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Across the world, different communities will be more or less able to adapt to the impacts of climate change based on their levels of exposure, access to a diversity of livelihood assets and adaptive capacity. Pacific communities are highly exposed to many of the projected impacts of climate change, which has garnered much media and government attention over the last decade. This article investigates how the government and non-government actors in Tuvalu and Kiribati, two low-lying Pacific nation-states, are responding to the challenges of climate change, particularly in relation to how they view migration as an adaptation ‘solution’. A brief contextual overview of terms such as ‘migration’ and ‘relocation’ indicates how they have only been used more recently at the multilateral level, most notably by the President of Kiribati. Building on a historical overview, interviews (n = 10) with government officials, and representatives from non-governmental organizations and donor agencies revealed that although e...

Introduction : Le manque d'informations fondées sur des preuves concernant les risques biologiques potentiels peut entraîner des stratégies inappropriées ou excessives de biosécurité et de réduction des risques de biosécurité. Cela peut causer des dommages et des pertes inutiles aux installations physiques, au bien-être physique et psychologique du personnel de laboratoire et à la confiance de la communauté. Un groupe de travail technique de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (WOAH, anciennement OIE), de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) et de Chatham House a collaboré au projet de feuille de route de recherche sur la biosécurité (BRM). L'objectif de la GRE est la mise en œuvre durable d'une gestion des risques biologiques fondée sur des données probantes des activités de laboratoire, en particulier dans les milieux à faibles ressources, et l'identification des lacunes dans la base de connaissances actuelle sur la biosécurité et la biosûreté. Méthodes : Une recherche documentaire a été menée sur la base de la conception et des pratiques de laboratoire pour quatre sous-groupes d'agents pathogènes hautement prioritaires sélectionnés. Les lacunes potentielles en matière de biosécurité ont été concentrées sur cinq sections principales, y compris la voie d'inoculation/les modes de transmission, la dose infectieuse, les infections acquises en laboratoire, les rejets de confinement et les stratégies de désinfection et de décontamination. Des catégories représentant divers agents pathogènes de la fièvre hémorragique respiratoire, bioterroriste/zoonotique et virale ont été créées au sein de chaque groupe pour examen. Résultats : Des fiches d'information sur les agents pathogènes ont été élaborées. Des lacunes critiques dans la base de données probantes pour une gestion sûre et durable des biorisques ont été identifiées. Conclusion : L'analyse des lacunes a identifié les domaines de recherche appliquée en biosécurité nécessaires pour soutenir la sécurité et la durabilité des programmes de recherche mondiaux. L'amélioration des données disponibles pour les décisions de gestion des biorisques pour la recherche avec des agents pathogènes hautement prioritaires contribuera de manière significative à l'amélioration et au développement de stratégies appropriées et nécessaires de biosécurité, de confinement biologique et de biosécurité pour chaque agent. Introducción: La falta de información basada en la evidencia sobre los riesgos biológicos potenciales puede resultar en estrategias de reducción de riesgos de bioseguridad y bioseguridad inapropiadas o excesivas. Esto puede causar daños innecesarios y pérdidas a las instalaciones físicas, el bienestar físico y psicológico del personal de laboratorio y la confianza de la comunidad. Un grupo de trabajo técnico de la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (WOAH, anteriormente OIE), la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y Chatham House colaboró en el proyecto de hoja de ruta de investigación sobre bioseguridad (BRM). El objetivo del BRM es la implementación sostenible de la gestión de biorriesgos basada en la evidencia de las actividades de laboratorio, particularmente en entornos de bajos recursos, y la identificación de brechas en la base de conocimientos actual de bioseguridad y bioseguridad. