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OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the clinical determinants of intestinal failure and death in preterm infants with surgical NEC. METHODS: Retrospective comparison of clinical information between Group A = intestinal failure (Parenteral nutrition (PN) >90 days) and death and Group B = survivors and with PN dependence < 90 days in preterm infants with surgical NEC. RESULTS: Group A (n = 99/143) had a lower mean gestational age (26.4 weeks [SD3.5] vs. 29.4 [SD 3.5]; p = 0.013), lower birth weight (873 gm [SD 427g] vs. 1425 gm [894g]; p = <0.001), later age of NEC onset (22 days [SD20] vs. 16 days [SD 17]; p = 0.128), received surgery later (276 hours [SD 544] vs. 117 hours [SD 267]; p = 0.032), had cholestasis, received dopamine (80.6% vs. 58.5%; p = 0.010) more frequently and had longer postoperative ileus time (19.8 days [SD 15.4] vs. 11.8 days [SD 6.5]; p = <0.001) and reached full feeds later (93 days [SD 45] vs. 44 [SD 22]; p = <0.001) than Group B. On multivariate logistic regression, higher birth weight was associated with lower risk (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.82; p = 0.016) of TPN > 90 days or death. Longer length of bowel resected (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.02–3.02; p = 0.039) and longer postoperative ileus (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.26–6.53; p = 0.011) were also independently associated with TPN >90days or death adjusted for gestational age and antenatal steroid treatment. CONCLUSION: In preterm infants with surgical NEC, clinical factors such as lower birth weight, longer bowel loss, and postoperative ileus days were significantly and independently associated with TPN >90 days or death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.007 Byline: W.J. Bealey (a), A.G. McDonald (a), E. Nemitz (a), R. Donovan (b), U. Dragosits (a), T.R. Duffy (c), D. Fowler (a) Keywords: Air pollution; Particulates; Land use planning Abstract: Trees have been widely quoted as effective scavengers of both gaseous and particulate pollutants from the atmosphere. Recent work on the deposition of urban aerosols onto woodland allows the effect of tree planting strategies on airborne aerosol concentrations to be quantified and considered within the planning process. By identifying the potential planting locations in the local authority area, and applying them within a dispersion and deposition model, the potential magnitude of reduction in the ambient concentration of PM.sub.10, achievable through urban tree planting, has been quantified for two UK cities. As part of the Environmental Information Systems for Planners (EISP), flow diagrams, based on planning decisions, have incorporated output from the model to make decisions on land use planning ranging from development plans and strategic planning, to development control. In this way, for any new developments that contribute to the local PM.sub.10 level, the mitigation by planting trees can be assessed, and in some cases, reductions can be sufficient to meet air quality objectives for PM.sub.10. Author Affiliation: (a) Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK (b) School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK (c) British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA, UK Article History: Received 25 April 2005; Revised 24 May 2006; Accepted 13 July 2006

The chemical structures of low-molecular-weight lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Campylobacter jejuni were determined to detect structure relationships to antigenicity. Of four serotypes examined, no qualitative differences were found in sugar composition. However, based on methylation linkage analyses and mass spectrometric studies, three core oligosaccharide types are proposed for the four serotypes. Additionally, the linkage of N-acetylneurainic acid (NeuAc) was localized to the 4-linked D-galactose residues via 2-3 linkages. However, the NeuAc linkages did not account for serological differences.

