Understory community dynamics ten years after a mixed-severity wildfire in ponderosa pine and aspen stands in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA

2012 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Wildfires are important disturbances due to their ability to influence many ecosystem processes and functions. Following a mixed-severity wildfire, understory vegetation composition and structure may undergo both long- and short-term changes because of modified growing conditions, removal of overstory competition and changes in the amounts of available resources. While more rapid, short-term changes are easily observed and documented, understanding long-term changes is of critical importance for management purposes and allowing professionals to gain insights into forest composition following a major disturbance. Late in the summer of 2000, 34,000 ha of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson) forests in the Black Hills of South Dakota burned in what is now called the Jasper Fire; the largest wildfire recorded in the state's history. The Jasper Fire was classified as a mixed-severity wildfire resulting in a mosaic of areas burned at low- (25%), moderate- (48%) and high-severity (27%). Following the fire, plant communities appeared to recover rapidly leading to questions regarding how long various postfire communities would persist, how postfire community development varied by fire severity, and differences observed between zones of the Jasper Fire. Ultimately, many were interested in long-term postfire community dynamics. In this study we examined the understory vegetation composition and structure (relative abundance of graminoids, forbs and shrubs) and frequency of invasive species relative to fire severity (unburned, low, moderate and high) and zone (northern, central and southern) in ponderosa pine and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands 10 years after the Jasper Fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA. In both ponderosa pine and aspen sites, understory community composition differed by zone and severity simultaneously. In ponderosa pine stands, canopy cover of four species varied by only zone or severity and eleven varied by zone and severity simultaneously. In aspen stands, canopy cover of two species varied only by zone or severity and canopy cover of three species varied by zone and severity simultaneously. Grass and shrub cover were explained by the interaction of zone and severity in ponderosa pine stands while cover of forbs varied by zone and severity but not their interaction. In aspen stands grass, forb and shrub cover all varied by zone and severity simultaneously. Grass and forb cover values 10 years postfire were similar to the 5 year postfire levels, and were greatest in moderate and high-severity burned areas. Shrub cover was also similar 5 and 10 years postfire, with lower values in burned areas driven by the loss of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.). Although common juniper cover was drastically decreased by fire, other shrubs are beginning to appear across the landscape. Total plant cover appeared to be lower 10 years postfire than compared to 5 years postfire which might be driven by a shift from annual and biennial plants to perennial plants. Frequencies of invasive species reached 60-70%, however, canopy cover of individual invasive species never exceeded 5% in either ponderosa pine or aspen stands. Ten years postfire, burned areas support understory plant communities dominated by native perennial plants with very few invasive exotic species. Post-fire rehabilitation efforts need to be designed on a site-specific basis and invasive species monitoring should continue to ensure that these plants do not become a concern in the future

Anxiety, Uncertainty, Distress Tolerance, and Eating Disorder Symptoms as Related to Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Young Adults

Adolescents and college-aged individuals are particularly at risk for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and eating disorders. Research is lacking regarding the cognitive and emotional factors behind the formation and maintenance of both types of pathology. This study examines anxiety, intolerance to uncertainty (IU), and distress tolerance in relation to both constructs in two separate samples (Sample 1: n=364, 58.5% freshmen, 75.8% female; Sample 2: n=156, 52.6% freshman, 66.0% female) with 32.4% and 40% reporting any history of NSSI, respectively. Participants completed a packet of questionnaires regarding the variables of interest and were debriefed and referred as necessary. In the first sample, it was hypothesized that anxiety, distress tolerance, and eating disorder symptoms would predict NSSI lifetime frequency and that distress tolerance would mediate the relationship between anxiety and NSSI. In the second sample, it was hypothesized that IU would be positively correlated with both NSSI and disordered eating. Results indicated that distress tolerance did mediate the relationship between anxiety and NSSI. Disordered eating was not significantly related to NSSI in either sample. IU was significantly related to both NSSI and disordered eating. Considering the impact uncertainty can have on young adults and adolescents and the increased rates in both groups, these results provide important implications for future research and treatment

Utilisation des plantes aquatiques enracinées pour le traitement des eaux usées urbaines : cas du roseau