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica sobre la base del diseño y las prácticas de laboratorio para cuatro subgrupos seleccionados de agentes patógenos de alta prioridad. Las brechas potenciales en bioseguridad se centraron en cinco secciones principales, incluida la ruta de inoculación/modos de transmisión, la dosis infecciosa, las infecciones adquiridas en laboratorio, las liberaciones de contención y las estrategias de desinfección y descontaminación. Se seleccionaron las categorías que representan patógenos misceláneos, respiratorios, de bioterrorismo/zoonóticos y de fiebre hemorrágica viral dentro de cada grupo para su revisión. Resultados: Se desarrollaron hojas de información sobre los patógenos. Se identificaron brechas críticas en la base de evidencia para una gestión segura y sostenible de los biorriesgos. Conclusión: El análisis de brechas identificó las áreas de investigación de bioseguridad aplicada necesarias para respaldar la seguridad y la sostenibilidad de los programas de investigación globales. Mejorar los datos disponibles para las decisiones de gestión de biorriesgos para la investigación con patógenos de alta prioridad contribuirá significativamente a la mejora y el desarrollo de estrategias apropiadas y necesarias de bioseguridad, biocontención y bioseguridad para cada agente. Introduction: Lack of evidence-based information regarding potential biological risks can result in inappropriate or excessive biosafety and biosecurity risk-reduction strategies. This can cause unnecessary damage and loss to the physical facilities, physical and psychological well-being of laboratory staff, and community trust. A technical working group from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), World Health Organization (WHO), and Chatham House collaborated on the Biosafety Research Roadmap (BRM) project. The goal of the BRM is the sustainable implementation of evidence-based biorisk management of laboratory activities, particularly in low-resource settings, and the identification of gaps in the current biosafety and biosecurity knowledge base. Methods: A literature search was conducted for the basis of laboratory design and practices for four selected high-priority subgroups of pathogenic agents. Potential gaps in biosafety were focused on five main sections, including the route of inoculation/modes of transmission, infectious dose, laboratory-acquired infections, containment releases, and disinfection and decontamination strategies. Categories representing miscellaneous, respiratory, bioterrorism/zoonotic, and viral hemorrhagic fever pathogens were created within each group were selected for review. Results: Information sheets on the pathogens were developed. Critical gaps in the evidence base for safe sustainable biorisk management were identified. Conclusion: The gap analysis identified areas of applied biosafety research required to support the safety, and the sustainability, of global research programs. Improving the data available for biorisk management decisions for research with high-priority pathogens will contribute significantly to the improvement and development of appropriate and necessary biosafety, biocontainment and biosecurity strategies for each agent. المقدمة: يمكن أن يؤدي نقص المعلومات القائمة على الأدلة فيما يتعلق بالمخاطر البيولوجية المحتملة إلى استراتيجيات غير مناسبة أو مفرطة للحد من مخاطر السلامة البيولوجية والأمن البيولوجي. يمكن أن يتسبب ذلك في أضرار وخسائر غير ضرورية للمرافق المادية والرفاهية الجسدية والنفسية لموظفي المختبر وثقة المجتمع. تعاونت مجموعة عمل فنية من المنظمة العالمية لصحة الحيوان (WOA، المنظمة العالمية لصحة الحيوان سابقًا) ومنظمة الصحة العالمية (WHO) وتشاتام هاوس في مشروع خارطة طريق أبحاث السلامة الأحيائية (BRM). الهدف من إدارة المخاطر البيولوجية هو التنفيذ المستدام لإدارة المخاطر البيولوجية القائمة على الأدلة للأنشطة المختبرية، لا سيما في البيئات منخفضة الموارد، وتحديد الثغرات في قاعدة المعرفة الحالية للسلامة البيولوجية والأمن البيولوجي. الأساليب: تم إجراء بحث في الأدبيات حول أساس تصميم المختبرات وممارساتها لأربع مجموعات فرعية مختارة ذات أولوية عالية من العوامل المسببة للأمراض. وتركزت الثغرات المحتملة في مجال السلامة الأحيائية على خمسة أقسام رئيسية، بما في ذلك مسار التلقيح/طرق انتقال العدوى، والجرعة المعدية، والعدوى المكتسبة من المختبرات، وإطلاقات الاحتواء، واستراتيجيات التطهير والتطهير. تم اختيار الفئات التي تمثل مسببات الأمراض المتنوعة والجهاز التنفسي والإرهاب البيولوجي/الحيواني المنشأ والحمى النزفية الفيروسية داخل كل مجموعة للمراجعة. النتائج: تم تطوير صحائف معلومات عن مسببات الأمراض. تم تحديد الثغرات الحرجة في قاعدة الأدلة للإدارة الآمنة والمستدامة للمخاطر البيولوجية. الخاتمة: حدد تحليل الثغرات مجالات أبحاث السلامة الأحيائية التطبيقية المطلوبة لدعم سلامة برامج البحوث العالمية واستدامتها. سيساهم تحسين البيانات المتاحة لقرارات إدارة المخاطر البيولوجية للبحث مع مسببات الأمراض ذات الأولوية العالية بشكل كبير في تحسين وتطوير استراتيجيات السلامة البيولوجية والاحتواء البيولوجي والأمن البيولوجي المناسبة والضرورية لكل عامل.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether BGD activity is of additional value in the assessment of pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure.Ex-coalminers were included in this study. Forty-eight healthy male subjects, without a relevant medical history, were used as controls.In ex-coalminers serum BGD activity was higher compared to the control group. Moreover, ex-coalminers with a normal chest radiograph and normal serum LDH demonstrated elevated serum BGD compared to the control group. However, no relation was found in the total group of ex-coalminers between serum BGD activity and pulmonary function parameters.Our study adds in vivo human evidence to the already existing animal data that BGD is a potential biomarker useful in monitoring pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure.

