DNA methylation differences in genes associated with human personal disorders and deviant behavior.

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is involved in the progression of mental disorders, including deviant behavior, brain developmental, and personality disorders. The large number of genes has been studied for their activity association with stress and depression; however, the obtained results for the majority of these genes are contradictory. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible contribution of methylation level changes to the development of personality disorders and deviant behavior.

Operationalising water safety plans for Melbourne - a large city case study.

A wholesale/retail model delivers drinking water to over 5 million residents in metropolitan Melbourne (Australia). Water Safety Plans were implemented in 1999 ahead of being regulatory mandated in 2003. With over 20 years of WSP application, this collaborative paper by the wholesaler and retailer utilities presents practical examples of drinking water quality risk management in challenging operational environments, highlighting lessons learnt, improvements made and outcomes achieved.

Detection of offender DNA following skin-to-skin contact with a victim.

Forensic medical examiners are frequently asked to examine persons who claim to have been assaulted. If the suspect is unknown and there has been contact between his or her skin and the alleged victim, there is an expectation that DNA can be collected from the victim's skin. In this way, the retrieved suspect DNA from the skin of the victim can be used to support the proposition that places the suspect at the scene.

Dry stacking of wastewater treatment sludges.

Drying pans are used during wastewater treatment (WWT) to store, stabilise and dry residual solids. The pans are filled with sludge that dries via exposure to sunshine and wind. We propose that drying pans be operated based on dry stacking principles, a technique with proven success in the mineral processing industry.

Physicochemical and microbiological effects of long- and short-term winery wastewater application to soils.

Application of winery wastewaters to soils for irrigation of various crops or landscapes is a common practice in the wine industry. In this study, we sought to investigate the effects of this practice, by comparing the physicochemical and microbiological soil properties in paired sites that differed in having had a history of winery waste application or not. We also compared the effects of a single application of untreated winery wastewater, to application of treated winery wastewater (sequencing batch reactor) and pure water to eliminate the effects of wetting alone.