modelling the effects of the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin on the life cycle of the soil dwelling annelid Enchytraeus crypticus, an original experimental design to calibrate a DEB-TKTD model
- Author
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Sylvain Bart, Tjalling Jager, Stephen Short, Alex Robinson, Darren Sleep, M. Glória Pereira, David J. Spurgeon, and Roman Ashauer
- Subjects
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,General Medicine ,Pollution - Abstract
The Dynamic Energy Budget theory (DEB) enables ecotoxicologists to model the effects of chemical stressors on organism life cycles through the coupling of toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) models. While good progress has been made in the application of DEB-TKTD models for aquatic organisms, applications for soil fauna are scarce, due to the lack of dedicated experimental designs suitable for collecting the required time series effect data. Enchytraeids (Annelida: Clitellata) are model organisms in soil ecology and ecotoxicology. They are recognised as indicators of biological activity in soil, and chemical stress in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this, the application of DEB-TKTD models to investigate the impact of chemicals has not yet been tested on this family. Here we assessed the impact of the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin on the life cycle of Enchytraeus crypticus. We developed an original experimental design to collect the data required for the calibration of a DEB-TKTD model for this species. E. crypticus presented a slow initial growth phase that has been successfully simulated with the addition of a size-dependent food limitation for juveniles in the DEB model. The DEB-TKTD model simulations successfully agreed with the data for all endpoints and treatments over time. The highlighted physiological mode of action (pMoA) for cypermethrin was an increase of the growth energy cost. The threshold for effects on survival was estimated at 73.14 mg kg
- Published
- 2022
25. Review for 'Mesozoic–Cenozoic multistage tectonic evolution of the Pamir: detrital fission‐track constraints from the Tajik Basin'
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null Alex Robinson
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Computational models of exploration and exploitation characterise onset and efficacy of treatment in methamphetamine use disorder
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Trevor Chong, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia, and Alex Robinson
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Pharmacology ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Decision Making ,Exploratory Behavior ,Humans ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Computer Simulation ,Reinforcement, Psychology ,Methamphetamine - Abstract
People with Methamphetamine Use Disorder (PwMUD) spend substantial time and resources on substance use, which hinders their ability to explore alternate reinforcers. Gold-standard behavioural treatments attempt to remedy this by encouraging action towards non-drug reinforcers, but substance use often persists. We aimed to unravel the mechanistic drivers of this behaviour by applying a computational model of explore/exploit behaviour to decision-making data (Iowa Gambling Task) from 106 PwMUD and 48 controls. We then examined the longitudinal link between explore/exploit mechanisms and changes in methamphetamine use 6 weeks later. Exploitation parameters included reinforcement sensitivity and inverse decay (i.e., number of past outcomes used to guide choices). Exploration parameters included maximum directed exploration value (i.e., value of trying novel actions). The Timeline Follow Back measured changes in methamphetamine use. Compared to controls, PwMUD showed deficits in exploitative decision-making, characterised by reduced reinforcement sensitivity, U = 3065, p = 0.009, and less use of previous choice outcomes, U = 3062, p = 0.010. This was accompanied by a behavioural pattern of frequent shifting between choices, which appeared consistent with random exploration. Furthermore, PwMUD with greater reductions of methamphetamine use at 6 weeks had increased directed exploration (β = 0.22, p = 0.045); greater use of past choice outcomes (β = -0.39, p = 0.002) and greater choice consistency (β = -0.39, p = 0.002). Therefore, limited computational exploitation and increased behavioural exploration characterise PwMUD's presentation to treatment, while increased directed exploration, use of past choice outcomes and choice consistency predict greater reductions of methamphetamine use.
- Published
- 2022
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27. Towards Low-dose and Fast 4-D Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy: New Sampling and Reconstruction Approaches
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Amirafshar Moshtaghpour, Abner Velazco-Torrejon, Alex Robinson, Emanuela Liberti, Judy S Kim, Nigel D Browning, and Angus I Kirkland
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Instrumentation - Published
- 2022
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28. Single Scattering Adjoint Monte Carlo Electron Transport in FRENSIE
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Douglass L. Henderson, Philip Britt, Alex Robinson, Lewis Gross, Luke J. Kersting, and Eli Moll
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Physics ,010308 nuclear & particles physics ,Scattering ,Monte Carlo method ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,02 engineering and technology ,Electron ,01 natural sciences ,Electron transport chain ,Computational physics ,Nuclear Energy and Engineering ,0103 physical sciences ,Data library ,021108 energy ,Nuclear science - Abstract
A new single scattering adjoint transport capability was implemented in Framework for REsearch in Nuclear ScIence and Engineering (FRENSIE). The Evaluated Electron Data Library (EEDL) was used to g...