La présente étude consiste à tester les potentialités d'un hélophyte : le roseau (Arundo donax) à épurer une eau usée urbaine sous un climat aride. Le pilote expérimental est constitué de bacs de 115 litres de capacité, remplis sur une épaisseur de 5 cm de gravier et de 30 cm de sol (texture : limono-argilo-sableuse). Deux bacs sont plantés de jeunes tiges de roseaux. Deux autres bacs non plantés sont pris comme témoins. L'alimentation du système se fait exclusivement par des eaux usées urbaines en bâchées de 25 litres/jour et ce avec une fréquence régulière d'une fois par semaine. L'écoulement se fait par translation verticale à travers le substrat. L'eau de percolation est récupérée au moyen d'un drain placé à la base de chaque bac. L'étude du fonctionnement hydrologique des pilotes testés, a montré que le débit moyen à la sortie du lit planté (254 ml/min) est cinq fois plus élevé par rapport au lit non planté (51 ml/min). Ce qui permet soit de traiter un volume d'eau usée plus important ou bien de réduire la superficie nécessaire par équivalent habitant. En plus, il apparaît que la présence du roseau aide d'une part à prévenir le colmatage qui est un problème fréquent dans le sol non planté et d'autre part de maintenir une porosité suffisante pour assurer la percolation des eaux en traitement. Le suivi des performances épuratoires du système à roseau montre que ce dernier assure une élimination importante de la charge organique (MES : 91%, DCO : 72%). Il fournit des eaux épurées claires et limpides. Ces résultats sont comparables à ceux du sol non planté. La réduction de NTK est de l'ordre de 53% pour le lit planté contre 41% pour le sol nu. En général, le lit planté est plus efficace dans l'élimination de l'azote. Concernant l'élimination des ions ammoniums, le taux d'abattement moyen pour le lit planté est de 24%. Le sol non planté présente une surcharge de l'effluent à la sortie en ammonium (-17%). Le phosphore total et les orthophosphates subissent globalement un faible abattement avec des phases de relargage et d'autres d'abattement. L'abattement moyen obtenu par le système planté ne dépasse pas 28% et 10% respectivement pour le PT et les PO4. Dans le système non planté, il se produit un relargage de phosphore qui se maintient sur une longue période durant la 1ère année et qui se répète également en 2ème année de fonctionnement avec une intensité moins importante. L'abattement moyen obtenu est de -8% et -33% respectivement pour le PT et les PO4. En tenant compte des pertes d'eau par évapotranspiration, la correction effectuée a montré une nette amélioration des performances épuratoires surtout pour le sol planté où les pertes de volume sont considérables. Dans ce cas l'abattement moyen obtenu pour le lit planté est de 68%, 48%, 52% et 39% respectivement pour NTK, NH4, PT et PO4. Pour le sol non planté, les abattements sont plus faibles (NTK : 51%, NH4 : 3%, PT : 12%, PO4 : -8%). La présence du roseau dans le système planté assure donc une nette amélioration de l'abattement de la charge organique et des nutriments par rapport au sol nu. Cette amélioration est faible (3 à 7%) pour la DCO et les MES, par contre pour les nutriments, elle est beaucoup plus importante (17 à 48%). Concernant la charge parasitaire, les deux systèmes planté et non planté, assurent une élimination totale des œufs d'helminthes parasites. Pour les kystes de protozoaires, le système planté assure une réduction de 99,8%. Avec l'épaisseur du substrat testée, les risques de détecter des kystes de protozoaires à la sortie des systèmes plantés est à appréhender. Selon la norme de l'OMS, l'effluent de sortie du système est classé en catégorie B. Le roseau produit une biomasse importante qui atteint 176,5 tonnes/ha. La biomasse aérienne facilement éliminée par faucardage est de 85,3 T/ha. Le taux d'azote et de phosphore exporté avec cette biomasse atteint 98,54 et 4,15 g/m2 respectivement. Ces taux retenus au niveau des parties aériennes représentent 12% de la charge reçue par le système en azote et 3% de la charge reçue en phosphore.Aquatic plant - based system is increasing popular alternatives for treatment of various types of wastewater. Conventional wastewater treatment requires large capital investments and consumes large amounts of energy. While, aquatic plants are a simple and energy efficient means of removing some nitrogen and phosphorus quantities and other pollutants from wastewater. The present study consists of testing the efficiency of an helophyte Arundo donax to treat urban effluent under an arid climate and to assess the suitability of the treated effluent for irrigation purposes. The experiment was conducted from August 1994 to September 1996. Fourth plots (capacity : 115 liters, diameter : 57 cm) were filled to depth of 5 cm and 30 cm with respectively gravel and soil (texture : 30% clay, 34% silt and 36% sand). Two plots were planted with reeds. Young shoots were taken from local and natural reed stand, cleaned, weighed and transplanted in August 1994 