Wood density of three oak species in East Tennessee : 1940-45 and 1970-75

The oak-hickory forests of East Tennessee were investigated at five locations in the vicinity of two coal-fired power generating facilities operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Three oak species (Quercus spp.) were sampled to determine whether wood cell density is related to air pollution (NOx, SO2) or acidified rain. Increment cores were collected and two periods (1940-45 and 1970-75) were analyzed by gamma-densitometric technique (Woods and Lawhon 1974). Wood densities were partitioned by latewood and earlywood and the component densities (density variables) which were average earlywood, average latewood, minimum earlywood, maximum latewood, and average period (1940-45, 1970-75) were statistically compared. When all trees of each species on all sites were analyzed, all com ponent densities for white (Quercus alba L.) and chestnut (Quercus prinus L.) oaks were greater for the period of 1940-45 than for the period 1970-75. Only for the minimum earlywood density of chestnut oak was the level of significance less than P=0.01. For black oak (Quercus velutina L.) differences between the two time periods were found only for the mean earlywood (P=0.05), maximum latewood (P=0.Q5) and mean period densities (P=0.01). There were no differences between mean latewood and minimum earlywood values. Mean period density was less for period 2 (P=0.01) for all three species. Only for the components which comprise this measure of density were there any differences, and non-significant differences (P=0.05) were found in only two component densities for black oak. The lower component densities In the period 1970-75 are discussed in terms of air pollution affects on tree growth rates and on forest productivity

The Relationship between Volatiles (CO2, H2O, F, S & Cl) and Noble Gases in Reykjanes Peninsula Lavas, Iceland

The presence of volatiles in the local mantle magma source region has been suggested as a contributor to the observed high melt production rates in the volcanic segments of the island of Iceland. However, the source of volatiles beneath this island remains enigmatic. New volatile (CO2, H2O, F, S and Cl) concentration data for 157 olivine-hosted melt inclusions in concert with noble gas data (He and Ne) from the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, allow for the reconstruction of magma degassing and the distribution of volatiles in the mantle beneath Iceland. Water concentrations in olivine-hosted melt inclusions from this study record a maximum H2O concentration of 1.99 ± 0.06 wt. %. The H2O concentrations are not correlated with any of the major oxides, but are in some cases elevated relative to other incompatible elements. Solubility models we have tested show that olivine-hosted melt inclusions from the Reykjanes Peninsula have considerably less CO2 for the observed H2O, which implicates degassing to be a more important volatile-loss process than diffusion. Volatile concentrations are negatively correlated with R/Ra, a relationship that implies lower H2O concentrations in the primitive high-3He mantle component and higher-water concentrations in samples that approach Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) R/Ra values. Water concentrations are highest along the atmosphere-MORB mixing line on a three-neon isotopic plot, and primitive samples plotting along the atmosphere-solar mixing line have lower water concentrations. These relationships suggest that a volatile-enriched recycled component with high H2O and low 3He/4He values has mixed with a primitive mantle component that is low in H2O but has high 3He/4He values. These two end-member compositions are consistent with a plume component and a depleted MORB source component – potentially enriched and fluxed by subducted components – mixing in the mantle beneath Iceland, and melting to produce the observed volcanic products. These findings support previous suggestions for a three-component-mixing model to explain the relationship between He and H2O in Reykjanes Ridge lavas

Secondhand Smoke Exposure as a Risk Factor for Perioperative Airway Complications in Pediatric Outpatient Procedures

