Effects of Phosphate Fertilizer Applications and Chemistry-Mineralogy of the Iron Oxide System on Phosphate Adsorption-Desorption by Stream Sediments : Final Report

(print) vii, 102 p. : ill., maps ; 28 cm.Item lacks publication date. Issue date supplied from WorldCat bibliographic recordDespite geologic, geomorphic, and land use differences, suspended sediments collected from the Muskingum River and its tributaries during spring flooding were remarkably uniform in mineralogy and size distribution. The greatest evidence of regional differences came from Moxahala Creek, which receives acid drainage from abandoned coal mines. As a result, Black Fork Creek, a tributary to Moxahala Creek, was chosen for detailed water quality and bottom sediment studies. Marked increases in dissolved SO4, Fe, and Al, and decreased. pH were observed in sections of the stream affected by acid mine drainage. In addition, a gelatinous yellow precipitate of iron was abundant in the bottom sediments below sources of pollution. This Fe-oxide or oxyhydroxide precipitate greatly increased surface area and reactivity of bottom sediments and added to the overall sediment load. A standard P adsorption procedure was proposed and the ability of four laboratories to produce consistent results over a wide range of soils was determined. Soil (0.5 or 1.0 g) was shaken in 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 at a soil: solution ratio of 1:25 in containers allowing a 50% head space for 24 hours at 24 to 26°C on an end-over-end shaker. Initial dissolved inorganic P concentrations of 0 to 323 u mol P L-1 (as KH2PO4 or NaH2PO4) were used and microbial activity inhibited by 20 g L-1 chloroform. Excellent agreement between the four laboratories was obtained for P adsorbed by the 12 soils studied, with a mean coefficient of variation over all P levels and soils of 0.91%. The laboratories also exhibited a high degree of replication of individual treatments with no laboratory showing a strong consistent bias across all soils and P levels in terms of P adsorption. Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin adsorption models were highly correlated with the adsorption data. Respective mean correlations for the 12 soils were 0.98, 0.97 and 0.95. The proposed method has the potential to produce consistent results which can be used to predict partitioning of dissolved inorganic P between solid and solution phases in the environment.Acknowledgements -- Abstract -- Chapter 1: Suspended Sediments of the Muskingum River Basin -- Chapter 2: Water and Bottom Sediment Quality in Streams Affected by Acid Coal Mine Drainage - a Study of the Black Fork Creek Watershed, Ohio -- Chapter 3: Interlaboratory Comparison of a Standardized Phosphorus Adsorption Procedur

Impaired Competence for Pretense in Children with Autism: Exploring Potential Cognitive Predictors.

Lack of pretense in children with autism has been explained by a number of theoretical explanations, including impaired mentalising, impaired response inhibition, and weak central coherence. This study aimed to empirically test each of these theories. Children with autism (n=60) were significantly impaired relative to controls (n=65) when interpreting pretense, thereby supporting a competence deficit hypothesis. They also showed impaired mentalising and response inhibition, but superior local processing indicating weak central coherence. Regression analyses revealed that mentalising significantly and independently predicted pretense. The results are interpreted as supporting the impaired mentalising theory and evidence against competing theories invoking impaired response inhibition or a local processing bias. The results of this study have important implications for treatment and intervention

Properties of the Fractured Glacial Till at the Madison County, Ohio, Field Workshop Pit Site

Author Institution: USDA/ARS, Soil Drainage Research Unit ; School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University ; Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State UniversityWater and contaminants obviously do move through the so-called impermeable glacial tills in Ohio. This study was conducted to illustrate the extensive presence of fractures in the till and to quantify the differences in hydraulic conductivity and physical and chemical properties between the fractureaffected zones and the till matrix. In situ measurements of the saturated hydraulic conductivity were made in small boreholes positioned either in the matrix or intersecting the fractures. Soil samples from both the fracture faces and the matrix were analyzed for particle size distribution, clay mineralogy, calcite, dolomite, and iron content. Hydraulic conductivity measured in boreholes intersecting fractures was 1.25 x 105 cm/sec (0.018 in/hr), one order of magnitude greater than in boreholes in the matrix. Particle size distribution was the same for the fracture faces and the matrix. The fracture faces showed no significant change in total clay content and a slight increase in expandable clay. Calcite content was 62% greater, dolomite content was 6% lower, and iron content was 73% lower on the fracture faces as compared to the matrix. The fractures affected approximately 7% of the soil volume

Evaluation of Factors Affecting Inverse Beacon Fingerprinting Using Route Prediction Algorithm