at a rate of 34 shoots/m2. Two unplanted plots served as a control. The soil used has sustained the spreading of wastewater fore more than 60 years. It was an organic soil with a pH near neutrality. Alimentation was exclusively done by urban raw effluent with batch loads of 25 liters every 7 days. Water flowed vertically through the substratum. In order to investigate the capacity of the systems for organic loads, phosphorus and nitrogen removal, the concentration in the inflow and outflow of each plots was determined over the whole period of experiment. At the end of experiment, the reeds biomass and nutrients analysis in plant material and soil were evaluated. The control of system hydrology indicate that the retention time of planted system was very short. It varied between few hours to only few minutes in Summer. The unplanted system become completely clogged in Winter. So, the presence of Arundo donax in planted system maintained sufficient porosity in order to allow water pollution for treatment and to prevent the clogging which was a problem in the unplanted one. Over the whole experimental period, results revealed significant performances of reed beds for organic load reduction. The mean elimination rates were 90% for TSS and 70% for COD. The TSS and COD elimination performance of unplanted soil was only little lower (TSS: 83% and COD: 90%). Removal of TSS and COD for the two systems, planted and unplanted, didn't varied significantly from season to another (p<0.05). TSS and COD elimination were almost entirely due to physical processes (filtration and sedimentation) associated to microbial community and the presence of reeds. The nutrients reed bed removal efficiencies were relatively low (total phosphorus : 28%, orthophosphates : 10% and ammonium : 24%). The system was more efficient in removing NTK (53%). The unplanted soil carried away an overloading of effluent in phosphorus and ammonium particularly in Winter. The treatment could be improved if we took into account the evaporation and evapotranspiration phenomena in each systems. The planted bed appeared to reduce more phosphorus (TP : 52% and PO4 : 39%) and nitrogen (NTK : 68% and NH4 : 48%). The unplanted soil removed 12%, -8%, 3% and 51% respectively for TP, PO4, NTK and NH4. The results showed that the presence of reeds can indeed improve the removal efficiencies in planted plots than the unplanted one. This amelioration was about 17 to 47% for nutrients and only 3 to 7% for organic loads. Concerning parasitical load, there are several helminthic parasites that occur in wastewater. Two types of helminth eggs were recovered from the sample tested : Nematodes (Ascaris, Trichuris) and Cestodes (Hymenolepis, Taenia). Hymenolepis eggs alone represented 50% of the total number of helminthic eggs. For protozoa, the most important found in the inflow were the protozoan Entamœba and Giardia. The parasitical load presented an important temporal fluctuation at the influent with concentrations varying from 0 to 13 eggs/l and 55 to 1903 cysts/l respectively for helminthic eggs of protozoal cysts. In contrast, helminth eggs were never found at the outflow of planted and unplanted systems. On the other hand, except of the fourth occasions where protozoal cysts were found at the outflow of planted system, the effluents of all the systems generally were exempt of protozoal cysts. The protozoal reed bed removal efficiencies was about 99,8%. So, it will be necessary to increase the filter depth in order to prevent this problem. According to WHO guidelines (1989) for crops irrigation, the quality of effluent should be classified within category B which could be reused for irrigation of cereal crops, follder and trees. On the other hand, conductivity, sodium and chlorides content increased in planted system more than the unplanted one when the effluent flowed through the substratum. So, when we compared the quality of treated water with FAO guidelines (relating to physico-chemical water quality designed for irrigation) it appeared that the risk of salinity must be taken into consideration. It is recommended that treated wastewater must be used in irrigation with caution and restriction on the type of crop planted. However, treated wastewater contains sufficient nutrients to reduce the need for other fertilization. The use of effluent in irrigation has, therefore, a positive economic impact. Arundo donax presented a good resistance to irrigation with raw wastewater and it seems to be adapted to the soil rich in nutrients in which it was implanted. The reed above ground biomass produced was estimated at 85,3 tonnes dry weight.ha-1. It represented 50% of total biomass of reed. Nitrogen and phosphorus removed by the aerial parts were respectively about: 985,47 and 41,51 Kg.ha-1. This amount account for about 12% of nitrogen and 3% phosphorus with regard to their load at the influent. Plant harvest once a year may be necessary to achieve definitive removal of nutrients incorporated in plant tissue