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- 2020
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29. How to analyse and account for interactions in mixture toxicity with toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic models
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Sylvain Bart, Stephen Short, Tjalling Jager, Emily J. Eagles, Alex Robinson, Claire Badder, Elma Lahive, David J. Spurgeon, and Roman Ashauer
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Insecticides ,Environmental Engineering ,Daphnia ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Chlorpyrifos ,Oligochaeta ,Pollution ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Ecology and Environment ,Toxicokinetics - Abstract
The assessment of chemical mixture toxicity is one of the major challenges in ecotoxicology. Chemicals can interact, leading to more or less effects than expected, commonly named synergism and antagonism respectively. The classic ad hoc approach for the assessment of mixture effects is based on dose-response curves at a single time point, and is limited to identifying a mixture interaction but cannot provide predictions for untested exposure durations, nor for scenarios where exposure varies in time. We here propose a new approach using toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic modelling: The General Unified Threshold model of Survival (GUTS) framework, recently extended for mixture toxicity assessment. We designed a dedicated mechanistic interaction module coupled with the GUTS mixture model to i) identify interactions, ii) test hypotheses to identify which chemical is likely responsible for the interaction, and finally iii) simulate and predict the effect of synergistic and antagonistic mixtures. We tested the modelling approach experimentally with two species (Enchytraeus crypticus and Mamestra brassicae) exposed to different potentially synergistic mixtures (composed of: prochloraz, imidacloprid, cypermethrin, azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, and chlorpyrifos). Furthermore, we also tested the model with previously published experimental data on two other species (Bombus terrestris and Daphnia magna) exposed to pesticide mixtures (clothianidin, propiconazole, dimethoate, imidacloprid and thiacloprid) found to be synergistic or antagonistic with the classic approach. The results showed an accurate simulation of synergistic and antagonistic effects for the different tested species and mixtures. This modelling approach can identify interactions accounting for the entire time of exposure, and not only at one time point as in the classic approach, and provides predictions of the mixture effect for untested mixture exposure scenarios, including those with time-variable mixture composition.
- Published
- 2022
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30. Review for 'Middle to late Miocene growth of the North Pamir'
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Alex Robinson
- Subjects
Paleontology ,Late Miocene ,Geology - Published
- 2021
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31. Low Voltage PML Capacitor Development and Characterization
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Joshua Dye and Alex Robinson
- Published
- 2021
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32. Treatment Strategies for GLILD in Common Variable Immunodeficiency: A Systematic Review
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Sabine M. P. J. Prevaes, Janneke van de Wijgert, Astrid C. van Stigt, Hanna IJspeert, Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, Godelieve J. de Bree, Alex Robinson, Klaus Warnatz, John R. Hurst, Bas M. Smits, Joris M. van Montfrans, Virgil A. S. H. Dalm, Olivia A. C. Lamers, Hsi-en Ho, Helen L. Leavis, Suzanne W.J. Terheggen-Lagro, Annick A. J. M. van de Ven, Internal Medicine, Immunology, APH - Aging & Later Life, APH - Global Health, AII - Infectious diseases, Infectious diseases, and Paediatric Pulmonology
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0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Immunology ,Azathioprine ,Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ,medicine.disease_cause ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Randomized controlled trial ,systematic review ,law ,medicine ,Immunology and Allergy ,Intensive care medicine ,Immunodeficiency ,treatment ,business.industry ,Abatacept ,Common variable immunodeficiency ,CVID ,common variable immunodeficiency ,granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease ,GLILD ,Immune dysregulation ,RC581-607 ,medicine.disease ,030104 developmental biology ,030228 respiratory system ,Rituximab ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,business ,immunodeficiency ,medicine.drug - Abstract
IntroductionBesides recurrent infections, a proportion of patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorders (CVID) may suffer from immune dysregulation such as granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD). The optimal treatment of this complication is currently unknown. Experienced-based expert opinions have been produced, but a systematic review of published treatment studies is lacking.GoalsTo summarize and synthesize the published literature on the efficacy of treatments for GLILD in CVID.MethodsWe performed a systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. Papers describing treatment and outcomes in CVID patients with radiographic and/or histologic evidence of GLILD were included. Treatment regimens and outcomes of treatment were summarized.Results6124 papers were identified and 42, reporting information about 233 patients in total, were included for review. These papers described case series or small, uncontrolled studies of monotherapy with glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressants, rituximab monotherapy or rituximab plus azathioprine, abatacept, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Treatment response rates varied widely. Cross-study comparisons were complicated because different treatment regimens, follow-up periods, and outcome measures were used. There was a trend towards more frequent GLILD relapses in patients treated with corticosteroid monotherapy when compared to rituximab-containing treatment regimens based on qualitative endpoints. HSCT is a promising alternative to pharmacological treatment of GLILD, because it has the potential to not only contain symptoms, but also to resolve the underlying pathology. However, mortality, especially among immunocompromised patients, is high.ConclusionsWe could not draw definitive conclusions regarding optimal pharmacological treatment for GLILD in CVID from the current literature since quantitative, well-controlled evidence was lacking. While HSCT might be considered a treatment option for GLILD in CVID, the risks related to the procedure are high. Our findings highlight the need for further research with uniform, objective and quantifiable endpoints. This should include international registries with standardized data collection including regular pulmonary function tests (with carbon monoxide-diffusion), uniform high-resolution chest CT radiographic scoring, and uniform treatment regimens, to facilitate comparison of treatment outcomes and ultimately randomized clinical trials.
