Nature-based solutions as enablers of circularity in water systems: A review on assessment methodologies, tools and indicators.

Water has been pushed into a linear model, which is increasingly acknowledged of causing cumulative emissions of pollutants, waste stocks, and impacting on the irreversible deterioration of water and other resources. Moving towards a circular model in the water sector, the configuration of future water infrastructure changes through the integration of grey and green infrastructure, forming Nature-based Solutions (NBS) as an integral component that connects human-managed to nature-managed water systems. In this study, a thorough appraisal of the latest literature is conducted, providing an overview of the existing tools, methodologies and indicators that have been used to assess NBS for water management, as well as complete water systems considering the need of assessing both anthropogenic and natural elements. Furthermore, facilitators and barriers with respect to existing policies and regulations on NBS and circularity have been identified. The study concludes that the co-benefits of NBS for water management are not adequately assessed. A holistic methodology assessing complete water systems from a circularity perspective is still needed integrating existing tools (i.e. hydro-biogeochemical models), methods (i.e. MFA-based and LCA) and incorporating existing and/or newly-developed indicators.

Increase of peripheral blood TCD8+ cells in women with recurrent miscarriage.

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is one of the most prevalent reproductive problems faced by couples that may affect as many as 2% of women in reproductive age. The causes of its abnormality have attracted the attention of many researchers. We aim to determine the different T-cell subsets in women with RM and normal control. In this prospective case-control study, peripheral blood was taken from women with RM (n = 25) and normal women (n = 17), during the mid-luteal phase. The percentage of CD3, CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD8(+) markers and also CD4/CD8 ratio was detected in the patients and control group by flow cytometry. The proportion of TCD8(+) was significantly higher in RM women compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in percentage of total TCD3(+) and TCD4(+) cells between the RM and control women. Also, the CD4/CD8 ratio was lower in the RM women compared with the control women. These observations support the concept that increase of TCD8(+) lymphocytes could be involved in the aetiology of RM.