Search

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an unobtrusive method used to observe patterns in illicit drug use, poliovirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The pandemic and need for surveillance measures have led to the rapid acceleration of WBE research and development globally. With the infrastructure available to monitor SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater in 58 countries globally, there is potential to expand targets and applications for public health protection, such as other viral pathogens, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pharmaceutical consumption, or exposure to chemical pollutants. Some applications have been explored in academic research but are not used to inform public health decision-making. We reflect on the current knowledge of WBE for these applications and identify barriers and opportunities for expanding beyond SARS-CoV-2. This paper critically reviews the applications of WBE for public health and identifies the important research gaps for WBE to be a useful tool in public health. It considers possible uses for pathogenic viruses, AMR, and chemicals. It summarises the current evidence on the following: (1) the presence of markers in stool and urine; (2) environmental factors influencing persistence of markers in wastewater; (3) methods for sample collection and storage; (4) prospective methods for detection and quantification; (5) reducing uncertainties; and (6) further considerations for public health use.

Indirect genetic effects (IGEs) are the basis of social interactions among conspecifics, and can affect genetic variation of non-social as well as social traits. We used flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) of two phenotypically distinguishable populations to estimate genetic (co)variances and the effect of IGEs on three life-history traits: development time (DT), growth rate (GR), and pupal body mass (BM). We found that GR was strongly affected by social environment with IGEs accounting for 18% of the heritable variation. We also discovered a sex-specific social effect: male ratio in a group significantly affected both GR and BM. That is, beetles grew larger and faster in male-biased social environments. Such sex-specific IGEs have not previously been demonstrated in a non-social insect. Our results show that beetles that achieve a higher BM do so via a slower GR in response to social environment. Existing models of evolution in age-structured or stage-structured populations do not account for IGEs of social cohorts. It is likely that such IGEs have played a key role in the evolution of developmental plasticity shown by Tenebrionid larvae in response to density. Our results document an important source of genetic variation for GR, often overlooked in life-history theory.

Mortality due to cannibalism in laying hens is a worldwide economic and welfare problem occurring in all types of commercial poultry housing systems. Due to prohibition of beak-trimming and the traditional battery system in the European Union in the near future, mortality due to cannibalism in laying hens may increase. To reduce mortality in laying hens, it is possible to use genetic selection. Mortality due to cannibalism, however, depends on social interactions between group members. Traditional selection methods neglect these social interactions, meaning that they ignore the genetic effect an individual has on its group members. These methods are, therefore, not very effective. The main aim of this thesis is to investigate the effect of social interactions on the heritable variance in mortality due to cannibalism in laying hens and to develop a selection method that takes into account social interactions. To investigate the effect of social interactions on the heritable variance in mortality due to cannibalism, genetic parameters for direct and associative effects on survival time in three layer lines were estimated. For all three layer lines it was found that social interactions contribute approximately two-third of the heritable variation in survival time. The heritable variation in survival time is, therefore, substantially larger than suggested by the traditional methods currently used in poultry breeding. To improve traits affected by social interactions in laying hens, a solution is to select individually housed candidates based on the performance of their full sibs kept in family groups. Theoretical results suggest that this selection method offers good opportunities to improve traits affected by social interactions. A selection experiment was applied aiming to improve mortality due to cannibalism in laying hens using selection based on relatives. After one generation, mortality was 10% lower in the selection line compared to the control. In the second gen

DTFH61-91-C-00053, With the goal of improving future concrete pavement design and construction practices, this project evaluated the performance of 303 inservice concrete pavement sections located throughout North America. An extensive field testing program, consisting of pavement condition surveys, drainage surveys, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing, coring/boring operations, and roughness testing, was conducted in order to collect the information needed for analysis. Because many of these pavement sections are part of State-level studies on concrete pavements, a range of design variables (e.g., load transfer, slab thickness, joint spacing, drainage) thought to affect concrete pavement performance are present. Over one-third of the sections was evaluated under a preceding Federal Highway Administration study, meaning that 5-year performance trends are available for some of the sections. Additional pavement performance data are also available for 96 European concrete pavement sections and for 21 Chilean Concrete pavement sections. The average age and average cumulative equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) for the North American sections are 16 years and 7.1 million, respectively, compared to 21 years and 21.8 million for the European sections and 9 years and 5.9 million for the Chilean sections. This volume describes the field data collection activities that were conducted under the study and also summarizes the individual performance of the 303 concrete pavement sections evaluated. Pertinent design and construction data are given for each project and key performance data are presented. Where available, 5-year performance trends are also summarized.

DTFH61-91-C-00053, With the goal of improving future concrete pavement design and construction practices, this project evaluated the performance of 303 inservice concrete pavement sections located throughout North America. An extensive field testing program, consisting of pavement condition surveys, drainage surveys, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing, coring/boring operations, and roughness testing, was conducted in order to collect the information needed for analysis. Because many of these pavement sections are part of State-level studies on concrete pavements, a range of design variables (e.g., load transfer, slab thickness, joint spacing, drainage) thought to affect concrete pavement performance are present. Over one-third of the sections was evaluated under a preceding Federal Highway Administration study, meaning that 5-year performance trends are available for some of the sections. Additional pavement performance data are also available for 96 European concrete pavement sections and for 21 Chilean concrete pavement sections. The average age and average cumulative equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) for the North American sections are 16 years and 7.1 million, respectively, compared to 21 years and 21.8 million for the European sections and 9 years and 5.9 million for the Chilean sections. This volume examines the performance of the North American concrete pavement sections included in the study. This examination primarily consists of an evaluation of the effect of concrete pavement design features on concrete pavement performance. Design features investigated include slab thickness, joint spacing, joint orientation, load transfer, joint sealant, base type, drainage, shoulder type, reinforcement, and pavement type. The results of an examination of the backcalculation results are also presented, as are the significant findings of an evaluation conducted on the performance of European and Chilean concrete pavements.