The Effects of COVID-19 on Residential Municipal Waste Streams

Through interviews, this exploratory analytive study researched how COVID-19, and especially the first lockdown of 2020, changed residential municipal waste streams, specifically in terms of items, tonnage, and workplace practices. The most common items were an influx in PPE, specifically face masks, and an increase in cardboard. There was also some evidence of paper from “deep cleaning” projects and construction debris from backyard pool installation and bathroom renovation. The total change in waste varied from area to area. Norfolk and the surrounding area had a stagnant amount of waste during the pandemic, Omaha and the rest of Douglas County saw stagnant waste but an increase in recycling, possibly due not to COVID-19 but their newly-implemented recycling program, and private businesses in Lincoln saw an increase in some waste diversion sectors but a decrease in others. Workplace practices implemented safety measures such as sending office workers home to work, having employees work in non-overlapping shifts, social distancing as much as possible and cleaning down the area after each use. No source reported layoffs or even hiring freezes, and there was a shift in technology use, some of which became a permanent change

Ferns as a forest farming crop: effects of light levels on growth and frond quality of selected speicies with potential in Missouri

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 8, 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2006.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Forestry.In Missouri 11.3 million acres of commercial forests are privately owned. The vast majority is under very little - if any - management. Agroforestry, specifically forest farming, has the potential to provide producers an opportunity to put these acres under management. In forest farming, high-value specialty crops that require some degree of shade are grown under the protection of the surrounding forest's canopy. The canopy is judiciously modified and managed to provide the proper amount of shade necessary for the specialty crop. Overstory trees are managed for high-value timber or veneer logs. Ferns may be an option to forest farmers as a high-value understory crop.The purpose of this research is to quantify the effects of various levels of light intensity on selected fern species believed to have potential use in the floral green and landscape industries and, to determine the feasibility of commercially grown ferns in Missouri

Eucalyptus in Kenya; Impacts on Environment and Society

Eucalyptus trees were introduced to Kenya a little over a century ago. European colonization along with the development of a railway system increased the demand for a fast growing wood source. The expansion of the tree across the fertile lands in Kenya raises concerns about the environmental impact on ecosystems where it has been introduced. These concerns include degraded soils, loss of water resources, co-introduction of ectomycorrhizal species, and allelopathy. Economic benefits to local landowners were also explored as well as the potential for large Eucalyptus woodlots to maximize the sequestration of CO₂ from the atmosphere. This was examined through farmer interviews and the collection of data from both Eucalyptus and indigenous forests. The results indicate that the density of Eucalyptus varied by age and species and managed harvest rates could be utilized to maximize carbon content in Eucalyptus to increase carbon sequestration potential of woodlots. In the greenhouse study of allelopathy, Eucalyptus did inhibit the growth and germination of the test plants. The indigenous plants were the most strongly affected. The soil analyses indicate that overall, Eucalyptus may not have a strong effect on the soils but do have a significant effect on soil moisture and diversity found within the woodlots. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were molecularly identified as some of the same species associating with Eucalyptus in Australia, indicating co-introduction. Farmers indicated that they were aware of the environmental concerns associated with cultivating Eucalyptus but the economic benefits were greater than the environmental issues

Graduating in recession and criminal activity – Evidence from Finland

This analysis estimates the effect of regional unemployment rates during graduation from high school and mandatory school on crime rates in Finland. The analysis will follow a similar approach made by Bell et al. (2018) that evaluates this topic for the U.S. and the U.K. My results indicate that the effect of graduating during recession in Finland on criminal activity ranges from zero to slightly negative for both graduating mandatory schooling as well as high school. As this is in contradiction with previous research on the matter I list increased attainment of education as a potential explanation. Initial results of the effects of graduating in recession on education indicate that the explanation may be plausible

Funktionsergebnisse und Lebensqualität nach septischen und aseptischen Hüftprothesenwechseloperationen