- Published
- 2021
33. Off-target stoichiometric binding identified from toxicogenomics explains why some species are more sensitive than others to a widely used neonicotinoid
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Elma Lahive, David J. Spurgeon, Alex Robinson, Stephen Short, M. Glória Pereira, Amaia Green Etxabe, Peter Kille, and Szabolcs Hernadi
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Insecticides ,Toxicodynamics ,Protein subunit ,Neonicotinoid ,General Chemistry ,Computational biology ,Receptors, Nicotinic ,010501 environmental sciences ,Biology ,Nitro Compounds ,Toxicogenetics ,01 natural sciences ,Affinities ,Neonicotinoids ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Acetylcholine binding ,Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ,Biology and Microbiology ,chemistry ,Imidacloprid ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Oligochaeta ,Toxicogenomics ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Neonicotinoids are currently licensed for use in 120 countries, making accurate nontarget species sensitivity predictions critical. Unfortunately, such predictions are fraught with uncertainty, as sensitivity is extrapolated from only a few test species and neonicotinoid sensitivities can differ greatly between closely related taxa. Combining classical toxicology with de novo toxicogenomics could greatly improve sensitivity predictions and identify unexpectedly susceptible species. We show that there is a >30-fold differential species sensitivity (DSS) for the neonicotinoid imidacloprid between five earthworm species, a critical nontarget taxon. This variation could not be explained by differential toxicokinetics. Furthermore, comparing key motif expression in subunit genes of the classical nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) target predicts only minor differences in the ligand binding domains (LBDs). In contrast, predicted dissimilarities in LBDs do occur in the highly expressed but nonclassical targets, acetylcholine binding proteins (AChBPs). Critically, the predicted AChBP divergence is capable of explaining DSS. We propose that high expression levels of putative nonsynaptic AChBPs with high imidacloprid affinities reduce imidacloprid binding to critical nAChRs involved in vital synaptic neurotransmission. This study provides a clear example of how pragmatic interrogation of key motif expression in complex multisubunit receptors can predict observed DSS, thereby informing sensitivity predictions for essential nontarget species.
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- 2021
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34. Predicting mixture effects over time with toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic models (GUTS): assumptions, experimental testing, and predictive power
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Elma Lahive, David J. Spurgeon, Tjalling Jager, Alex Robinson, Sylvain Bart, and Roman Ashauer
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Toxicodynamics ,Single exposure ,Calibration (statistics) ,General Chemistry ,Bees ,010501 environmental sciences ,Mixture model ,Models, Biological ,Risk Assessment ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,Toxicokinetics ,Experimental testing ,Biology and Microbiology ,Daphnia ,Calibration ,Predictive power ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Threshold model ,Biological system ,Exposure data ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Mathematics - Abstract
Current methods to assess the impact of chemical mixtures on organisms ignore the temporal dimension. The General Unified Threshold model for Survival (GUTS) provides a framework for deriving toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic (TKTD) models, which account for effects of toxicant exposure on survival in time. Starting from the classic assumptions of independent action and concentration addition, we derive equations for the GUTS reduced (GUTS-RED) model corresponding to these mixture toxicity concepts and go on to demonstrate their application. Using experimental binary mixture studies with Enchytraeus crypticus and previously published data for Daphnia magna and Apis mellifera, we assessed the predictive power of the extended GUTS-RED framework for mixture assessment. The extended models accurately predicted the mixture effect. The GUTS parameters on single exposure data, mixture model calibration, and predictive power analyses on mixture exposure data offer novel diagnostic tools to inform on the chemical mode of action, specifically whether a similar or dissimilar form of damage is caused by mixture components. Finally, observed deviations from model predictions can identify interactions, e.g., synergism or antagonism, between chemicals in the mixture, which are not accounted for by the models. TKTD models, such as GUTS-RED, thus offer a framework to implement new mechanistic knowledge in mixture hazard assessments.