Trees are efficient scavengers of particulate matter and are characterised by higher rates of dry deposition than other land types. To estimate the potential of urban tree planting for the mitigation of urban PM10 concentrations, an atmospheric transport model was used to simulate the transport and deposition of PM10 across two UK conurbations (the West Midlands and Glasgow). Tree planting was simulated by modifying the land cover database, using GIS techniques and field surveys to estimate reasonable planting potentials. The model predicts that increasing total tree cover in West Midlands from 3.7% to 16.5% reduces average primary PM10 concentrations by 10% from 2.3 to 2.1μgm−3 removing 110ton per year of primary PM10 from the atmosphere. Increasing tree cover of the West Midlands to a theoretical maximum of 54% by planting all available green space would reduce the average PM10 concentration by 26%, removing 200ton of primary PM10 per year. Similarly, for Glasgow, increasing tree cover from 3.6% to 8% reduces primary PM10 concentrations by 2%, removing 4ton of primary PM10 per year. Increasing tree cover to 21% would reduce primary PM10 air concentrations by 7%, removing 13ton of primary PM10 per year. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Trees have been widely quoted as effective scavengers of both gaseous and particulate pollutants from the atmosphere. Recent work on the deposition of urban aerosols onto woodland allows the effect of tree planting strategies on airborne aerosol concentrations to be quantified and considered within the planning process. By identifying the potential planting locations in the local authority area, and applying them within a dispersion and deposition model, the potential magnitude of reduction in the ambient concentration of PM10, achievable through urban tree planting, has been quantified for two UK cities. As part of the Environmental Information Systems for Planners (EISP), flow diagrams, based on planning decisions, have incorporated output from the model to make decisions on land use planning ranging from development plans and strategic planning, to development control. In this way, for any new developments that contribute to the local PM10 level, the mitigation by planting trees can be assessed, and in some cases, reductions can be sufficient to meet air quality objectives for PM10. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple bioenergetics models were used to derive annual nitrogen excretion rates of each seabird species occurring at colonies in the UK. These were combined with population distribution data and an estimated fraction of nitrogen volatilized to estimate the spatial distribution of NH3 emissions from seabird colonies at a 1 km resolution. The effect of these emissions on atmospheric NH3 concentrations and nitrogen deposition in the UK was assessed using the FRAME atmospheric chemistry and transport model. The total emission of NH3 from the UK seabird colonies is estimated at 2.7 kt yr-1. Emissions from seabirds are largely concentrated in remote parts of Britain, where agricultural and other anthropogenic emissions are minimal. Although seabirds account for less than 1% of total UK NH3 emissions (~370 kt yr-1), their occurrence in remote areas and frequently large colony sizes results in seabirds providing a major fraction of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition for many remote ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is substantial uncertainty in the effectiveness of measures to reduce emissions of agricultural trace gases, including ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The only way to test whether emission abatement programmes are successful is through monitoring of air concentrations and deposition. However, where NH3 emissions have been reduced in Europe, either through abatement policies or reductions in agricultural activity, it was difficult to demonstrate the link with reduced concentrations and deposition.The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Great Britain in 2001 provides a major case study to test the link between agricultural emissions and air concentrations. This paper examines the spatial distribution of anticipated change in emissions and concentrations of NH3, CH4 and N2O as a result of the FMD outbreak. It then assesses the extent to which atmospheric monitoring could be used to detect the changes and attribute them to the effect of FMD. Two of the areas worst affected by FMD were selected for detailed analysis: in Cumbria (N.W. England) and in Devon (S.W. England). Compared with values prior to FMD, average agricultural emissions were reduced by as much as 50–100%, with estimated reductions in atmospheric mixing ratios of 0.7–3.3 ppb for NH3, 10–60 ppb for CH4 and 0.1–0.7 ppb for N2O.For NH3 and CH4, modelled changes are larger than the precision of analytical techniques and, where sampling is made at replicate sites, the changes are also larger than the inter-annual variability of existing monitoring data. By contrast, for N2O only the largest changes occurring in Cumbria are expected to be detectable and distinguishable from inter-annual variability. Based on the results, a measurement strategy has been established to follow NH3 and CH4 concentrations during and after the period of restocking. By comparing NH3 (a reactive gas) with CH4 (an inert tracer), the measurements aim to distinguish constraints on the link between changing emissions and air concentrations. Improving this linkage is essential to demonstrate that the economic costs of emission abatement translate into environmental benefits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]