Die Arbeit umfasst 195 Patienten mit einem aseptischen und 79 Patienten mit einem septischen Hüftprothesenwechsel. Der Patientenanteil mit Diabetes oder Tumorerkrankung war im septischen Kollektiv doppelt so hoch. In der aseptischen Gruppe berichteten 5,1% der Patienten über ein neurologisches Defizit. In der septischen Gruppe waren es 12,1%. Die Patienten mit einem septischen Wechsel verbrauchten mit 4,9 Einheiten mehr Fremdblutkonserven, als die aseptische Gruppe. In der aseptischen Gruppe verringerte der Cell Saver den Bedarf an Fremdblutkonserven von 2,6 Einheiten auf 1,7 Einheiten. Die Infektionssrate betrug im aseptischen Kollektiv 0,5%. Die aseptische Lockerungsrate betrug 16,9%. Im septischen Kollektiv lag Reinfektionsrate bei 11,4% und die aseptische Wechselrate bei 3,8%. Zur Funktionsanalyse des Hüftgelenks wurde der Harris Hip Score genutzt. Im aseptischen Kollektiv konnten mit 73,2 Punkten zufriedenstellende Ergebnisse erzielt werden. Die septische Gruppe erreichte 57,4 Punkte. Zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität wurde der SF-36 herangezogen, wobei das aseptische Kollektiv mit 58,2 Punkten das beste Ergebnis erreichte

A Canadian Study toward Changing Local Practice in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Celiac Disease

Background. The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition endorses serological diagnosis (SD) for pediatric celiac disease (CD). The objective of this study was to pilot SD and to prospectively evaluate gastrointestinal permeability and mucosal inflammation at diagnosis and after one year on the gluten-free diet (GFD). We hypothesized that SD would be associated with similar short term outcomes as ED. Method. Children, 3-17 years of age, referred for possible CD were eligible for SD given aTTG level ≥200 U/mL, confirmed by repeat aTTG and HLA haplotypes. Gastrointestinal permeability, assessed using sugar probes, and inflammation, assessed using fecal calprotectin (FC), at baseline and after one year on a GFD were compared to patients who had ED. Results. Enrolled SD ( = 40) and ED ( = 48) patients had similar demographics. ED and SD groups were not different in baseline lactulose: mannitol ratio (L : M) (0.049 versus 0.034; = 0.07), fractional excretion of sucrose (%FES; 0.086 versus 0.092; = 0.44), or fecal calprotectin (FC; 89.6 versus 51.4; = 0.05). At follow-up, urine permeability improved and was similar between groups, L : M (0.022 versus 0.025; = 0.55) and %FES (0.040 versus 0.047; = 0.87) ( > 0.05). FC improved but remained higher in the SD group (37.1 versus 15.9; = 0.04). Conclusion. Patients on the GFD showed improved intestinal permeability and mucosal inflammation regardless of diagnostic strategy. This prospective study supports that children diagnosed by SD have resolving mucosal disease early after commencing a GFD

A controlled study of supplementation with essential amino acids and α-keto acids in the conservative management of patients with chronic renal failure