- Published
- 2021
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35. A Kinetic Approach for Assessing the Uptake of Ag from Pristine and Sulfidized Ag Nanomaterials to Plants
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David J. Spurgeon, Carolin L. Schultz, Elma Lahive, Claus Svendsen, Alex Robinson, C.A.M. van Gestel, A. Green Etxabe, Marianne Matzke, Alice A. Horton, Martí Busquets-Fité, and Animal Ecology
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Plant growth ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Nanomaterials ,Soil ,Environmental Chemistry ,Soil Pollutants ,Growth rate ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Chemistry ,Botany ,food and beverages ,Plants ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Bioaccumulation ,Bioavailability ,Nanostructures ,Kinetics ,Biology and Microbiology ,Environmental chemistry ,Shoot ,Environmental toxicology ,Terrestrial ecosystem ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Nanomaterials (NMs) are thermodynamically unstable by nature, and exposure of soil organisms to NMs in the terrestrial environment cannot be assumed constant. Thus, steady-state conditions may not apply to NMs, and bioaccumulation modeling for uptake should follow a dynamic approach. The one-compartment model allows the uptake and elimination of a chemical to be determined, while also permitting changes in exposure and growth to be taken into account. The aim of the present study was to investigate the accumulation of Ag from different Ag NM types (20 nm Ag0 NMs, 50 nm Ag0 NMs, and 25 nm Ag2 S NMs) in the crop plant wheat (Triticum aestivum). Seeds were emerged in contaminated soils (3 or 10 mg Ag/kg dry soil, nominal) and plants grown for up to 42 d postemergence. Plant roots and shoots were collected after 1, 7, 14, 21, and 42 d postemergence; and total Ag was measured. Soil porewater Ag concentrations were also measured at each sampling time. Using the plant growth rates in the different treatments and the changing porewater concentrations as parameters, the one-compartment model was used to estimate the uptake and elimination of Ag from the plant tissues. The best fit of the model to the data included growth rate and porewater concentration decline, while showing elimination of Ag to be close to zero. Uptake was highest for Ag0 NMs, and size did not influence their uptake rates. Accumulation of Ag from Ag2 S NMs was lower, as reflected by the lower porewater concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1861-1872. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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- 2020
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36. Validation and Verification of the Evaluated Electron Data Library in FRENSIE
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Eli Moll, Douglass L. Henderson, Luke J. Kersting, and Alex Robinson
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010308 nuclear & particles physics ,Computer science ,Monte Carlo method ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,02 engineering and technology ,Electron ,01 natural sciences ,Computational science ,Nuclear Energy and Engineering ,0103 physical sciences ,Data library ,021108 energy ,Nuclear science ,Verification and validation - Abstract
Verification and validation tests have been performed for the single scattering Evaluated Electron Data Library (EEDL) implemented in the Framework for Research in Nuclear ScIence and Engineering (...
- Published
- 2018
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37. Cell Death & Disease
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Zhipeng, Tao, Louise D, Zheng, Cayleen, Smith, Jing, Luo, Alex, Robinson, Fabio A, Almeida, Zongwei, Wang, Aria F, Olumi, Dongmin, Liu, Zhiyong, Cheng, and Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
- Subjects
Male ,Adipogenesis ,Estradiol ,lcsh:Cytology ,Estrogen Receptor alpha ,Estrogens ,Intra-Abdominal Fat ,Article ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,Mice ,Sex Factors ,Autophagy ,Animals ,Female ,lcsh:QH573-671 ,Adiposity ,Signal Transduction - Abstract
Excessive adiposity (particularly visceral fat mass) increases the risks of developing metabolic syndrome. Women have lower deposit of visceral fat than men, and this pattern becomes diminished postmenopausally, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the gender difference in visceral fat distribution is controlled by an estradiol–autophagy axis. In C57BL/6J and wild-type control mice, a higher visceral fat mass was detected in the males than in the females, which was associated with lower expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and more active autophagy in males vs. females. However, deletion of ERα normalized autophagy activity and abolished the gender difference in visceral adiposity. In line with the adiposity-reducing effect of the ERα–autophagy axis, we found that downregulation of ERα and increased autophagy activity were required for adipogenesis, while induction of estradiol signaling dampened autophagy and drastically prevented adipogenesis. Mechanistically, the estradiol-ERα signaling activated mTOR, which phosphorylated and inhibited ULK1, thereby suppressing autophagy and adipogenesis. Together, our study suggests that the lower visceral adiposity in the females (vs. the males) arises from a more active estradiol-ERα signaling, which tunes down autophagy and adipogenesis. USDA USDA: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1007334 National Institutes of Health NIH: R18DK091811 NIH: 1R01AT007077
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- 2018
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38. Use of the Washington Group Questions in Non-Government Programming
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Liem Nguyen, Alex Robinson, and Fleur Smith