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the risk of perioperative airway complications, analyze extubation times, and PACU Length Of Stay (LOS), and their association with secondhand smoke exposure in pediatric populations receiving outpatient procedures that require general anesthesia. Introduction: Tobacco Smoke Exposure (TSE), is well documented to cause physiologic changes in lung tissue that are associated with decreased lung function, increased risk of lower and upper respiratory tract illness, exacerbation of asthma or increased risk of asthma, increased prevalence of non-allergic bronchial hyperresponsiveness, sudden infant death syndrome, and a host of other respiratory complications in adult and pediatric patients. Perioperative airway complications are a major cause of morbidity during general anesthesia for the pediatric population and there are limited studies linking TSE and the frequency of adverse airway complications during general anesthesia in pediatric patients. Methodology: This research study used a retrospective, quantitative, randomized case control design at Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia. The chart review was conducted on pediatric patients who presented for outpatient procedures from January 1, 2005 through June 1, 2014. Two groups were developed, the control group which were pediatric patients documented as non-exposed to tobacco smoke on the preoperative screening form and the case group who were acknowledged as Tobacco Smoke Exposed (TSE) on the preoperative screening form. These two groups were used for comparison of demographics and clinical characteristics such as recorded perioperative adverse airway events, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) recorded adverse airway events, extubation times, and PACU Length Of Stay (LOS). Results: There was no statistical significance found between the two groups in association with airway complications; 7% in the smoke exposed group and 3% in the non-exposed group. The mean age of the study sample was 4.37 ±(2.4), mean BMI was 17.02 ± ( 3.2), the mean number of minutes from the end of surgery until successful removal of nasotracheal tube was 6.95 ±(4.8), and the mean minutes until discharge from the PACU was 48.27 ±(13.3),. Of the 200 patients, 109 (55%) were male, 91 (45%) were female. Statistical significance was found in the TSE group for length of time until extubation (approximately 2 min longer) and for discharge from PACU (approximately 4 minutes longer). Also, there was statistical significance between age in years and the length of time spent in the PACU whereas for every year older the patients in the TSE group were in the PACU approximately one minute longer. Discussion: In the TSE group the average time to successful extubation was 8 minutes (p=.032) compared to the non-exposed group where extubation occurred after 6 minutes. Furthermore, the LOS in the PACU was an average of 50 minutes (P= .041) in the TSE group, as compared to an average of 46 minutes in the non-exposed group. Literature has shown that TSE does increase risks of airway complications, extubation times, and PACU LOS. Several study limitations were identified and discussed. Conclusion: TSE does increase the time from surgery stop to successful extubation as well as post anesthesia unit length of stay until discharge. Implications/Recommendations: This study was able to demonstrate an association with an increase in the time to extubation, as well as the time spent in the post anesthesia recovery unit in the group exposed to secondhand smoke. A longer stay in the PACU means that these pediatric patients are requiring longer time to meet discharge criteria which can include prolonged oral airway use, oxygen use, respiratory therapies such as racemic epinephrine and albuterol nebulizers, more cost to the patient and the hospital, as well as delayed achievement of baseline neurological status. While not reaching statistical significance, there was a 7% complication rate in the TSE group and a 3% complication rate in the non-exposed group which can impact perioperative patient care

Adult Education Movements in the U.S.: Past and Current Paradigms That Shape Adult Piano Study in the 21st Century

The lyceum and chautauqua movements reveal how adults in the United States have been interested in continuing their education since 1826. These two general educational movements provided continuing education for adults in all walks of life. Developing an awareness of past and present paradigms in adult education can provide a road map for piano teachers to better relate to adult students who continuously desire the following benefits: accessibility to education, fulfilling musical experiences and improved mental and psychological health. While adults who enroll in group music lessons may not be traditional, adolescent students, they are an important part of today\u27s educational demographics. This paper examines the lyceum and chautauqua movements and draws conclusions concerning the motivations behind adults of the past furthering their education and today\u27s adults who are pursuing group music instruction. The information provided for group piano instruction is intended to equip music teachers with insight of current tools available to aid students in their piano studies. By studying these trends, keyboard teachers will gain clearer insight into the needs and desires of adult learners and engage with the often unreached market of adult students

The Fate of Benzo(a)pyrene in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Diesel Exhaust

Mice were exposed to diesel exhaust for 9 months prior to evaluation for benzo(a)pyrene disposition. On the last day of exposure the mice were instilled intratracheally with tritiated-benzo(a)pyrene ([3H]BP). The mice were sacrificed at intervals of 2, 24, and 168 hours. Disappearance of radioactivity from lungs and liver was rapid and essentially linear with time. In lungs, liver, and testes; [3H]BP metabolites were found mainly as conjugates, a form readily excretable. Clearance of the hydrocarbon from liver and testes in exposed mice was not markedly different from that in nonexposed mice. However, mice exposed to diesel exhaust had delayed [3H]BP clearance from lungs, possibly due to [3H]BP adsorption to diesel smoke particles

Postpartum Behavioral Profiles in Wistar Rats Following Maternal Separation – Altered Exploration and Risk-Assessment Behavior in MS15 Dams

The rodent maternal separation (MS) model is frequently used to investigate the impact of early environmental factors on adult neurobiology and behavior. The majority of MS studies assess effects in the offspring and few address the consequences of repeated pup removal in the dam. Such studies are of interest since alterations detected in offspring subjected to MS may, at least in part, be mediated by variations in maternal behavior and the amount of maternal care provided by the dam. The aim of this study was to investigate how daily short (15 min; MS15) and prolonged (360 min; MS360) periods of MS affects the dam by examining postpartum behavioral profiles using the multivariate concentric square field™ (MCSF) test. The dams were tested on postpartum days 24–25, i.e., just after the end of the separation period and weaning. The results reveal a lower exploratory drive and lower risk-assessment behavior in MS15 dams relative to MS360 or animal facility reared dams. The present results contrast some of the previously reported findings and provide new information about early post-weaning behavioral characteristics in a multivariate setting. Plausible explanations for the results are provided including a discussion how the present results fit into the maternal mediation hypothesis