Investigation of Metal and Organic Contaminant Distributions and Sedimentation Rates in Backwater Lakes along the Illinois River

Systematic sub-sampling of sediment cores in sections of uniform thickness is necessary in order to evaluate historic changes in sediment quality, to determine the vertical extent of contamination, and to measure sedimentation rates. With these objectives in mind, fourteen sediment cores were collected during March 2002 using the Illinois State Water Survey vibracorer. Concentrations of metals and total organic carbon were measured using standard techniques. Concentrations of chlorinated pesticides, phenolic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of chlorinated pesticides, phenolic compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were below the method detection limit in all sediment samples analyzed. However, there was a wide range in concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which were detected in all sediment samples. Also, a wide range of metal concentrations was noted in the sediments evaluated. Lower concentrations of metals were found in the upper 0.5 m of sediment but concentrations were elevated at depths ranging from 1.0 m to 1.5 m. Sedimentation rates were estimated using cesium-137 radiometric dating on 14 vibracores. Sedimentation rates range from < 0.1 to 1.9 cm/yr, with an average of 0.9 cm/yr. These rates are comparable to those reported in previous studies.Illinois Sustainable Technology Centerpublished or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Hematochezia in a patient with liver cirrhosis

Although commonly detectable in patients with cirrhosis, rectal varices only infrequently cause significant hematochezia (0.5–3.6%). While they may be expected to resolve with treatment of the concomitant portal hypertension, there is currently no standardized approach to their management in isolation. Therefore many authorities recommend transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS) as a means of alleviating otherwise recalcitrant bleeding. Conceptually, however, rectal varices should be as amenable to local therapies as are their counterparts occurring at the esophagogastric junction. In this report, we describe the use of endoscopic banding per ano to alleviate significant rectal bleeding in a patient with poorly controlled portal hypertension. This allowed medical optimisation so that the underlying pathology could be controlled without recourse to TIPS or other means of creating a formal portosystemic shunt

Inorganic chemical composition of Illinois soils

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Benchmark sedimentation survey of the lower Cache River wetlands

"December 2001.

Optimizing the Model of the Viking-400 UAS

This project intends to update and redesign imperfections in the scanned 3D CAD model of the Viking 400 aircraft. This aircraft, similar to the Sierra-B UAS, will carry payloads of scientific instruments for research purposes. The goals of this project are to modify the current scanned model such that it better represents the physical qualities of the aircraft, as well as creating the features that are missing from the model. As the model was imported from a different software, many of the critical surfaces did not accurately reflect the actual aircraft. Those parts of the model were redesigned entirely so that they can be edited for future use, as well as correctly representing the aircraft as it is now. Additionally, parts of the aircraft that did not appear in the scanned model were designed and added to the new model. In order to prioritize ease of use for future missions, the model has been reorganized in a logical fashion that enables modification of specific parts of the aircraft. The organization of this model imitates the drawing tree of the Sierra-B, with the intention of maintaining a functional system of redesign, analysis, and implementation. Ultimately, this project will be a catalyst for making Viking 400 into a functional aircraft and increasing scientific research in airborne vehicles

Draft Report: Sediment Characterization in the Middle Peoria Pool, Illinois River

The Illinois Waterway (IWW) is a significant resource to the state of Illinois and the nation as a whole. Commercial navigation on the Illinois Waterway provides a vital means for transporting commodities to and from blue water ports on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. However throughout the world large floodplain-river ecosystems, like the Illinois River, are becoming increasingly rare. The National Research Council Committee on Aquatic Ecosystems considered this ecosystem type to be the highest priority for aquatic restoration and specifically named the Illinois River as one of three floodplain-river ecosystems within the United States having sufficient ecological integrity to recover. To address the concomitant while sometimes competing needs of commercial navigation and ecological integrity the US federal government, through the Army Corp of Engineers (COE), and the Upper Mississippi River states have proposed the Navigation and Ecological Sustainability Project (NESP) as a means of improving navigation along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterways while improving and/or mitigating the environmental impacts associated with the navigation improvements. As part of this effort it is envisioned that certain backwater areas within the middle Peoria Pool area will be dredged and the dredged material will be used for the construction of islands, elevated floodplain areas or other beneficial uses. These deep water areas will provide suitable overwinter habitat for native fish species while the islands and elevated floodplain areas will diversify terrestrial habitats within that river reach and provide loafing and nesting habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. These Options 1-3 of this project seek to provide additional data to help further characterize the sediments found in the middle reach of the Illinois River. For this project that area can generally be described as that portion of the Illinois River between Lacon and Chillicothe IL. The descriptions, photos, and analytical results of the analyses for the 16 sediment cores collected May 8-9, 2006 are presented.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island DistrictResults for Contract Options 1-3........................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................. 1 Acknowledgments ................................................... 1 Study Area ............................................................. 1 Methods .................................................................. 3 Results ................................................................... 4 References ............................................................ 5 Results for Contract Base Option .......................... 7 Appendix A. Field Sheets ....................................... 48 Appendix B. Standard Operating Procedures for the Collection of Sediment Cores Using the Rossfelder 3-Pc Vibrocore ............. 54 Appendix C. Chemical Results from Severn Trent Laboratories ..........62 Appendix D. Particle Size Results ............................................... 195 Appendix E. Percent Moisture ................................................... 230 Appendix F. Photographs of Sediment Cores ............................ 234Ope

Spontaeneous subacute portomesenteric venous thrombosis: a case report

Although uncommon and often asymptomatic, portal venous thrombosis can have catastrophic consequences for the individual it afflicts, particularly when the process propagates to involve the superior mesenteric vein. Familiarity with the condition's pathogenesis and presentation however permits early diagnosis and allows aggressive conservative management to achieve a successful outcome. Here we describe the successful outcome of such management for a 42-year-old male patient who developed this condition spontaneously

Testing the impact of an educational intervention designed to promote ocular health among people with age-related macular degeneration

Research has shown that individuals affected by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) do not always consume foods or supplements known to be beneficial for ocular health. This study tested the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to promote healthy eating and nutritional supplementation in this group. A total of 100 individuals with AMD completed baseline measures of several variables: confidence that diet affects AMD, motivation to engage in health-protective behaviours, knowledge about which nutrients are beneficial, and intake of kale, spinach, and eggs. Participants were allocated to either intervention or control conditions. Intervention participants received a leaflet and prompt card that contained advice regarding dietary modification and supplementation. Control participants received a leaflet created by the Royal College of Optometrists. A follow-up questionnaire, measuring the same variables assessed at baseline, was administered 2 weeks later. At follow-up, significant condition × time interactions were found for confidence that diet affects AMD (F(1, 92) = 4.54, p < .05), motivation to talk to an eye professional about supplementation (F(1, 92) = 4.53, p = .036), motivation to eat eggs (F(1, 92) = 12.67, p = .001), and egg intake (F(1, 92) = 11.97, p = .001). In each case, intervention participants scored higher than control participants. Receiving an educational intervention increased participants’ confidence that diet affects AMD, motivation to engage in health-protective behaviours, and egg intake. This intervention could be easily incorporated into current clinical practice delivered by either optometrists or ophthalmologists