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Washington ,non-government organizations ,Inclusion (disability rights) ,Process (engineering) ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Exploratory research ,Sample (statistics) ,Article ,functioning ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Humans ,Disabled Persons ,Sociology ,Organizations ,Government ,Data collection ,business.industry ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Public relations ,inclusion ,disability ,data ,Medicine ,Thematic analysis ,Washington group ,business - Abstract
The Washington Group questions (WGQ) on functioning have been widely promoted as the go-to tool for disability data collection. Designed for use by government, the WGQ have been adopted by non-government organizations (NGOs) for use in programming. However, little is known about how the WGQs are being used by NGOs or how use may be contributing to disability inclusion. Method: This paper describes exploratory research on the use of the WGQ in NGO programming. An online survey provided an overview of adoption followed by semi-structured interviews from a purposive sample to explore data collection, analysis, and use. Results: Thematic analysis showed limited inclusion outcomes directly attributable to use of the WGQ, adoption driven by individual champions rather than systematically across organizations, and challenges in data collection resulting in a wide range of prevalence rates. What information the WGQ can realistically contribute to programs was also overestimated. However, the process of using the WGQ was raising awareness on disability inclusion within program teams and communities. Conclusion: Acknowledging differences in emerging use by NGOs beyond the WGQ’s intended purpose, alongside promoting a flexible and staged approach to adoption and use in programming, may improve utility and disability inclusion outcomes over time.
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- 2021
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39. Prefilling Mylar capacitor edge margins to improve capacitor reliability and size
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Nathan Jackson, Yu-Lin Shen, Alex Robinson, Kayser, chase, Nathan Jackson, Yu-Lin Shen, Alex Robinson, and Kayser, chase
- Subjects
- Dry wrap and fill
- Abstract
Typical high-voltage, wound film-foil capacitors have large edge margins filled with air to prevent breakdown between foil electrodes. This arrangement is inefficient for energy density and leaves a volume where particulates may settle in an uncontrolled atmosphere. The reliability and size of high-voltage, wound film-foil capacitors could be improved by adding a material with higher breakdown strength into the edge margins. This will not only improve reliability and size but also act as a barrier to prevent foreign object debris (FOD), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and water from damaging the capacitor’s performance. This paper will discuss the process of determining a suitable material and the process of prefilling the edge margins with a material using a reel-to-reel coating machine.
- Published
- 2020
40. Chemicals with increasingly complex modes of action result in greater variation in sensitivity between earthworm species
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Darren Sleep, Stephen Short, Peter Kille, Heather Carter, Gloria Pereira, Elma Lahive, Alex Robinson, and David J. Spurgeon
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Eisenia fetida ,Toxicodynamics ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Zoology ,010501 environmental sciences ,Ecotoxicology ,Toxicology ,01 natural sciences ,Ecology and Environment ,Cypermethrin ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,biology.animal ,Animals ,Soil Pollutants ,Lumbricidae ,Oligochaeta ,Pesticides ,Mode of action ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,biology ,Earthworm ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Lumbricus rubellus ,Pollution ,chemistry ,Chlorpyrifos - Abstract
The scale of variation in species sensitivity to toxicants has been theoretically linked to mode of action. Specifically, it has been proposed there will be greater variations for chemicals with a putative specific biological target than for toxicants with a non-specific narcotic mechanism. Here we test the hypothesis that mode of action is related to variation in sensitivity in a specifically designed experiment for species from a single ecologically important terrestrial taxa, namely earthworms. Earthworm toxicity tests were conducted with five species for four chemicals, providing a series of increasingly complex modes of action: a putative narcotic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (fluoranthene), and three insecticides (chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, imidacloprid) with known neuronal receptor targets. Across all the chemicals, the standard epigeic test species Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus rubellus, were generally among the two least sensitive, while the endogenic Aporrectodea caliginosa and Megascolecidae Amynthas gracilis were generally more sensitive (never being among the two least sensitive species). This indicates a potential for bias in the earthworm ecotoxicology literature, which is dominated by studies in epigeic Lumbricidae, but contains few endogeic or Megascolecidae data. Results confirmed the lowest range of variation in sensitivities for effects on reproduction was for fluoranthene (2.5 fold). All insecticides showed greater variation for species sensitivity (cypermethrin: 7.5 fold, chlorpyrifos: 10.3 fold, imidacloprid: 31.5 fold) consistent with the specific mechanisms of the pesticides. Difference in toxicodynamics, based on mode of action specificity and receptor complexity was reflected in the magnitude of sensitivity variation. However, measurements of tissue concentrations also indicated the potential importance of toxicokinetics in explaining species sensitivity variations for chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin.
