Variability of ammonium and nitrate in disturbed and undisturbed forest soils

Non-Peer ReviewedThe spatial distribution of NH4+- and N03--N in forest soils, as affected by site disturbance, was studied at the landscape-scale. A sampling grid, consisting of 169 points, was established at an undisturbed site located in Prince Albert National Park. Additional grids, consisting of 36 and 49 sampling points, were established at a burned and a clear-cut site, respectively. Similar levels of inorganic-N at the undisturbed and disturbed sites suggests that management practices had little effect on the availability of inorganic-N. Similarly, the spatial distribution of inorganic-N was not related to landform element complexes, suggesting that hydrologic processes were not the primary factor controlling the distribution of inorganic-N at the scale studied. The occurrence of NH4+ -N as the dominant inorganic-N form suggests that nitrification was strictly limited in these forest soils. This contrasts agricultural soils in which nitrification often proceeds swiftly in the presence of NH4+-N

Innovative Practice in Work-based Learning: fresh produce supply chain management development in the UK

The UK fresh produce industry is both complex and diverse. It can be characterised as a highly fragmented industry but nevertheless with some significant players. There is an overriding trend towards supply chain concentration in the industry and high levels of competition, with multiple retailers seeking to deal with a reduced number of suppliers. For many years the industry has experienced problems recruiting the number and quality of staff required, with vacancies available throughout the supply chain; this is possibly related to the poor image the industry holds, particularly among graduates. This situation provided the impetus for the development of a work-based postgraduate qualification developed by a partnership of Harper Adams University College and Management Development Services (MDS Ltd), a consortium of UK-based fresh produce companies

Borehole plugging materials development program, report 2

The data for 2 yr of grout mixtures durability studies developed for the borehole plugging program of the Nuclear Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) are reported. In addition, data for 1 yr of durability studies of grout mixture field samples used to plug the ERDA No. 10 exploratory drill hole near the WIPP site are included. The grout samples and the data do not show any evidence of deterioration during the durability studies that include exposure to brine at both ambient and elevated temperatures. The data include strength, compressional wave velocity, dynamic modulus, expansion, weight change, porosity, permeability, bond strength, chemical analysis of cements, and petrographic examinations. The work was performed at the Concrete Division of the Structures Laboratory of the US Army Engineer Waterways Experiments Station (WES), Vicksburg, Mississippi. The work is continuing at WES

Investigation of the strain-rate-dependent mechanical behavior of a photopolymer matrix composite with fumed nano-silica filler

With the evolution of additive manufacturing, there is an increasing demand to produce high strength and stiffness polymers. Photopolymers are very commonly used in stereolithography and fused deposition modeling processes, but their application is limited due to their low strength and stiffness values. Nano‐sized fibers or particles are generally embedded in the polymer matrix to enhance their properties. In this study, we have studied the effect of fumed nano‐sized silica filler on the elastic and viscoelastic properties of the photopolymer. The uniaxial testing coupons with different concentrations of silica filler have been fabricated via casting. We observed improvement in mechanical properties by the addition of the nano‐sized filler. As polymers exhibit time‐dependent mechanical response, we have conducted tensile tests at different strain rates as it is one of the most common modes of deformation, and is commonly used to characterize the parameters of the rate‐dependent material. We noticed significant dependence of the mechanical properties on the strain rate. quasi‐linear viscoelastic (QLV) model, which combines hyperelastic and viscoelastic phenomena, has been employed to capture the response of the material at different strain rates. We found out that the QLV model with Yeoh strain energy density function adequately describes the rate‐dependent behavior of the material and has reasonable agreement with the experimental results

The Surgeon General\u27s Facing Addiction Report: An Historic Document for Healthcare

The publication of Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General\u27s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health presents an historic moment not only for the field of addiction medicine, but also for the United States as a nation. The Board of Directors of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA), on behalf of our organization, would like to express our appreciation of the efforts of Dr. Vivek Murthy and the Surgeon General\u27s Office to publish the first surgeon general\u27s report covering substance misuse and substance use disorders

Does the process map influence the outcome of quality improvement work? A comparison of a sequential flow diagram and a hierarchical task analysis diagram