Art und Zusammensetzung einer optimalen eiweißarmen Ernährung für Patienten mit Niereninsuffizienz sind weiterhin umstritten. Die orale medikamentöse Behandlung mit essentiellen Aminosäuren oder α-Ketosäuren wird häufig empfohlen. Unsere Untersuchungen vergleichen nacheinander bei 15 ambulanten Patienten mit chronischem Nierenversagen (mittlere Kreatinin-Clearance 10,8 ml/min) unter einer eiweißarmen Ernährung von 0,57 g/kg Körpergewicht (40 g/70 kg) die Wirkung einer Substitution mit essentiellen Aminosäuren, danach die Substitution mit α-Ketosäuren gegenüber Plazebo. Der nachgewiesene Proteingehalt in der Nahrung betrug 0,55 g/kg, die Energiezufuhr 27 kcal/kg Körpergewicht, wie mehrfach Ernährungsprotokolle über jeweils 7 Tage bei den Patienten zeigen ließen. Nach einer Vorperiode von 6 Wochen nur unter diätetischen Maßnahmen erhielten alle Patienten zusätzlich 0,112 g essentielle Aminosäuren/kg Körpergewicht über 6 Wochen, danach in einer Doppelblinduntersuchung 0,105 g α-Ketosäuren/kg Körpergewicht im Vergleich gegenüber Plazebo, ebenfalls jeweils über 6 Wochen. Nüchtern-Blutuntersuchungen wurden für ein Standard-Laborwertprogramm, insbesondere für 15 Proteinmangelparameter, alle 3 Wochen durchgeführt, ferner anthropometrische und klinische Kontrollen. Die Laborwerte erbrachten keine Hinweise auf einen manifesten Proteinmangel. Die Therapie mit α-Ketosäuren erniedrigte die Phosphatspiegel signifikant (p<0,05). Dagegen konnten weder unter essentiellen Aminosäuren oder α-Ketosäuren andere für den Patienten wesentliche Effekte nachgewiesen werden. Deshalb erscheint uns eine Substitution mit essentiellen Aminosäuren oder Ketosäuren überflüssig bei Patienten mit einer chronischen Niereninsuffizienz, die sich in einem stabilen Stoffwechselgleichgewicht befinden und mit einer Eiweißzufuhr von 0,55 g/kg Körpergewicht behandelt werden. Oral therapy with essential amino acids (EAA) or α-keto acids (α-KA) has been recommended in patients with renal failure, but quality and quantity of optimal protein intake are still controversial. This study compares sequentially the effect of supplementation with EAA, and with α-KA versus placebo in 15 ambulatory patients with chronic renal failure (average creatinine clearance 10.8 ml/min), maintained on a protein diet of 0.57 g/kg body weight (40 g for a 70-kg patient). The actual dietary intake averaged 0.55 g protein/kg and 27 kcal/kg according to repeated 7-day dietary recordings. After a 6-week baseline period on this diet, all patients received additionally 0.112 g EAA/kg for 6 weeks followed by a double-blind cross-over study of 0.105 g α-KA/kg versus placebo supplementation for 6 weeks each. Fasting blood samples for multiple parameters, including 15 indicators for protein deficiency, as well as anthropometric and clinical data were evaluated every 3 weeks. Laboratory data revealed no indications of protein deficiency. Therapy with α-KA diminished serum phosphate concentration (p<0.05), however no other significant beneficial effects could be demonstrated during supplementation with either EAA or α-KA. Therefore, such supplementation to a 0.55-g/kg-protein diet appears superfluous in stable ambulatory patients with renal insufficiency.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41743/1/394_2005_Article_BF02020747.pd

Beyond the Plot: Learning Through Fiction

Encourage learning about complex, confusing, or even just random topics that were covered in fictional stories. Later on, shift the narrative from discover new topics from what we are reading to what is the author trying to say here? What was their intent? What clues is the author giving us, and what do you think will happen next in the story? . This brings elementary schoolers a first interaction with deeper English themes, such as author\u27s intent, at a low-stakes interaction to build confidence in the works and in themselves

Relative Heart Ventricle Mass and Cardiac Performance in Amphibians

This study used an in situ heart preparation to analyze the power and work of spontaneously beating hearts of four anurans (R. marina, L. catesbeianus, X. laevis, P. edulis) and three urodeles (N. maculosus, A. tigrinum, A. tridactylum) in order to elucidate the meaning of relative ventricle mass (RVM) in terms of specific cardiac performance variables. This study also tests two hypotheses: 1) the ventricles of terrestrial species (R. marina, P. edulis, A. tigrinum) of amphibians are capable of greater maximum power outputs (Pmax) compared to aquatic species (X. laevis, A. tridactylum, N. maculosus, L. catesbeianus) and, 2) the ventricles of Anuran species (R. marina, P. edulis, L. catesbeianus, X. laevis) are capable of greater maximum power output compared to aquatic species (A. tigrinum, A. tridactylum, N. maculosus). The data supported both hypotheses. RVM was significantly correlated with Pmax, stroke volume, cardiac output, afterload at Pmax, and preload at Pmax. Preload at Pmax and afterload at Pmax also correlated very closely with each other, suggesting that an increase blood volume and/or increased modulation of sympathetic tone may influence interspecific variation RVM and may have played a role in supporting higher rates of metabolism, as well as dealing with hypovolemic stresses of life on land