Conventional Radio Frequency (RF) based fingerprinting still remains one of the most popular methods among other indoor positioning techniques due to its inherent accuracy and reliability. However, not much prominence has been shown in analyzing certain factors that may affect the outcome of the fingerprinting method while designing the localization system. In this paper, we conduct a study to infer if a reduced number of receivers equipped with higher gain antennas can provide improved Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) fingerprinting performance in a complex indoor environment. The evaluation is performed in a standard domestic apartment with an activity centric approach using a single wearable beacon and multiple receivers. A rank based route selection algorithm is used to list the candidate positions or routes that indicate the most likely path on which the subject was travelling. Furthermore, we discuss the benefits of implementing the inverse fingerprinting method with a trajectory based prediction model and also examine the effect of surrounding electrical interference. Experimental results indicate that an increased antenna gain in addition to deploying an adequate number of receivers have a positive effect on the overall ranking accuracy

Methodology for the development of a Canadian national EMS research agenda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many health care disciplines use evidence-based decision making to improve patient care and system performance. While the amount and quality of emergency medical services (EMS) research in Canada has increased over the past two decades, there has not been a unified national plan to enable research, ensure efficient use of research resources, guide funding decisions and build capacity in EMS research. Other countries have used research agendas to identify barriers and opportunities in EMS research and define national research priorities. The objective of this project is to develop a national EMS research agenda for Canada that will: 1) explore what barriers to EMS research currently exist, 2) identify current strengths and opportunities that may be of benefit to advancing EMS research, 3) make recommendations to overcome barriers and capitalize on opportunities, and 4) identify national EMS research priorities.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Paramedics, educators, EMS managers, medical directors, researchers and other key stakeholders from across Canada will be purposefully recruited to participate in this mixed methods study, which consists of three phases: 1) qualitative interviews with a selection of the study participants, who will be asked about their experience and opinions about the four study objectives, 2) a facilitated roundtable discussion, in which all participants will explore and discuss the study objectives, and 3) an online Delphi consensus survey, in which all participants will be asked to score the importance of each topic discovered during the interviews and roundtable as they relate to the study objectives. Results will be analyzed to determine the level of consensus achieved for each topic.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>A mixed methods approach will be used to address the four study objectives. We anticipate that the keys to success will be: 1) ensuring a representative sample of EMS stakeholders, 2) fostering an open and collaborative roundtable discussion, and 3) adhering to a predefined approach to measure consensus on each topic. Steps have been taken in the methodology to address each of these <it>a priori </it>concerns.</p

Identifying Signatures of Natural Selection in Tibetan and Andean Populations Using Dense Genome Scan Data

High-altitude hypoxia (reduced inspired oxygen tension due to decreased barometric pressure) exerts severe physiological stress on the human body. Two high-altitude regions where humans have lived for millennia are the Andean Altiplano and the Tibetan Plateau. Populations living in these regions exhibit unique circulatory, respiratory, and hematological adaptations to life at high altitude. Although these responses have been well characterized physiologically, their underlying genetic basis remains unknown. We performed a genome scan to identify genes showing evidence of adaptation to hypoxia. We looked across each chromosome to identify genomic regions with previously unknown function with respect to altitude phenotypes. In addition, groups of genes functioning in oxygen metabolism and sensing were examined to test the hypothesis that particular pathways have been involved in genetic adaptation to altitude. Applying four population genetic statistics commonly used for detecting signatures of natural selection, we identified selection-nominated candidate genes and gene regions in these two populations (Andeans and Tibetans) separately. The Tibetan and Andean patterns of genetic adaptation are largely distinct from one another, with both populations showing evidence of positive natural selection in different genes or gene regions. Interestingly, one gene previously known to be important in cellular oxygen sensing, EGLN1 (also known as PHD2), shows evidence of positive selection in both Tibetans and Andeans. However, the pattern of variation for this gene differs between the two populations. Our results indicate that several key HIF-regulatory and targeted genes are responsible for adaptation to high altitude in Andeans and Tibetans, and several different chromosomal regions are implicated in the putative response to selection. These data suggest a genetic role in high-altitude adaption and provide a basis for future genotype/phenotype association studies necessary to confirm the role of selection-nominated candidate genes and gene regions in adaptation to altitude

2019 international consensus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care science with treatment recommendations : summary from the basic life support; advanced life support; pediatric life support; neonatal life support; education, implementation, and teams; and first aid task forces

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation has initiated a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation science. This is the third annual summary of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. It addresses the most recent published resuscitation evidence reviewed by International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Task Force science experts. This summary addresses the role of cardiac arrest centers and dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the role of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults and children, vasopressors in adults, advanced airway interventions in adults and children, targeted temperature management in children after cardiac arrest, initial oxygen concentration during resuscitation of newborns, and interventions for presyncope by first aid providers. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the certainty of the evidence on the basis of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence to Decision Framework Highlights sections. The task forces also listed priority knowledge gaps for further research