Impact de la sécheresse sur l'évolution de la qualité des eaux du lac Mansour Eddahbi (Ouarzazate, Maroc)

L'objectif de ce travail est d'étudier l'impact d'une année hydrologique très sèche (98/99) sur la qualité physico-chimique et l'évolution de l'état trophique du lac Mansour Eddahbi. Ce lac est situé dans la région de Ouarzazate, au sud du Maroc, caractérisée par un climat aride continental, avec des écarts thermiques hiver-été importants, des précipitations très faibles et une forte évaporation. Ceci induit une réduction considérable du volume total du lac et par suite une baisse de 14 m de son niveau.À la lumière des valeurs de températures enregistrées au niveau de la colonne d'eau, le lac peut être classé dans la catégorie des lacs monomictiques avec une seule période de mélange hivernale. Le pH est légèrement alcalin. La réduction du volume d'eau au niveau du lac a engendré une augmentation de la salinité des eaux. Une corrélation significative est enregistrée entre les deux paramètres (r2 =0,60 pour n=13 et p<0,05).Un déficit marqué en oxygène dissous (7,3 mg d'O2 /l comme moyenne en surface et des valeurs inférieures à 2 mg d'O2 /l voire nulles en profondeur durant la stratification), les teneurs en Chl "a" (24 µg/l) permettent de classer le lac dans la catégorie des lacs eutrophes. Selon les teneurs enregistrées en azote (0,2 mg/l) et en phosphores (0,02 mg/l), le lac est hyper-eutrophe. Deux années auparavant, le lac était considéré comme mésotrophe (ONEP/BRL, 1998). Les conditions climatiques sévères qui ont sévi durant l'année hydrologique 98/99 ont contribué à une évolution accélérée de l'état trophique du lac.Eutrophication is one of the most important water quality problems in lakes. Due to the effects of excessive external inputs of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), compounded with unfavorable climatic and hydrologic conditions, the lake undergoes major changes that involve both the physical-chemical properties of water and the aquatic communities living there. There have been many studies on lake ecosystems and their evolution (HENRY et al., 1984; AFDALI, 1993; HARRAK, 1991; LOUDIKI et al., 1994; SBIYYAA, 1998, MOUHRI et al., 1999). These studies relate especially to the role of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus mainly) in the evolution of lakes. The influence of climatic and hydrologic conditions on the structure and dynamics of these ecosystems has been often underestimated. Indeed, there are few studies on the relationship between climatic conditions and the trophic status of aquatic ecosystems.The aim of this paper is to study the behavior of the physical-chemical qualities of water in lake Mansour Eddahbi (Ouarzazate, Morocco) and its trophic status under severe climatic conditions, especially during the very dry hydrological year 1998/99. The Ouarzazate region is characterized by an arid continental climate with very hot summers and cold winters. Due to both great evaporation and increasing demand for water for irrigation, the water levels of the reservoir has been reduced by 14 m and its storage capacity has been considerably reduced. The approach used was to assess water quality in a station at the deepest area of the lake during the hydrological year 1998/99. Sampling was undertaken monthly and different parameters were analyzed including temperature, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll a, phosphorus (TP and PO43-), and nitrogen (TNK, NO3 - and NH4 +).The results of this study demonstrated important seasonal variations of water temperature in the lake. Temperature varied from 9.5°C in the winter to as high as 28.5°C in the summer. Based on this parameter, the reservoir could be classified as a monomictic hot lake with one mixing period occurring in winter. In the entire water column, the pH values were slightly alkaline and oscillated between 7.8 and 8.5 at the surface and 7.4 to 8.2 at the bottom of the lake. This reflects a well-buffered system with moderate benthic decomposition activity. The decrease in water volume by evaporation and intensive use for irrigation resulted in an increase in water salinity. These two parameters presented a significant correlation (r2 =0.60 for n=13 and p<0.05). A decrease in dissolved oxygen from 7.3 mg O2 /l at the surface to 0 mg O2 /l at the bottom of the lake occurred during summer stratification. However, water of the lake reservoir was well oxygenated during preceding years (concentration of dissolved oxygen oscillated between 2 and 11 mg/l (ONEP/BRL, 1998)). Concentrations of chlorophyll a in the euphotic zone (8 m depth) were very important and varied from 12 µg/L (August 1998) to 49 µg/L (September 1999) with an average of 25 µg/L. Based on the chlorophyll a value, the lake Mansour Eddahbi could be classified as eutrophic.The lake has become shallower and the thermocline, beginning at 12 m below the surface, has moved closer to the deeper layers where exchange between sediments and the water column is important. These exchanges between the two compartments of the lake contributed to enrichment of the water column in summer, creating an internal nutrient load. During the hot period when the lake was stratified, there was a large loss of nitrogen from the system. During the mixing period, nitrates were present at substantial concentrations in the deeper regions, but in summer nitrates were consumed rapidly in the surface layer, leading to a limitation on phytoplankton growth in this period. This same phenomenon was also noticed by HENRY et al. (1984). Furthermore, these losses of nitrogen induce a strong reduction in the N/P ratio during this period.Orthophosphate concentrations decrease from the bottom layers to the surface, with almost total impoverishment in the upper strata. This impoverishment reaches 10 m during the summer period and these values are often limiting for the phytoplankton production. The correlation obtained between orthophosphate concentrations and chlorophyll a was significant, especially in summer (r2 =0.79 for n=13 and p<0.05).Nutrient exchange at the water and sediment interface was favoured by the anoxic conditions at the lake bottom that prevailed during the eight months of stratification. The release of these substances can alone, without external contributions, maintain important primary production. This was confirmed by the importance of phytoplankton development compared to the preceding years. The algae production seemed to be enhanced, even if the reported N/P ratio was not optimal, particularly during the period of stratification and had no significant correlation with chlorophyll a content (r2 =0.19, n=13 and p<0.05). This important production appeared to be the result of an internal enrichment of the lake in nutrients coming from the sediment. According to nitrogen (0.2 mg/L) and phosphorus values (0.02 mg/L), the lake could be classified as hypereutrophic whereas two years earlier it was considered mesotrophic (ONEP/BRL, 1998). This work shows clearly that the severe climate conditions during the hydrological year 1998/99 contributed to a rapid degradation of the trophic status of this lake. It changed from a mesotrophic to a hypereutrophic state, resulting from an important enrichment in nutrients and the consequent algal production

