Composting paper and grass clippings with anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the composting performance of anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME) mixed with paper and grass clippings. Methods Composting was conducted using a laboratory scale system for 40 days. Several parameters were determined: temperature, mass reduction, pH, electrical conductivity, colour, zeta potential, phytotoxicity and final compost nutrients. Results The moisture content and compost mass were reduced by 24 and 18 %, respectively. Both final compost pH value and electrical conductivity were found to increase in value. Colour (measured as PtCo) was not suitable as a maturity indicator. The negative zeta potential values decreased from −12.25 to −21.80 mV. The phytotoxicity of the compost mixture was found to decrease in value during the process and the final nutrient value of the compost indicates its suitability as a soil conditioner. Conclusions From this study, we conclude that the addition of paper and grass clippings can be a potential substrate to be composted with anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME). The final compost produced is suitable for soil conditioner

Patient perspectives in geographic atrophy (GA) : exploratory qualitative research to understand the impact of GA for patients and their families

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of blindness for the older population in the developed world. Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of AMD. This progressive degenerative disease causes loss of visual function but unlike exudative AMD there are currently no approved therapeutic treatments for GA. Instead management of the condition is through supportive care. The aim of this study was to conduct exploratory qualitative research to develop a further understanding specifically of the impact of geographic atrophy (GA) on the quality of life for both patients and their families, and to explore the resources GA patients most frequently access. Methods Two focus groups were conducted where participants were assigned to “better” or “worse” group based upon their level of visual acuity. The data were analysed using the principles of thematic analysis. Transcripts were coded using an a priori framework. Emerging themes and subthemes were added, and transcripts recoded to reflect this. Transcripts were coded by one researcher, and the emerging themes and subthemes discussed and agreed prior to transcript recoding. Results Nine participants were recruited to the study (n=5 “better group” and n=4 “worse group”). Six overarching themes were identified. These are: experience of symptoms and understanding of GA; impact on activities; feelings and emotions; relationships and informal support; accessing formal support; and information needs. Conclusion Key findings indicated that: participants had little knowledge of the mechanisms of GA, but were aware of their prognosis; activities impacted by GA were management of daily activities and reading; emotions experienced included fear and frustration, and these frequently crossed over into their relationships with others; and access to formal support was mainly practical and information needs were largely unmet, with peer support being identified as important. Management of GA should include signposting to appropriate support agencies, such as low vision services and charities

'Does the design of settings where acute care is delivered meet the needs of older people? Perspectives of patients, family carers, and staff

Background: Older people with an acute illness, many of whom are also frail, form a significant proportion of the acute hospital inpatient population. Attention is focusing on ways of improving the physical environment to optimize health outcomes and staff efficiency. Purpose: This paper explores the effects of the physical environment in three acute care settings: Acute Hospital Site, In-patient Rehabilitation Hospital, and Intermediate Care Provision (a nursing home with some beds dedicated to intermediate care) chosen to represent different steps on the acute care pathway for older people and gain the perspectives of patients, family carers and staff. Methods: Semi structured interviews were undertaken with 40 patient/carer dyads (where available) and three staff focus groups were conducted in each care setting with a range of staff. Results: Multiple aspects of the physical environment were reported as important by patients, family carers, and staff. For example, visitors stressed the importance of access and parking; patients valued environments where privacy and dignity were protected; storage space was poor across all sites; security was important to patients but visitors want easy access to wards. Conclusions: The physical environment is a significant component of acute care for older people, many of whom are also frail, but often comes second to organization of care, or relationships between actors in an episode of care

Indian monsoon variability in response to orbital forcing during the late Pliocene

The Asian monsoon is a major component of the global climate system and can be divided into two subsystems, the Indian monsoon and the East Asian monsoon. Insights into monsoon behaviour and dynamics can be gained through studying past warm intervals in Earth's history. One such interval is the Pliocene epoch, specifically the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period (mPWP; 3.264–3.025 Ma). This time is characterised as a period of sustained warmth, with annual mean temperatures 2–3 °C higher than the pre-industrial era. Studies have examined the East Asian monsoon during the mPWP from both a geological data and climate modelling perspective. However, there has been little investigation into the behaviour of the Indian monsoon. Using a coupled atmosphere-ocean global climate model (HadCM3), the Indian summer monsoon response to orbital forcing during the mPWP is studied. Of the simulated interglacial events (Marine Isotope Stages KM5c, KM3, K1 and G17), MIS KM5c is the only one with a near-modern orbital forcing. This experiment is compared to a pre-industrial simulation to determine the nature of the mPWP Indian summer monsoon in the absence of a different pattern if insolation forcing. The monsoon at MIS KM5c, is simulated to be stronger than pre-industrial, with higher surface air temperatures and precipitation over land due to higher levels of CO2. MIS G17, K1, and KM3 represent interglacial events of similar magnitude with different insolation forcing than MIS KM5c. The Indian summer monsoon is simulated to be significantly stronger for the interglacials K1 and KM3, compared to KM5c. This is due to stronger precession forcing causing an increase in summer surface air temperature and precipitation. When combined with Pliocene geological boundary conditions, these results highlight the significant effect of orbital forcing on the strength of the Indian summer monsoon. The sensitivity of the Indian monsoon to orbital forcing has important implications for any parallels drawn between Pliocene and future monsoon behaviour

