Phyto-evaluation of Cd-Pb Using Tropical Plants in Soil-Leachate Conditions

Sources of soil contamination can exist in various types of conditions including in the form of semifluids. In this study, 3 different types of tropical plants, Acacia (Acacia mangium Willd), Mucuna (Mucuna bracteata DC. ex Kurz) and Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash), were tested under different levels of soil-leachate conditions. The relative growth rate, metal tolerance, and phytoassessment of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) accumulation in the roots and shoots were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Tolerance index, translocation factor, metal accumulation ratio, and percentage metal efficacy were applied to assess the metal translocation ability among all the 3 types of plants. Significantly higher (P \u3c .05) accumulation of Cd and Pb was exhibited in the roots and shoots of all 3 plants growing under the soil-leachate conditions. However, negative growth performance and plant withering were observed in both Acacia and Mucuna with increased application of higher soil-leachate levels. Vetiver accumulated remarkably higher total concentration of Cd (116.16-141.51 mg/kg) and Pb (156.37-365.27 mg/kg) compared with both Acacia and Mucuna. The overall accumulation trend of Cd and Pb in the 3 plants growing under the soil-leachate conditions was in the order of Vetiver \u3e Acacia \u3e Mucuna. The findings of the study suggest that Vetiver has great potential as Cd and Pb phytoremediator in soil-leachate conditions

Attributing Problem- Solving to God, Receiving Social Support, and Stress- Moderation

This research note explores the stress- moderating effects of attributing a problem- solving role to God among a nationwide sample of 2,260 Americans. Specifically, the ways in which the perception of - God- as- a- problem- solver- moderates stress is explored for Americans reporting low and high levels of social support from other people. Within a model that interacts two moderators (i.e., a moderated moderation analysis), two predictions are tested that extend from social support and sense of control frameworks. Consistent with one prediction, viewing God- as- a- problem- solver had a stress- buffering effect (i.e., a reduction of the negative impact of life stressors on a depressive symptomology outcome measure) among those receiving low social support. Consistent with a second prediction, viewing God- as- a- problem- solver served as a stress- exacerbator among those already receiving high levels of social support. Findings suggest that the optimal count of supportive sets of entities (be it God or other people) is no fewer or no more than one.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162771/2/jssr12666.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162771/1/jssr12666_am.pd

Ensuring effective information flow through the JTB Enterprise in support of combat operations

The goal for this research is to develop recommendations to improve the Joint Improvised Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Test Board (JTB) enterprise test process through enhanced information sharing. Due to the complexity of the environment, structure of the organization, socio-cultural factors, and lack of incentive to share knowledge among test conductors, the JTB is currently not accomplishing its mission as efficiently as possible. We report on the results of a knowledge engineering effort that was conducted on the critical tasks performed by users and the associated critical information that will contribute to increasing the efficiency of information flow between personnel in the JTB, working groups, test ranges, research facilities, and JIEDDO itself. The focus for this effort was on the following questions: What types of information are they seeking when using the JTB portal?; What types of questions are they trying to answer during their daily tasks, and how is this information obatined?; What types of products are produced?; and What procedural improvements can be implemented to ehance knowledge sharing? Improvements are needed to facilitate sharing results resported in capabilities and limitations documents in terms of how well the testing process supports the operational environment

Surface Fuel Loadings in Mulching Treatments in Colorado Coniferous Forests

Recent large-scale, severe wildfires in the western United States have prompted extensive fuel treatment programs to reduce potential wildfire size and severity. Often, unmerchantable material is mechanically masticated because removing the material is cost-prohibitive. Mastication treatments involve shredding, chopping, or chipping small trees and/or shrubs into small chunks and leaving the material on site. While it is obvious that mechanical treatments will increase surface fuel loads, few studies have addressed how treatments alter fuel particle size and quantity. We examined how mastication treatments alter the distribution of woody material size by comparing paired masticated and untreated sites in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir (Pinus ponderosa/Pseudotsuga menziesii), and 3) Pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) ecosystems 2-4 years after mechanical treatment. As expected, total woody fuel loadings increased in the treated areas of each ecosystem. However, the magnitude of the total increase differed among the ecosystems (lodgepole pine \u3e ponderosa pine \u3e pinyon-juniper). Average total woody fuel loads in the untreated areas ranged between 7 to 9 Mg/ha, but increased to 29 to 50 Mg/ha in treated areas. Large diameter fuels (\u3e7.62 cm) represent about 33 to 65% of the total woody fuel load in the untreated areas, but only about 11% of the total fuel load in the treated areas. The majority of woody fuels in treated areas were \u3c2.54 cm in diameter. Needle litter mass was similar among treatments, indicating that needles are still a component of the forest floor complex, but are mixed with other fuel types or buried. The increased surface woody fuel component in treated areas corresponds to a shift from a needle fuel bed to a compact woody/needle fuel bed. This change in the fuel bed composition and orientation will likely influence fire behavior and effects