Review of a Medical Pre-Clinical Curriculum for Competencies in Caring for Patients Who Are LGBT, Gender Nonconforming, or Born with DSD

This review aimed to assess whether the George Washington University medical, pre-clinical curriculum met any of the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) 30 professional competencies to improve health care for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), gender nonconforming, or born with disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods: Relevant sessions were reviewed based on instructors’ PowerPoint slides, audio recording of sessions (when available), assigned pre-session material, and notes taken by a student. Content and objectives from each session were mapped to corresponding AAMC competencies, and each competency was qualitatively graded as completely met, partially met, or unmet. Results: This review found that 18 of the 30 AAMC competencies were completely or partially met. Of the 12 competencies that were unmet, the majority fell into the domains of professionalism, systems-based practice, inter-professional collaboration, and personal/professional development. Mandatory sessions specific to LGBT/DSD health care totaled 7.5 hours, and an additional 13 hours addressed broader topics of sexual health. Conclusions: Strengths of the curriculum included greater than the national average of 5 hours of LGBT-related content, access to LGBT patients on panels, and inclusion of gay and lesbian patients in standardized patient exercises. While psychological and social determinants of health for LGBT patients were addressed, the curriculum lacked similar material for patients who are gender nonconforming or born with DSD

Enlèvement du chrome par infiltration verticale sur lits de Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steudel