Simulation of the Interactions Between Gamma-Rays and Detectors Using BSIMUL

Progress made during 1995 on the Monte-Carlo gamma-ray spectrum simulation program BSIMUL is discussed. Several features have been added, including the ability to model shield that are tapered cylinders. Several simulations were made on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous detector

Progress report for the Monte-Carlo gamma-ray spectrum simulation program BSIMUL

The progress made during 1995 on the Monte-Carlo gamma-ray spectrum simulation program BSIMUL is discussed. Several features have been added, including the ability to model shields that are tapered cylinders. Several simulations were made on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous detector

The visibility of the Galactic bulge in optical surveys. Application to the Gaia mission

The bulge is a region of the Galaxy which is of tremendous interest for understanding Galaxy formation. However, measuring photometry and kinematics in it raises several inherent issues, like high extinction in the visible and severe crowding. Here we attempt to estimate the problem of the visibility of the bulge at optical wavelengths, where large CCD mosaics allow to easily cover wide regions from the ground, and where future astrometric missions are planned. Assuming the Besancon Galaxy model and high resolution extinction maps, we estimate the stellar density as a function of longitude, latitude and apparent magnitude and we deduce the possibility of reaching and measuring bulge stars. The method is applied to three Gaia instruments, the BBP and MBP photometers, and the RVS spectrograph. We conclude that, while in the BBP most of the bulge will be accessible, in the MBP there will be a small but significant number of regions where bulge stars will be detected and accurately measured in crowded fields. Assuming that the RVS spectra may be extracted in moderately crowded fields, the bulge will be accessible in most regions apart from the strongly absorbed inner plane regions, because of high extinction, and in low extinction windows like the Baades's window where the crowding is too severe.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&A, latex using A&A macro

Space Velocities of L- and T-type Dwarfs

(Abridged) We have obtained radial velocities of a sample of 18 ultracool dwarfs (M6.5-T8) using high-resolution, near-infrared spectra obtained with NIRSPEC and the Keck II telescope. We have confirmed that the radial velocity of Gl 570 D is coincident with that of the K-type primary star Gl 570 A, thus providing additional support for their true companionship. The presence of planetary-mass companions around 2MASS J05591914-1404488 (T4.5V) has been analyzed using five NIRSPEC radial velocity measurements obtained over a period of 4.37 yr. We have computed UVW space motions for a total of 21 L and T dwarfs within 20 pc of the Sun. This population shows UVW velocities that nicely overlap the typical kinematics of solar to M-type stars within the same spatial volume. However, the mean Galactic (44.2 km/s) and tangential (36.5 km/s) velocities of the L and T dwarfs appear to be smaller than those of G to M stars. A significant fraction (~40%) of the L and T dwarfs lies near the Hyades moving group (0.4-2 Gyr), which contrasts with the 10-12% found for earlier-type stellar neighbors. Additionally, the distributions of all three UVW components (sigma_{UVW} = 30.2, 16.5, 15.8 km/s) and the distributions of the total Galactic (sigma_{v_tot} = 19.1 km/s) and tangential (sigma_{v_t} = 17.6 km/s) velocities derived for the L and T dwarf sample are narrower than those measured for nearby G, K, and M-type stars, but similar to the dispersions obtained for F stars. This suggests that, in the solar neighborhood, the L- and T-type ultracool dwarfs in our sample (including brown dwarfs) is kinematically younger than solar-type to early M stars with likely ages in the interval 0.5-4 Gyr.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

UVA-induced carbon-centered radicals in lightly pigmented cells detected using ESR spectroscopy

Ultraviolet-A and melanin are implicated in melanoma, but whether melanin in vivo screens or acts as a UVA photosensitiser is debated. Here, we investigate the effect of UVA-irradiation on non-pigmented, lightly and darkly pigmented melanocytes and melanoma cells using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Using the spin trap 5,5 Dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), carbon adducts were detected in all cells. However, higher levels of carbon adducts were detected in lightly pigmented cells than in non-pigmented or darkly pigmented cells. Nevertheless, when melanin levels were artificially increased in lightly pigmented cells by incubation with L-Tyrosine, the levels of carbon adducts decreased significantly. Carbon adducts were also detected in UVA-irradiated melanin-free cell nuclei, DNA-melanin systems, and the nucleoside 2’-deoxyguanosine combined with melanin, whereas they were only weakly detected in irradiated synthetic melanin and not at all in irradiated 2’-deoxyguanosine. The similarity of these carbon adducts suggests they may be derived from nucleic acid– guanine – radicals. These observations suggest that melanin is not consistently a UVA screen against free-radical formation in pigmented cells, but may also act as a photosensitizer for the formation of nucleic acid radicals in addition to superoxide. The findings are important for our understanding of the mechanism of damage caused by the UVA component of sunlight in non-melanoma and melanoma cells, and hence the causes of skin cancer