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- 2021
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41. Comparative toxicity of pesticides and environmental contaminants in bees: Are honey bees a useful proxy for wild bee species?
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Matthew S. Heard, Agnès Rortais, Jan Baas, Claus Svendsen, Helen Hesketh, Elma Lahive, Alex Robinson, David J. Spurgeon, and Jean-Lou Dorne
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Environmental Engineering ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Insect ,010501 environmental sciences ,Biology ,Ecotoxicology ,01 natural sciences ,Ecology and Environment ,Species Specificity ,Pollinator ,Toxicity Tests ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Pesticides ,Waste Management and Disposal ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,media_common ,Ecology ,Neonicotinoid ,Interspecific competition ,Honey bee ,Bees ,Pesticide ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Eusociality ,Europe ,010602 entomology ,Bombus terrestris - Abstract
Threats to wild and managed insect pollinators in Europe are cause for both ecological and socio-economic concern. Multiple anthropogenic pressures may be exacerbating pollinator declines. One key pressure is exposure to chemicals including pesticides and other contaminants. Historically the honey bee (Apis mellifera spp.) has been used as an ‘indicator’ species for ‘standard’ ecotoxicological testing but it has been suggested that it is not always a good proxy for other types of eusocial and solitary bees because of species differences in autecology and sensitivity to various stressors. We developed a common toxicity test system to conduct acute and chronic exposures of up to 240 h of similar doses of seven chemicals, targeting different metabolic pathways, on three bee species (Apis mellifera spp., Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis). We compared the relative sensitivity between species in terms of potency between the chemicals and the influence of exposure time on toxicity. While there were significant interspecific differences that varied through time, overall the magnitude of these differences (in terms of treatment effect ratios) was generally comparable (< 2 fold) although there were some large divergences from this pattern. Our results suggest that A. mellifera spp. could be used as a proxy for other bee species provided a reasonable assessment factor is used to cover interspecific variation. Perhaps more importantly our results show significant and large time dependency of toxicity across all three tested species that greatly exceeds species differences (> 25 fold within test). These are rarely considered in standard regulatory testing but may have severe environmental consequences, especially when coupled with the likelihood of differential species exposures in the wild. These insights indicate that further work is required to understand how differences in toxicokinetics vary between species and mixtures of chemicals.
- Published
- 2017
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42. Vitamin D: Australian dietitian's knowledge and practices
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Alex Robinson, Clare F. Dix, Olivia Wright, and Judith Bauer
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,business.industry ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,030209 endocrinology & metabolism ,Disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Family medicine ,medicine ,Vitamin D and neurology ,030212 general & internal medicine ,business - Abstract
Aim: To survey dietitians on their knowledge and practices regarding vitamin D (VitD) intake, sources, supplementation and effect on disease state.
- Published
- 2016
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43. Genetic, epigenetic and microbiome characterisation of an earthworm species (Octolasion lacteum) along a radiation exposure gradient at Chernobyl
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Lindsay K. Newbold, Elma Lahive, Sergey Gashchak, Alex Robinson, I. Rasnaca, Emmanuel Lapied, David J. Spurgeon, Nicholas A. Beresford, Gweon H. Soon, and Deborah Oughton
- Subjects
Nuclear gene ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Population ,Zoology ,010501 environmental sciences ,Biology ,Toxicology ,01 natural sciences ,Ecology and Environment ,Epigenesis, Genetic ,Soil ,Radiation Monitoring ,Soil pH ,Animals ,Microbiome ,Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ,Oligochaeta ,education ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Radioisotopes ,education.field_of_study ,Bacteria ,Microbiota ,Earthworm ,General Medicine ,Radiation Exposure ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Gastrointestinal Microbiome ,Biology and Microbiology ,Chernobyl Nuclear Accident ,Hologenome theory of evolution ,Genetic structure ,Amplified fragment length polymorphism - Abstract
The effects of exposure to different levels of ionising radiation were assessed on the genetic, epigenetic and microbiome characteristics of the “hologenome” of earthworms collected at sites within the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ). The earthworms Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny, 1826) and Octolasion lacteum (Örley, 1881) were the two species that were most frequently found at visited sites, however, only O. lacteum was present at sufficient number across different exposure levels to enable comparative hologenome analysis. The identification of morphotype O. lacteum as a probable single clade was established using a combination of mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I) and nuclear genome (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) using MspI loci). No clear site associated differences in population genetic structure was found between populations using the AFLP marker loci. Further, no relationship between ionising radiation exposure levels and the percentage of methylated loci or pattern of distribution of DNA methylation marks was found. Microbiome structure was clearly site dependent, with gut microbiome community structure and diversity being systematically associated with calculated site-specific earthworm dose rates. There was, however, also co-correlation between earthworm dose rates and other soil properties, notably soil pH; a property known to affect soil bacterial community structure. Such co-correlation means that it is not possible to attribute microbiome changes unequivocally to radionuclide exposure. A better understanding of the relationship between radionuclide exposure soil properties and their interactions on bacterial microbiome community response is, therefore, needed to establish whether these the observed microbiome changes are attributed directly to radiation exposure, other soil properties or to an interaction between multiple variables at sites within the CEZ.