L'objectif de la présente étude est de mettre en évidence les potentialités d'un hélophyte : Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steudel à épurer l'effluent du tannage riche en chrome sous un régime d'écoulement vertical et les comparer à celles d'un sol non planté sous climat aride.Le pilote expérimental est constitué de pots de capacité 120 litres, remplis sur une épaisseur de 15 cm de graviers et de 60 cm de sol (texture : limono - argilo- sableuse). Trois pots sont plantés de jeunes tiges de Phragmites australis (36 tiges /m2). Trois autres pots non plantés sont pris comme témoin. L'alimentation du système se fait par l'eau du tannage au chrome diluée à 50%. L’alimentation des systèmes se fait par bâchées de 10 litres/jour pendant 3 jours successifs suivie d’une période de repos de 4 jours. L'écoulement se fait par translation verticale à travers le substrat.L'étude du fonctionnement hydrologique des pilotes testés a montré que le débit moyen à la sortie du système planté est trois fois plus élevé que celui du lit non planté, ce qui permet de traiter un volume d’eau usée plus important ou bien de réduire la superficie nécessaire par équivalent habitant. Aucun signe de colmatage n’a été détecté aussi bien dans les pots plantés de Phragmites australis que dans les pots non plantés.Le suivi des performances épuratoires du système à Phragmites australis montre que le pH à la sortie des deux systèmes pilotes augmente de deux à trois unités par rapport à celui des rejets du tannage. La conductivité électrique des effluents traités augmente respectivement pour les deux systèmes.L’élimination moyenne de la DCO totale est de 74% pour le système planté et de 60,5% pour le système non planté. La différence entre les performances épuratoires des deux systèmes pour l’abattement de la DCO totale est statistiquement significative (p<0,05).Le Cr total subit globalement un abattement de 99% pour les deux pilotes qui fournissent des eaux épurées limpides. En effet, la concentration moyenne en chrome total dans les eaux usées brutes appliquées à l'entrée des différents pilotes varie de 534 mg/l à 1000 mg/l avec une concentration moyenne de 780±196 mg/l. Les teneurs de chrome total enregistrées à la sortie du lit à Phragmites varient de 2,2 mg/l à 3 mg/l avec une concentration moyenne de 2±0,5 mg/l. La concentration en chrome total des eaux usées à la sortie du sol non planté varie de 2,5 mg/l à 4 mg/l avec une valeur moyenne de 2,4±1,3 mg/l.La présence de Phragmites australis dans le système planté permet de maintenir une porosité suffisante pour assurer la percolation des eaux en traitement et réduire les risques de colmatage. Avec des temps de résidence hydraulique trois fois plus réduit, le système planté assure un abattement du chrome total comparable à celui du système non planté.The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a helophytic plant, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steudel, to remove chromium from concentrated tannery effluent in comparison to unplanted soil, under arid climate conditions. The experiment was conducted from August 2002 to August 2003. Six plots (capacity: 120 L, diameter: 50 cm) were filled to depths of 15 cm and 60 cm with gravel and soil respectively (texture: 3.5% clay, 8.5% silt, and 88% sand). Three plots were planted with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steudel. Young shoots of plants (36 stems/m2) were taken from local and natural reed stands. Three unplanted plots were used as controls. The soil for the study was from the Tensift River (Marrakech). The experimental plots were supplied exclusively with diluted tannery wastewater, 3 times a week (approximately 10 L each time). The water flowed vertically through the substratum.To investigate the capacity of the systems to increase pH, to decrease conductivity chemical oxygen demand (COD), and to remove total chromium, concentrations in the inflow and outflow of each plot were determined during the experiment. System hydrology indicated that for planted systems, the mean flow varied from 18 mL/min (in winter) to 49 mL/min (in summer), with an average value of 35 mL/min. For the unplanted system, the mean flow varied from 5 mL/min (in winter) to 15 mL/min (in summer) with an average value of 12 mL/min. Water recovery at the outflow of the planted system (PP) and unplanted system (NPP) was 40% and 60% respectively. This may be related to the phenomenon of evapotranspiration from the PP system, which was more significant than simple evaporation from the NPP system. No sign of clogging was observed in the planted systems due to the plant rhizomes that ensure a better aeration of the soil. The study of the hydrological operation showed that mean flow in the planted system was three times higher than that in the unplanted soil, which makes it possible to treat a larger volume of wastewater and to reduce the required per capita surface for treatment. The presence of Phragmites australis ensured a sufficient porosity for the percolation of water for treatment.The pH of the effluent at the outlets of the planted and unplanted systems increased by two to three units in comparison with the raw wastewater at the inlet. The average inflow pH was 5.5; at the outflow of the two systems, the pH was 7.30 and 8.20 respectively for the planted and unplanted soil. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the treated wastewater increased for the two systems. The average inflow conductivity was 54±5.5ms/cm. At the outflow of the two systems, the EC was about 75±14 ms/cm and 68±11 ms/cm respectively for the planted and unplanted systems. The EC removal for all systems varied significantly from season to another (p< 0.05).The planted system was more efficient in removing total COD (74%) than the unplanted one (61%). There were significant differences (ANOVA) between the PP and NPP systems (p<0.05). Total chromium concentrations at the inflow varied from 534 mg/L to 1000 mg/L with an average content of 780±196 mg/L. At the outflow, total chromium concentrations varied from 2.2 mg/L to 3 mg/L with an average content of 2±0.5 mg/L for the PP system and from 2.5 mg/L to 4 mg/L with an average value of 2.4±1.3 mg/L for the NPP system. Total chromium removal of 99% occurred for the two pilots, which provides limpid purified water. Despite the shorter retention time for the planted system, which was three times less than in the unplanted one, total chromium was almost completely removed.The aquatic macrophyte plant seemed to play a physical role by enhancing the hydrological conductivity of the substratum and consequently the operation and management of these systems. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steudel has the ability to transfer oxygen from the rhizome towards the roots through an internal lacunar system, which offers the creation of an aerobic zone around the roots. This aerobic zone allows the proliferation of micro-organisms, which are the principal decomposers of the organic matter in the root zone.The treatment of tannery effluent by reed beds is a clean approach from an ecological point of view and constitutes a viable economic alternative in comparison to purely chemical approaches and is thus better adapted to the complexity of the systems used in the leather industry

Essais d'épuration des eaux usées de Marrakech par la jacinthe d'eau (Charges organique, bactérienne et parasitologique)

