Evaluation of dried amorphous ferric hydroxide CFH-12® as agent for binding bioavailable phosphorus in lake sediments

Metal hydroxides formed from aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) salts can be used as phosphorus (P) adsorbents in lake restoration, but the application entails problems in low-alkaline lakes due to acid producing hydrolysis and potential formation of toxic metal ions. Therefore, we tested the potential of applying CFH-12® (Kemira) – a dried, amorphous Fe-oxide with no pH effect – in lake restoration. Since Fe3+ may become reduced in lake sed- iments and release both Fe2+ and any associated P we also evaluated the redox sensitivity of CFH-12® in com- parison with freshly formed Fe(OH)3. CFH-12® was added to undisturbed sediment cores from three Danish lakes relative to the size of their mobile P pool (molar Fe:PMobile dose ratio of ~10:1), and P and Fe fluxes across the sediment-water interface were compared with those from untreated cores and cores treated with freshly formed Fe(OH)3. Under anoxic conditions, we found that CFH-12® significantly reduced the P efflux from the sediments (by 43% in Lake Sønderby, 70% in Lake Hampen and 60% in Lake Hostrup) while the Fe 2+ efflux remained unchanged relative to the untreated cores. Cores treated with freshly formed Fe(OH)3 retained more P, but released significantly more Fe 2+ , indicating continued Fe3+ reduction. Finally, experiments with pure phases showed that CFH-12® adsorbed less P than freshly formed Fe(OH)3 in the short term, but was capable of adsorbing up to 70% of P adsorbed by Fe(OH)3 over 3 months. With product costs only 30% higher than Al salts we find that CFH-12® has potential for use in restoration of low-alkaline lakes.The study was supported by Junta de Andalucía (project P10-RNM- 6630, Spain), MINECO CTM (project 2013-46951-R, Spain) and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Funding was also ob- tained from the Danish Centre for Lake Restoration (a Villum Centre of Excellence).The study was supported by Junta de Andalucía (project P10-RNM- 6630, Spain), MINECO CTM (project 2013-46951-R, Spain) and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Funding was also ob- tained from the Danish Centre for Lake Restoration (a Villum Centre of Excellence)

The LiP (Lifestyle in Pregnancy) study: a randomized controlled trial of lifestyle intervention in 360 obese pregnant women

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of lifestyle intervention on gestational weight gain (GWG) and obstetric outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The LiP (Lifestyle in Pregnancy) study was a randomized controlled trial in 360 obese women allocated in early pregnancy to lifestyle intervention or control. The intervention program included dietary guidance, free membership in fitness centers, physical training, and personal coaching. RESULTS: A total of 360 obese pregnant women were included, and 304 (84%) were followed up until delivery. The intervention group had a significantly lower median (range) GWG compared with the control group of 7.0 (4.7–10.6) vs. 8.6 kg (5.7–11.5; P = 0.01). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations on GWG were exceeded in 35.4% of women in the intervention group compared with 46.6% in the control group (P = 0.058). Overall, the obstetric outcomes between the two groups were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle intervention in pregnancy resulted in limited GWG in obese pregnant women. Overall obstetric outcomes were similar in the two groups. Lifestyle intervention resulted in a higher adherence to the IOM weight gain recommendations; however, a significant number of women still exceeded the upper threshold

Surface properties correlate to the digestibility of hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic Poaceae biomass feedstocks

Additional file 1: Figures S1–S12. 13C-1H HSQC (heteronuclear single quantum coherence) spectra of untreated (raw) and hydrothermally pretreated (log R 0 = 3.65, 3.83 and 3.97) corn stover, Miscanthus × giganteus stalks and wheat straw. Figure S13. Phenylcoumaran structure. Figures S14–S16. Selected ATR-FTIR spectra each representing sample from untreated (raw) and hydrothermally pretreated (log R 0 = 3.65, 3.83 and 3.97) corn stover, Miscanthus × giganteus stalks and wheat straw. Figures S17–S30. Scatter plot of surface and bulk chemical composition with glucose release and wettability test of hydrothermally pretreated (log R 0 = 3.65, 3.83 and 3.97) corn stover, Miscanthus × giganteus stalks and wheat straw

Cardiac auscultation training of medical students: a comparison of electronic sensor-based and acoustic stethoscopes

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the use of an electronic, sensor based stethoscope affects the cardiac auscultation skills of undergraduate medical students. METHODS: Forty eight third year medical students were randomized to use either an electronic stethoscope, or a conventional acoustic stethoscope during clinical auscultation training. After a training period of four months, cardiac auscultation skills were evaluated using four patients with different cardiac murmurs. Two experienced cardiologists determined correct answers. The students completed a questionnaire for each patient. The thirteen questions were weighted according to their relative importance, and a correct answer was credited from one to six points. RESULTS: No difference in mean score was found between the two groups (p = 0.65). Grading and characterisation of murmurs and, if present, report of non existing murmurs were also rated. None of these yielded any significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: Whether an electronic or a conventional stethoscope was used during training and testing did not affect the students' performance on a cardiac auscultation test

A large X-ray flare from the Herbig Ae star V892 Tau

We report the XMM-Newton observation of a large X-ray flare from the Herbig Ae star V892 Tau. The apparent low mass companion of V892 Tau, V892 Tau NE, is unresolved by XMM-Newton. Nevertheless there is compelling evidence from combined XMM-Newton and Chandra data that the origin of the flare is the Herbig Ae star V892 Tau. During the flare the X-ray luminosity of V892 Tau increases by a factor of ~15, while the temperature of the plasma increases from kT ~ 1.5 keV to kT ~ 8 keV. From the scaling of the flare event, based on hydrodynamic modeling, we conclude that a 500 G magnetic field is needed in order to confine the plasma. Under the assumptions that a dynamo mechanism is required to generate such a confining magnetic field and that surface convection is a necessary ingredient for a dynamo, our findings provide indirect evidence for the existence of a significant convection zone in the stellar envelope of Herbig Ae stars.Comment: accepted for publication in A&A (12 pages - 6 figures