- Published
- 2019
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44. Materials and Processes for Next Generation Lithography
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Alex Robinson, Richard Lawson, Alex Robinson, and Richard Lawson
- Subjects
- Photoresists, Microlithography
- Abstract
As the requirements of the semiconductor industry have become more demanding in terms of resolution and speed it has been necessary to push photoresist materials far beyond the capabilities previously envisioned. Currently there is significant worldwide research effort in to so called Next Generation Lithography techniques such as EUV lithography and multibeam electron beam lithography. These developments in both the industrial and the academic lithography arenas have led to the proliferation of numerous novel approaches to resist chemistry and ingenious extensions of traditional photopolymers. Currently most texts in this area focus on either lithography with perhaps one or two chapters on resists, or on traditional resist materials with relatively little consideration of new approaches. This book therefore aims to bring together the worlds foremost resist development scientists from the various community to produce in one place a definitive description of the many approaches to lithography fabrication. - Assembles up-to-date information from the world's premier resist chemists and technique development lithographers on the properties and capabilities of the wide range of resist materials currently under investigation - Includes information on processing and metrology techniques - Brings together multiple approaches to litho pattern recording from academia and industry in one place
- Published
- 2016
45. The Role and Capacity of Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) as Policy Advocates for Disability Inclusive DRR in Indonesia
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Alex Robinson, Pradytia Pertiwi, Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Sarina Kilham, and Michelle Villeneuve
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Economic growth ,Disaster risk reduction ,Inclusion (disability rights) ,Capacity building ,Disabled people ,language.human_language ,Indonesian ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ,language ,Business ,Community development ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Disability research - Abstract
This chapter describes Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacity building activities with disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) in four hazard risk provinces in Indonesia. Established as part of an Australian Aid supported development research initiative, the project was implemented in the last years of the Hyogo Framework for Action by the Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V, Indonesia and Philippines Office. As in other regions, participation in DRR by Indonesian DPOs was highly limited under the HFA. With the Sendai Framework for DRR (SFDRR) now recognizing persons with disabilities as key stakeholders, there is a need to broaden knowledge on the role of DPOs in DRR. While the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) refers to situations of risk, the related article has received little attention from DPOs due to multiple competing priorities. Similarly, DRR actors have rarely engaged with the disability sector. The SFDRR calls for greater collaboration between these two groups. This chapter outlines core features of the capacity building initiative and the impact of the programme on equipping Indonesian DPOs to engage within DRR. We describe how capacity building initiatives contributed to increased collaboration between disability and DRR actors, providing a practical model for supporting DPOs as policy advocates in other regions and countries. Disability-inclusive DRR recognizes the importance of collaboration to reduce and prevent risk. As the chapter illustrates, the resources to achieve this are far closer at hand than the DRR community previously thought.