Cette étude est destinée à tester expérimentalement les capacités d'épuration des eaux usées par lagunage à macrophytes (jacinthe d'eau : Eichhornia crassipes), sous les conditions climatiques de Marrakech.L'installation fonctionne en continu avec un débit constant à l'entrée de 10 l/min. La charge admise est de 40 g DCO/M2/j.Sous l'aspect de la production de biomasse végétale, les effluents domestiques constituent un bon substrat nutritionnel. Les taux de croissance et les productions obtenues montrent dans l'ensemble une excellent adaptation d'Eichhornia crassipesà ce milieu. Le maximum de biomasse et de productivité ont été obtenu en période estivale et sont respectivement de: 40 kg MF/m2 et 38,6 MS/m2/j. Il s'est avéré également que la jacinthe d'eau est persistante toute l'année sous le climat méditerranéen aride de Marrakech.L'épuration des eaux usées domestiques par lagunage à macrophyles aboutit à des rendements satisfaisants surtout en période estivale où on obtient un abattement de 87 % de la DCO et une réduction de 95 % des MEST.Sur te plan sanitaire, l'abattement de la charge bactérienne exprimée par les bactéries témoins de contamination fécale peut atteindre jusqu'à 2ULog pour un temps de séjour théorique très court (7 jours).Ce système e par ailleurs fourni des abattement de 100 % des oeufs d'helminthes parasites au niveau de l'eau épurée.The aim of the present study is to experimentaly test the capacities of the mater hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in order to purify wastewater under Manakesh climatic conditions.The experiment was carried al wastewater spreading zone of Marrakesh pretraitement.The experimant's installation is made of two lined water yacinth ponds that receive domestic wastewater.The proposed process is a continuous system with a constant flow rate of 10 l/mn. The theoritical retention time was estimated to 7 days. The allowed load is 40 g COD/m2/day. Macrophytic biomass was observed for both ponds during the experimental period (Match, 1986 - February, 1987). Parameters of organic, bacterial and parasitological loads are studied in order to determine the system efficiency under arid climate.Obtained results show the water hyacinth ability to adapt to Marrakesh climatic conditions. The number of plants doubled at 12 days, this is coherent with results obtained by PENFOUND (1956), BOCK (1969), WESTLAKE (1963, 1975) and SCULTHORPE (1967). Maximum biomass level and productivity were achieved during the summer period : 40 kg WW/m2/day and 38,6 g DW/m2/day respectively. Biomass and productivity obtained under arid climate are similar to results obtained by WOOTEN and DODD (1976), and by DINGES (1976) under subtropical conditions, and higher than chose obtained by JOHN (1985) under temperate climate. The growth period of water hyacinth is estimated to 9 months at Marrakesh, 10 months at subtropical climate (WOLVERTON and MC DONALD, 1976) and limited to 6 months under cold climate (COPELLI et al., 1982; DUBOIS, 1983; SAUZE, 1983; DE CASABIANCA, 1985). Temperature is considered as a limited growth factor of water yacinth. According to FRANCOIS et al. (1977), the water hyacinth growth was stopped when the temperature is lower than 10 °C. Linder Marrakesh arid climate, the temperature is always higher than 10 °C. It was also found that the water hyacinth survive all a year around in the arid climate of Marrakesh.Domestic sewage purification by water hyacinth leads to satisfactory efficiency during the summer concerning reduction of COD: 87 % and TSS : 95 %. This phenomenon may be jointed to the retention time wich was lengthed (9,4 days) in the summer, and the higher biomass density of water hyacinths in this one. The purifying action of floating macrophytes (Eichharnia crassipes) is physical and biological. The root system stabilizes the medium thus favoring sedimentation of TSS and particulate COD both on the bottom of the tank and by trapping in the root hairs. Elimination of COD is realized by means of the action of bacteria which are present, by sedimentation of particulate COD and root filtration.The biological action of the plants is not an important mechanism for COD elimination. The system efficiency is low at the winter and the reduction of COD and TSS have not exceed 60 % and 82 % respectively because the degenering of the water hyacinths.From sanitary point of view, bacterial load reduction expressed by control faecal contamination bacteria achieved 2 log Units for a short theoritical retention time (7 days). This is higher than the result obtained by DUBOIS (1985). Two hypothesis are given to explain reduction of bacterial load by water hyacinths :1) the bacteria are sedimented or trapped in the root hairs of the water hyacinths whith TSS. 2) Water hyacinths may have a capacity to secrete a chemical substance wich could have bactericid or bacteriostatic effect. The improvement of retention time and the addition of one or two supplementary ponds will probably lead to better results. Moreover, this process had also reduced parasitical helminth eggs to undetectable levels (100 %). The parasitical helminth eggs distinguisched at domestic sewage received by the experimental installation, are Taenia, Hymenolepis, Trichuris and Ascaris geints. Their total number vary tram 0 to 120 eggs/l with a mean of 32. Other types of eggs could be encountred generally in waste water as : Toxocara, Oxyure, Capillaria and Taxoascaris (FOX and FITZGERALD,1976) but was not detected by our technique. No helminth eggs were found in purified wastewater descended through water hyacinth ponds. This phenomenon is explained by supposing that the helminth eggs are present in the effluent but it was the detection limit of the employed technique (Bailenger method), or there is no eggs really at the effluent because of their higher specific weight. Ascaris, Taenia and Trichuris eggs have a sedimentation rate of 0,65 m/h, 0,26 m/h and 1,5 m/h respectively (FEACHEM et al.,1983). The eggs sedimented rapidly in the water hyacinths ponds involving a transfer of the effluent pollution to the sediment. Several authors affirmed that the stabilization ponds are an effective means to reduce parasitical helminth eggs of the wastewaters (GLOYNA, 1972; KOWAL, 1985). Hence, if the parasitical risk could be controled in the purified water (effluent), particular attention should be given to sediments. It is also important to point out, that no parasitical nematode is found at the influent. Nematofauna associated to wastewater and roots of water hyacinth, was represented by bacteria consumer nematode. The abundance of nematode is definite by the existence of bacterial food in the wastewaters (CALAWAY, 1963; SHIEMER, 1976). The principal genus determined are Rhabditis sp, Plectus sp. and Mononchoïdes sp. It appears that Rhabditis genus, is dominant in the first pond (94,7 %) of the nematode population. However, the two genus Rhabditis sp. and Plectus sp. are dominant in the second one and represent 50 % and 49 % respectively. The presence of Plectidae in the second basin indicates that is less loaded (ZULINI, 1976). However, under the arid climate conditions of Marrakesh, the process based on water hyacinth for wastewater purification, is faced with two major problems : first, the water loss by evapotranspiration reachs 60 % during the summer time under arid climate of Marrakesh. The development of Mousquito particularly in the summer, constitutes the second problem of our proposed process. Moreover, front economical point of view, the water hyacinths show a good productivity in the summer under arid climate and could be exploited in several field