The interconversion of adenine nucleotides during acetate fermentation was investigated with concentrated cell suspensions of Methanothrix soehngenii. Starved cells contained high levels of AMP (2.2 nmol/mg protein), but had hardly any ADP or ATP. The energy charge of these cells was 0.1. Immediately after the addition of the substrate acetate, the level of ATP increased, reaching a maximum of 1.4 nmol/mg protein, corresponding to an energy charge of 0.7 when half of the acetate was consumed. Once the acetate was depleted, the ATP concentration decreased to its original level of 0.1 nmol/mg protein. As M. soehngenii contained relatively high amounts of AMP, the luciferase system for the determination of ATP gave not always satisfactory results. Therefore a reliable method based on the separation of adenine nucleotides by anion exchange HPLC was used.

To the Editor:Childhood blood pressure (BP) is an important predictor of hypertension and cardiovascular risk later in life1; risk factors for elevated BP in children remain mostly unknown. Ambient air pollution is associated with impaired vascular health, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation

Abstract Renewable energy technologies for sustainable development are rapidly attracting attention across many disciplines despite technical, economic, and social barriers that limit application beyond the laboratory. This study proposes novel semi-automated and automated domestic hot water and electricity demand simulation experiments to evaluate the performance of a proof-of-concept prototype under simulated solar conditions. The prototype is a Partially Hybridised Solar Technology (PHST) which integrates photovoltaic (PV) and low-temperature solar thermal technology for low-cost electricity and domestic hot water supply. The domestic hot water and electrical demand profiles, and the solar radiation utilised during the study represent typical conditions of off-grid households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The prototype delivered a thermal energy supply potential of 2 , 073 ± 75 k J per day at an average solar thermal conversion efficiency of 29.4 ± 1.0 % . The average yield of Direct Current (DC) electricity was 273 Wh per day at a corresponding PV module efficiency of 12.1% but depended on the type of charge controller. These results provide essential baselines for future computer modelling work and techno-economic predictions for Sub-Saharan Africa. The study has important future implications to test standards guiding laboratory-based evaluation of Solar Home Systems (SHSs) for electricity and domestic hot water.

In this paper, we explore the practices and spaces of mobile phone charging in The Gambia and Sierra Leone through the lens of 'electricity scarcity‘ as a means to conceptualise electricity access in West Africa. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is seen as the leading authority on the state of global energy access, and is frequently cited by government and non-government bodies. We, however, suggest that the IEA‘s quantitative and binary framing of electricity access is analytically problematic for understanding energy poverty. Using ethnographic methods, including observation and semi-structured interviews, we provide insights into the changing socio-technological, socio-political and socio-economic dimensions of mobile phone charging including its relationship with the built environment. Comparing mobile phone charging in The Gambia and Sierra Leone, clearly shows that the notion of absolute electricity scarcity which is promulgated by IEA statistics only offers a limited picture of energy poverty, especially at the locale. Instead, drawing on political ecology scholarship, we propose a concept of political electricity scarcity as an approach enables a more human-centred and nuanced understanding of how energy poverty operates or is mitigated through community-based structures or at a household level. By reframing energy poverty issues through this lens, we are able to illustrate the role that political economy dynamics play in shaping the electricity flows in rural Sub-Saharan Africa and who ultimately gets what kind of electricity access.

This paper brings out some remarkable differences between China as a developing country experiencing high economic growth and the Netherlands as a developed country by examining the driving forces behind the evolution of residential energy consumption per capita (RECpc) in the two countries in the period from 2001 to 2015. The components we analysed are income, energy-intensity, weather and energy-mix effects. The most remarkable result is the changing effect of energy intensity in China: during 2001–2007 energy intensity increased, and decreased afterward. The changes reflected changes in material circumstances: the shift to relative energy intensive goods and of saturation of energy demand for heating and cooling. In the Netherlands, the declining energy intensity, warmer winters and the more diversified energy mix decreased RECpc by 511.39, 58.81 and 1.08 kgce, respectively. Although the income growth both increased RECpc in the two countries, the relatively high-speed increasing income in China narrowed the RECpc gap between the two countries. This study implies that the opposite changes in RECpc in developing and developed countries are due to the different development stages reached by the countries. Policy suggestions are being offered to deal with the different circumstances, as revealed through this study.