- Published
- 2017
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46. Extending standard testing period in honeybees to predict lifespan impacts of pesticides and heavy metals using dynamic energy budget modelling
- Author
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Claus Svendsen, J.-L. Dorne, Jan Baas, Matthew S. Heard, Elma Lahive, Alice A. Horton, Helen Hesketh, Dave Spurgeon, Alex Robinson, and Agnès Rortais
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Pollutant ,Cadmium ,Multidisciplinary ,Agrochemical ,business.industry ,Dynamic energy budget ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Clothianidin ,010501 environmental sciences ,Pesticide ,Biology ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,Ecology and Environment ,Toxicology ,010602 entomology ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,13. Climate action ,Toxicokinetics ,business ,Dimethoate ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Concern over reported honeybee (Apis mellifera spp.) losses has highlighted chemical exposure as a risk. Current laboratory oral toxicity tests in A. mellifera spp. use short-term, maximum 96 hour, exposures which may not necessarily account for chronic and cumulative toxicity. Here, we use extended 240 hour (10 day) exposures to examine seven agrochemicals and trace environmental pollutant toxicities for adult honeybees. Data were used to parameterise a dynamic energy budget model (DEBtox) to further examine potential survival effects up to 30 day and 90 day summer and winter worker lifespans. Honeybees were most sensitive to insecticides (clothianidin > dimethoate ≫ tau-fluvalinate), then trace metals/metalloids (cadmium, arsenic), followed by the fungicide propiconazole and herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). LC50s calculated from DEBtox parameters indicated a 27 fold change comparing exposure from 48 to 720 hours (summer worker lifespan) for cadmium, as the most time-dependent chemical as driven by slow toxicokinetics. Clothianidin and dimethoate exhibited more rapid toxicokinetics with 48 to 720 hour LC50s changes of
- Published
- 2016
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47. CT anatomy for radiotherapy (Second edition) Edited by P. Bridge, D. J. Tipper. M & K Publishing: Keswick, Cumbria; ISBN 9781910451090
- Author
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Alex Robinson
- Subjects
Engineering ,Oncology ,business.industry ,Art history ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,business ,Bridge (interpersonal) - Published
- 2017
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48. Vitamin D: Australian dietitian's knowledge and practices
- Author
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Clare F, Dix, Alex, Robinson, Judith D, Bauer, and Olivia R L, Wright
- Abstract
To survey dietitians on their knowledge and practices regarding vitamin D (VitD) intake, sources, supplementation and effect on disease state.An online survey was disseminated to members of the Dietitian Association Australia via the weekly online state newsletter during April 2015. Response rate was 3%, with 134 respondents completing the survey. The survey included questions about knowledge and current practices. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the results.Dietitians have good knowledge regarding dietary sources of VitD and roles in the body, but there is confusion around supplement doses for treatment and prevention of deficiency and sun exposure guidelines.Dietitians are well positioned to provide patients with advice on VitD supplementation and sun exposure practices, but not all are confident to provide this care. There is a need for clear and well-disseminated guidelines for VitD management by dietitians.
- Published
- 2015
49. Disability-Inclusive DRR: Information, Risk and Practical-Action
- Author
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Alex Robinson and Sae Kani
- Subjects
Risk and vulnerability ,Work (electrical) ,Action (philosophy) ,Inclusion (disability rights) ,Disaster risk reduction ,business.industry ,education ,Psychological intervention ,Citizen journalism ,Factor analysis of information risk ,Public relations ,Psychology ,business - Abstract
The chapter argues that although risk and vulnerability are central to the disaster risk reduction (DRR) community’s collective endeavours, to date scant attention has been paid to the most at-risk within our work. Disability is a cross-cutting issue that significantly increases risk for individuals who are often already living with exclusion. While many DRR interventions claim to be participatory in their approach, interventions that recognise and respond to the needs of people with disability remain paradoxically few.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Low-dose diethyldithiocarbamate attenuates the hepatotoxicity of 1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol and selectively inhibits CYP2E1 activity in the rat
- Author
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Norman W. Thomas, Jeffrey R. Fry, Anupama Murthy, Ian Stott, and Alex Robinson
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,medicine.medical_treatment ,alpha-Chlorohydrin ,Pharmacology ,Toxicology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,In vivo ,medicine ,Animals ,Rats, Wistar ,Antidote ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,030102 biochemistry & molecular biology ,biology ,CYP1A2 ,Cytochrome P450 ,General Medicine ,CYP2E1 ,Enzyme assay ,Rats ,Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 Inhibitors ,Cross-Linking Reagents ,Enzyme ,Liver ,Biochemistry ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Toxicity ,biology.protein ,Ditiocarb - Abstract
The effect of low doses of diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) on hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent enzyme activity and 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (DCP) hepatotoxicity in the rat have been investigated. DEDC at a dose of 5 mg/kg selectively inhibited enzyme markers for CYP2E1 activity, and provided substantial protection against DCP hepato toxicity. At a higher dose (25 mg/kg), DEDC also inhibited an enzyme marker for CYP1A2 activity and provided complete protection against DCP hepatotoxicity. It is concluded: (a) that DEDC at a dose of 5 mg/kg is a selective CYP2E1 inhibitor in the rat in vivo; and (b) that DCP hepatotoxicity is mediated principally by CYP2E1, with a possible contribution from CYP1A2.
- Published
- 1997
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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