Background: Many quality and safety improvement methods in healthcare rely on a complete and accurate map of the process. Process mapping in healthcare is often achieved using a sequential flow diagram, but there is little guidance available in the literature about the most effective type of process map to use. Moreover there is evidence that the organisation of information in an external representation affects reasoning and decision making. This exploratory study examined whether the type of process map - sequential or hierarchical - affects healthcare practitioners' judgments.Methods: A sequential and a hierarchical process map of a community-based anti coagulation clinic were produced based on data obtained from interviews, talk-throughs, attendance at a training session and examination of protocols and policies. Clinic practitioners were asked to specify the parts of the process that they judged to contain quality and safety concerns. The process maps were then shown to them in counter-balanced order and they were asked to circle on the diagrams the parts of the process where they had the greatest quality and safety concerns. A structured interview was then conducted, in which they were asked about various aspects of the diagrams.Results: Quality and safety concerns cited by practitioners differed depending on whether they were or were not looking at a process map, and whether they were looking at a sequential diagram or a hierarchical diagram. More concerns were identified using the hierarchical diagram compared with the sequential diagram and more concerns were identified in relation to clinical work than administrative work. Participants' preference for the sequential or hierarchical diagram depended on the context in which they would be using it. The difficulties of determining the boundaries for the analysis and the granularity required were highlighted.Conclusions: The results indicated that the layout of a process map does influence perceptions of quality and safety problems in a process. In quality improvement work it is important to carefully consider the type of process map to be used and to consider using more than one map to ensure that different aspects of the process are captured

Probabilistic Algorithmic Knowledge

The framework of algorithmic knowledge assumes that agents use deterministic knowledge algorithms to compute the facts they explicitly know. We extend the framework to allow for randomized knowledge algorithms. We then characterize the information provided by a randomized knowledge algorithm when its answers have some probability of being incorrect. We formalize this information in terms of evidence; a randomized knowledge algorithm returning ``Yes'' to a query about a fact \phi provides evidence for \phi being true. Finally, we discuss the extent to which this evidence can be used as a basis for decisions.Comment: 26 pages. A preliminary version appeared in Proc. 9th Conference on Theoretical Aspects of Rationality and Knowledge (TARK'03

Adapting a generic tuberculosis control operational guideline and scaling it up in China: a qualitative case study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The TB operational guideline (the <it>deskguide</it>) is a detailed action guide for county TB doctors aiming to improve the quality of DOTS, while the China national TB policy guide is a guide to TB control that is comprehensive but lacks operational usability for frontline TB doctors. This study reports the process of deskguide adaptation, its scale-up and lessons learnt for policy implications.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The deskguide was translated, reviewed, and revised in a working group process. Details of the eight adaptation steps are reported here. An operational study was embedded in the adaptation process. Two comparable prefectures were chosen as pilot and control sites in each of two participating provinces. In the pilot sites, the deskguide was used with the national policy guide in routine in-service training and supervisory trips; while in the control sites, only the national policy guide was used. In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with 16 county TB doctors, 16 township doctors, 17 village doctors, 63 TB patients and 57 patient family members. Following piloting, the deskguide was incorporated into the national TB guidelines for county TB dispensary use.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Qualitative research identified that the deskguide was useful in the daily practice of county TB doctors. Patients in the pilot sites had a better knowledge of TB and better treatment support compared with those in the control sites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The adaptation process highlighted a number of general strategies to adapt generic guidelines into country specific ones: 1) local policy-makers and practitioners should have a leading role; 2) a systematic working process should be employed with capable focal persons; and 3) the guideline should be embedded within the current programmes so it is sustainable and replicable for further scale-up.</p

Pricing and quality investments in a mixed brown-green product market

Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) has assumed a position of prominence for academics and industry over the last two decades. The sustainability literature shows that typically manufacturers aim to optimize their pricing and greening level decisions in a mixed (green and brown) consumer market. In this work, we capture a manufacturer’s classic dilemma on the pricing of green and brown products, and greening investments, while subject to budget constraint. We compute and analyze the variations of optimal decisions over time. Our findings underscore the importance of investing in greening technologies and learning for the survival of green products. Furthermore, we show that a manufacturer’s optimal pricing strategy is to enter the market with a lower price for the green product and to increase it over time, eventually, surpassing the price for the brown product. Our analysis reveals that the greening level attraction can nullify the effect of a high price on the green product, resulting in higher green demand than brown. Higher green product demand is a win-win situation for both the manufacturer and the environment

Correlates of Snake Entanglement in Erosion Control Blankets

In road construction projects across the United States, erosion control methods (e.g., erosion control blankets [ECBs]), are mandated to stimulate seedbed regeneration and prevent soil loss. Previous reports have suggested that snakes are vulnerable to entanglement in ECBs. We conducted a literature review, field surveys, and an entanglement experiment to examine what factors increase a snake’s risk of ECB entanglement. Our literature review produced reports of 175 reptiles entangled in mesh products, 89.1% of which were snakes, with 43.6% of snake entanglements occurring in erosion control products. During our field surveys, we found 10 entangled snakes (n = 2 alive; n = 8 dead). From our experiment, we found that ECBs that contain fixed‐intersection, small‐diameter mesh consisting of polypropylene were significantly more likely to entangle snakes compared with ECBs with larger diameter polypropylene mesh or ECBs that have woven mesh made of natural fibers. Snake body size was also associated with entanglement; for every 1‐mm increase in body circumference, the probability of entanglement increased 4%. These results can help construct a predictive framework to determine those species and individuals that are most vulnerable to entanglement