The Effects of the Diversion Program on Student Resilience

The current study examined whether The Diversion Program is associated with an increase in student resilience. Fifty-one students 10- 18 years old participated in this study. Participants completed a resilience measure reflecting the multiple pathways and processes embedded in different contexts. A pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate the effects of the Diversion Program on students\u27 resilience. As predicted, students’ resilience increased significantly from the pretest to the posttest. Results demonstrated the promise that resilience depends more on what we receive than what we have. This study serves as a beginning point to guide future resilience research, practice, and implementation on a broader scale

Study protocol: The Adherence and Intensification of Medications (AIM) study - a cluster randomized controlled effectiveness study

Abstract Background Many patients with diabetes have poor blood pressure (BP) control. Pharmacological therapy is the cornerstone of effective BP treatment, yet there are high rates both of poor medication adherence and failure to intensify medications. Successful medication management requires an effective partnership between providers who initiate and increase doses of effective medications and patients who adhere to the regimen. Methods In this cluster-randomized controlled effectiveness study, primary care teams within sites were randomized to a program led by a clinical pharmacist trained in motivational interviewing-based behavioral counseling approaches and authorized to make BP medication changes or to usual care. This study involved the collection of data during a 14-month intervention period in three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and two Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities. The clinical pharmacist was supported by clinical information systems that enabled proactive identification of, and outreach to, eligible patients identified on the basis of poor BP control and either medication refill gaps or lack of recent medication intensification. The primary outcome is the relative change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements over time. Secondary outcomes are changes in Hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), medication adherence determined from pharmacy refill data, and medication intensification rates. Discussion Integration of the three intervention elements - proactive identification, adherence counseling and medication intensification - is essential to achieve optimal levels of control for high-risk patients. Testing the effectiveness of this intervention at the team level allows us to study the program as it would typically be implemented within a clinic setting, including how it integrates with other elements of care. Trial Registration The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT00495794.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/1/1745-6215-11-95.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/2/1745-6215-11-95.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/3/1745-6215-11-95-S1.DOCPeer Reviewe

Inhibiting Lactate Dehydrogenase A Enhances the Cytotoxicity of the Mitochondria Accumulating Antioxidant, Mitoquinone, in Melanoma Cells

Limited options exist for inhibitors targeted against melanoma tumors with mutation subtypes other than BRAF. We investigated the cytotoxic activity of mitoquinone (MitoQ), an antioxidant and ubiquinone derivative, on various human melanoma cell lines, alone or in combination with other agents to perturb cellular bioenergetics. This lipophilic cation crosses the cell membrane, enters and accumulates in the mitochondria where it can disrupt mitochondrial function at micromolar concentrations or act as an antioxidant to preserve membrane integrity at nanomolar concentrations. Consistent with previous studies, cells treated with 12.5 μM MitoQ show significantly reduced viability versus control treatments. Although all melanoma cells were susceptible to cytotoxicity induced by MitoQ, cells with wild-type BRAF were responsive to lower doses, compared to cells with activating mutations in BRAF. Mechanistically, the positively charged lipophilic moiety of the MitoQ induced a dose-dependent collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and significantly reduced the mitochondrial ATP production and reduced oxygen consumption rate, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. We also combined MitoQ with a glycolytic lactate dehydrogenase A inhibitor (FX-11) and observed an enhanced reduction in viability, but not other therapies examined. To summarize, the data suggest that FX-11 enhances the cytotoxic effects of MitoQ in cells with wild-type BRAF