Significant improvements in self-reported gastrointestinal tolerability, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and adherence with lopinavir/ritonavir tablet formulation compared with soft gel capsules

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The tablet formulation of ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r; Kaletra^®) has many advantages over the soft gel capsule (SGC) formulation, including lower pill count, no refrigeration requirement, and no dietary restrictions. These advantages may help improve patient compliance and therefore increase adherence to treatment. However, there are limited data regarding patient preferences and only recently was the comparative efficacy and tolerability data of LPV/r SGC versus tablet formulation presented at an international conference. To address this deficit, we conducted a market research survey to assess potential tolerability benefits, patient satisfaction, changes in adherence, and formulation preference in patients switching from SGCs to the tablet formulation. Data from 332 patients who switched from LPV/r SGCs twice-daily (BID) to tablets BID and 41 patients who switched from LPV/r SGCs BID or once daily (QD) to tablets QD were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Switching from SGCs to a tablet formulation of LPV/r was associated with increased patient satisfaction, tolerability and self-reported adherence to treatment; gastrointestinal side effects were reduced. In addition, respondents indicated that they preferred the tablet formulation to the SGC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The LPV/r tablet formulation provides HIV-infected patients with multiple benefits over the SGC in terms of tolerability and convenience. Additional assessments to further define the tolerability profile of the LPV/r tablet, including studies using once-daily dosing, are warranted.</p

The Ursinus Weekly, October 6, 1966

Cultural opportunities abound at U.C. during 1966: Art exhibit • Orientation brings return of the dink: Red and gold revived on the U.C. scene • U.C. hosts parents on October 8 • Politics main theme of Forums • Record enrollment • NSA tests open to upperclassmen • Academy of Music sponsors student concerts • Luxurious new dorms opened • Editorial • Frosh meet challenge of matriculation blues • Letters to the editor • Book review • What\u27s in a name? You\u27d be amazed! • New cars, big engines in news • Wilkinson\u27s inmates undismayed by unfinished state of dorm • Booters strive for coherence, consistency • Bears impress in scoreless opener • Youthful gridders much improved since 1965 • Gurzynski\u27s runners face Eastern Baptist Friday • Fall hockey preview: Loss of strong line players leaves gaps • Greek gleaningshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1191/thumbnail.jp

Effects of geographical location on potentially valuable components in Ulva intestinalis sampled along the Swedish coast

Macroalgal biomass has the potential to become an important source of chemicals and commodities in a future biorefinery. Currently, production of macroalgal biomass is expensive and the content of high-value compounds is often low. Therefore, in this study the biochemical composition of\ua0Ulva intestinalis\ua0along the Swedish west coast and the east coast up to Stockholm was assessed with the aim of determining how the content of potentially valuable compounds, such as rhamnose, iduronic acid and PUFAs, could be maximized by utilizing natural variation in the choice of marine cultivation site. Along the investigated coastline, the salinity dropped from 19.4‰ at high latitudes along the west coast to 5.4‰ at Stockholm. Nitrogen and phosphorus availability varied, while temperature was similar at all locations. The two major components of biomass, carbohydrates and ash, varied inversely with the highest content of ash in the west and carbohydrates in the east. In addition, total fatty acids were significantly higher in west coast samples at 3.2\ua0g 100\ua0g–1\ua0dw, with a higher proportion of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Some health-beneficial fatty acids were found, including EPA and DPA, at 10–50\ua0mg 100\ua0g–1\ua0dw, respectively. The metal content and elemental composition varied widely, probably due to the influence of specific local conditions. The P content was correlated with the phosphorus concentration in waters at the locations. In PCA analysis, the monosaccharides constituting the cell wall polysaccharide ulvan were found to vary by geographical location, with higher levels possibly associated with lower salinities. However, only glucuronic acid differed significantly between sites. These results show the considerable geographical variability in the composition of Swedish\ua0U. intestinalis\ua0and suggest that different salinities could be used to create a lipid- or carbohydrate-rich biomass