Water Filtration Using Plant Xylem

Effective point-of-use devices for providing safe drinking water are urgently needed to reduce the global burden of waterborne disease. Here we show that plant xylem from the sapwood of coniferous trees – a readily available, inexpensive, biodegradable, and disposable material – can remove bacteria from water by simple pressure-driven filtration. Approximately 3 cm3 of sapwood can filter water at the rate of several liters per day, sufficient to meet the clean drinking water needs of one person. The results demonstrate the potential of plant xylem to address the need for pathogen-free drinking water in developing countries and resource-limited settings

Toward a theory‐based specification of non‐pharmacological treatments in aging and dementia: Focused reviews and methodological recommendations

Introduction: Non‐pharmacological treatments (NPTs) have the potential to improve meaningful outcomes for older people at risk of, or living with dementia, but research often lacks methodological rigor and continues to produce mixed results. Methods: In the current position paper, experts in NPT research have specified treatment targets, aims, and ingredients using an umbrella framework, the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System. Results: Experts provided a snapshot and an authoritative summary of the evidence for different NPTs based on the best synthesis efforts, identified main gaps in knowledge and relevant barriers, and provided directions for future research. Experts in trial methodology provide best practice principles and recommendations for those working in this area, underscoring the importance of prespecified protocols. Discussion: We conclude that the evidence strongly supports various NPTs in relation to their primary targets, and discuss opportunities and challenges associated with a unifying theoretical framework to guide future efforts in this area

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Subclinical Atherosclerosis in South Asians: The MASALA Study

South Asians have the highest rates of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) amongst all ethnic groups in the world; however this risk cannot be fully explained by traditional risk factors. Participants from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study were included in this cross-sectional analysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of psychosocial factors (including anger, anxiety, depressive symptoms, current and chronic stress, social support, and everyday hassles) with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Three multivariate models were examined to evaluate the association between the psychosocial factors and cIMT. Findings suggest that the impact of psychosocial factors on subclinical atherosclerosis is differential for South Asian men and women. For men, anxiety and depression were associated; while for women, stress was associated with common carotid intima media thickness, independent of traditional CVD risk factors, diet and physical activity

On the typology and the worship status of sacred trees with a special reference to the Middle East

This article contains the reasons for the establishment of sacred trees in Israel based on a field study. It includes 97 interviews with Muslim and Druze informants. While Muslims (Arabs and Bedouins) consider sacred trees especially as an abode of righteous figures' (Wellis') souls or as having a connection to their graves, the Druze relate sacred trees especially to the events or deeds in the lives of prophets and religious leaders. A literary review shows the existence of 24 known reasons for the establishment of sacred trees worldwide, 11 of which are known in Israel one of these is reported here for the first time. We found different trends in monotheistic and polytheistic religions concerning their current worship of sacred trees

Contrasting resource allocation patterns in Sedum lanceolatum Torr.: Biomass versus energy estimates

Biomass determinations and microbomb calorimetry were used to assess resource allocation in Sedum lanceolatum Torr. between 2,257 and 3,726 m above sea level in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA. In general, energy values did not differ within a tissue among sites, but did differ among tissue types. Flowers and leaves had the greatest energy content per gram ashfree dry weight. Total kilojoules per plant were homogeneous along the elevational gradient.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47753/1/442_2004_Article_BF00379785.pd

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Bone histology provides insights into the life history mechanisms underlying dwarfing in hipparionins

Size shifts may be a by-product of alterations in life history traits driven by natural selection. Although this approach has been proposed for islands, it has not yet been explored in continental faunas. The trends towards size decrease experienced by some hipparionins constitute a good case study for the application of a life history framework to understand the size shifts on the continent. Here, we analysed bone microstructure to reconstruct the growth of some different-sized hipparionins from Greece and Spain. The two dwarfed lineages studied show different growth strategies. The Greek hipparions ceased growth early at a small size thus advancing maturity, whilst the slower-growing Spanish hipparion matured later at a small size. Based on predictive life history models, we suggest that high adult mortality was the likely selective force behind early maturity and associated size decrease in the Greek lineage. Conversely, we infer that resource limitation accompanied by high juvenile mortality triggered decrease in growth rate and a relative late maturity in the Spanish lineage. Our results provide evidence that different selective pressures can precipitate different changes in life history that lead to similar size shifts

Sustainable, efficient electricity service for one billion people[1]

A partnership of affluent nations is proposed to pursue the objective of universal electrification in the world with a challenging interim goal of bringing efficient and sustainable[2] 2 For the purposes of this paper sustainable electric systems are those that emit low or no net greenhouse gases (GHGs). This requirement is generally consistent with the goal expressed in the National Research Council report Our Common Journey: a Transition Toward Sustainability [National Research Council, 1999]: "... that the primary goals of transition toward sustainability should be to meet the needs of a much larger but stabilizing population, to sustain the life support systems of the planet and to sustainably reduce hunger and poverty." The authors believe that the electric systems targeted in the universal electrification proposal of this paper can contribute to the goals of the transition explored by the academy. The partners must assure this contribution, but for simplicity the authors use the criterion of low or no net greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation to qualify a system as sustainable. electric services within 20 years to one billion people. Four plausible partners are the United States, the European Union, Japan with Australia and New Zealand, and, perhaps, the OPEC countries. The partners would provide part of the capital needed for electrification. This "concessionary" contribution should stimulate private investors and/or indigenous governments to supply the remainder of the capital needed, and to organize the management of each electrification project. The concessionary contribution would be designed for two objectives: (1) to help alleviate poverty, grow opportunities, and increase the quality of life in the developing world by providing electric services to all, and (2) to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions by supporting a low-carbon development path toward universal electrification. Paying for the difference in cost between high-efficiency end-use equipment and least-first-cost equipment would pursue the first objective. This concession would significantly lower the cost to the consumer of electricity services. The second objective would be pursued by paying the added cost (up to $1000/kW) of low-GHG or climate-friendly electricity generation (i.e., low or no-net carbon-emitting systems) over and above least-first-cost generation technology. This electrification of one billion people would require about 50 GWe of new electric generating capacity assuming 50$50 billion for low-GHG generation plus about $30 billion for efficient end-use equipment. An additional 25$ 100 billion (or $100/person) spread over 20 years, or about$ 1.25 billion per partner per year assuming an equal share for each partner. The remainder of the capital required is estimated to be about $170/person for the electrical system including hook-up, plus another$ 140/person for efficient end-use equipment purchased at the cost of least-first-cost equipment. The consumer would pay back these non-concessionary investments through the price of electricity and through a lease-purchase charge for end-use equipment. Provision of basic electricity services for newly electrified communities is estimated to require about 0.025 kW/person on average for all electric uses including domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial uses, compared with current electricity services of about 1.8 kW/person in the United States and 0.3 kW/person globally. Thus, electric power per capita in these poor, mostly rural areas would be very small initially, just sufficient to meet basic necessities, and consistent with customers' ability to pay. Not every community would choose or be able to buy even this much, but to have the opportunity for electric services at whatever level will make a huge difference in people's lives. Experience over many decades has shown that electrification can help alleviate poverty, improve health, reduce drudgery, and increase literacy, all contributing to the UN's Millennium Development Goals to which all countries are committed. © 2005 International Energy Initiative, Inc