A systematic benchmarking framework for future assessments of soil health: An example from Denmark.

Based on current evidence and established critical thresholds for soil degradation indicators, it is concerning that over 60-70% of European soils are unhealthy due to unsustainable management and the impact of climate change. Despite European and national efforts to improve soil health, significant gaps remain. The proposal for a Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law, to be implemented by the European Union, seeks to establish a framework for soil monitoring and promote sustainable management practices to achieve healthy soils by 2050.

Impact of Point-of-Care Rapid Diagnostic Tests on Antibiotic Prescription Among Patients Aged <18 Years in Primary Healthcare Settings in 2 Peri-Urban Districts in Ghana: Randomized Controlled Trial Results.

Background: Inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions are a known driver of antimicrobial resistance in settings with limited diagnostic capacity. This study aimed to assess the impact of diagnostic algorithms incorporating rapid diagnostic tests on clinical outcomes and antibiotic prescriptions compared with standard-of-care practices, of acute febrile illness cases at outpatient clinics in Shai-Osudoku and Prampram districts in Ghana.

Methods: This was an open-label, centrally randomized controlled trial in 4 health facilities.

Understanding Health Worker and Community Antibiotic Prescription-Adherence Practices for Acute Febrile Illness: A Nested Qualitative Study in the Shai-Osudoku District of Ghana and the Development of a Training-and-Communication Intervention.

Background: The aim was to explore behavioral factors relating to the prescription and communication of prescription-adherence messages for patients with acute febrile illness, from which to develop a training-and-communication (T&C) intervention to be delivered as part of a clinical trial.

Methods: The study undertook a content analysis of primary, qualitative data collection using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation (COM-B) theory of behavior, the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) approach, in health facilities (39 health workers) and communities (66 community members) in the Shai-Osudoku District of Ghana.

Results: Health workers perceive that prescribers' and dispensers' communication with patients is influenced by the following factors: patient's educational level, existing disease conditions, health worker's workload, patient's religion, language barrier between health worker and patient, outcome of laboratory results, and medicine availability.

Liquid metal cooled fast reactor thermal hydraulic research development: A review.

The growing interest in fast reactors demands further innovative technologies to enhance their safety and reliability. Understanding thermal hydraulic activities required for advanced reactor technology in design and development is key. However, knowledge of Heavy Liquid Metal (HLM) coolants technology is not mature.

Use of limekiln dust in the stabilization of heavy metals in Ghanaian gold oxide ore mine tailings.

Remedial action for heavy metal-contaminated soils is imperative for preventing heavy metal leachability and minimizing environmental risks. This study evaluated the use of limekiln dust (LKD) as a heavy metal stabilization agent for Ghanaian gold mine oxide ore tailing material. Heavy metal-laden tailing material (Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Hg) was collected from a tailing dam site in Ghana.

Cyanide contamination assessment via target survey and physicochemical and bacteriological characterization: a case study of Akrofrom-Techiman cassava processing area in Ghana.

Improper discharge of cassava mill effluent (CME) has attracted much attention in major cassava-producing areas due to cyanide contamination. This study conducted a target survey on inhabitants and processors of the Akrofrom-Techiman cassava processing area in Ghana that aimed to assess their knowledge and perception of cyanide contamination from the CME discharge. The study further examined the effect of CME on the soil and groundwater at the processing area using physicochemical and bacteriological characterizations.

Numerical simulation for the control rod assembly drop time evaluation in a LFR.

During scram, the Control Rod Assembly (CRA) is quickly dropped into the core and as well, if any of the operating limits are exceeded, the CRA is dropped into the core within a stipulated time to shut down the reactor power as soon as possible. In this study, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach was used to investigate the CRA drop dynamics of a lead-based research reactor. To simulate the flow field around the CRA in the guide tube, a 3-dimensional model of the CRA in the LBE-filled guide tube was developed and discretized; and the averaged Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the dynamic mesh method were adopted.

Characterization of Chlamydia muridarum TC0668 Protein: Localization, Expression, and Inflammation-Inducing Effects on Host Cell.

The objective of this study is to elucidate the basic biological properties and function of TC0668 in vitro. Laser confocal microscopy and immune-electron microscopy were used to detect localization of TC0668 in Chlamydia-infected human epithelial cells, while the expression phase was investigated by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Protein array technology was employed to evaluate differences in cytokine secretion between cells infected with tc0668 single mutants and those infected with tc0668 null mutants.

Evaluation of the potential of feedstock combinations and their biochars for soil amendment.

One of the approaches for recycling and reusing agricultural and animal wastes is to pyrolyse the residues and subsequently use them as soil amendments. The prevalence of several feedstocks suggests that it is necessary to investigate the optimal combinations of feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature for use as soil amendments. This study was done to evaluate five combinations of raw materials (sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, cow manure and pine wood) and their biochars produced by slow pyrolysis at 300°C and 500°C for soil amendment.

Health risk assessment of trace metals in selected food crops at Abuakwa South Municipal, Ghana.

Trace metals contamination has recently been a major issue due to its damaging effects on public health and environmental receptors. This study focussed on the health risk assessment of trace metals (As, Pb, Cr, and Ni) associated with the direct intake of some selected food crops (namely cocoyam and plantain) at Abuakwa South Municipal, Ghana. The food crops and soil samples were selected randomly from three reclaimed mined sites and one non-mining site in the study area.

New Rootsnap Sensor Reveals the Ameliorating Effect of Biochar on Root Growth Dynamics of Maize in Sandy Soil.

We investigated if subsoil constraints to root development imposed by coarse sand were affected by drought and biochar application over two seasons. Biochar was applied to the subsoil of pots at 20-50 cm depth in concentrations of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% (B0, B1, B2, and B3). Maize was grown in the same pots 1 week and 12 months after biochar application.

iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of HeLa Cells Infected With TC0668 Mutant and Wild-Type Strains.

, an obligate intracellular pathogen, was used to establish a murine model of female upper genital tract infection by . TC0668 in is a hypothetical chromosomal virulence protein that is involved in upper genital tract pathogenesis. The infection of mice with the TC0668-mutant (G216*) strain results in less pathological damage in the upper genital tract.

A primary study on genes with selected mutations by in vitro passage of Chlamydia muridarum strains.

Objective: This study is to investigate the functions of newly discovered genes in Chlamydia muridarum (C. muridarum) strains with single gene differences.

Methods: Using whole genome sequencing and plaque formation assays, C.

Effects of past copper contamination and soil structure on copper leaching from soil.

Copper contamination affects biological, chemical, and physical soil properties and associated ecological functions. Changes in soil pore organization as a result of Cu contamination can dramatically affect flow and contaminant transport in polluted soils. This study assessed the influence of soil structure on the movement of water and Cu in a long-term polluted soil.