Contaminants in Unionid Mussels from the Confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers

Unionid mussels were collected from three mussel beds near the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers in 2003 to evaluate concentrations of selected elements and organic compounds in three abundant species and to preliminarily investigate the relative contribution of these waterways to observed contaminant burdens. Copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were higher and lead (Pb) concentrations were lower in Amblema plicata collected downstream of the confluence than in those collected upstream. Mean concentrations of nickel (Ni), total mercury (Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), Pb, and Zn varied by species. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd) decreased with age in A. plicata from two of three sites. Tissue concentrations of some elements, e.g., arsenic (As), Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn, were similar to or higher than those previously reported for unionid mussels from areas of contaminated sediment. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn in A. plicata were comparable to those collected from the Mississippi River approximately 450 and 900 km upstream from our study sites (Naimo et al. 1992). Although total Hg concentrations we observed were an order of magnitude lower than in that study, MeHg concentrations were above those associated with reductions in soft tissue mass in a study of Elliptio complanata (Salazar et al. 1995). A number of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were detected in A. plicata tissues, with 85% of detections occurring in mussels from downstream of the confluence. Concentrations of individual PCB congeners were ???33 ng/g ww and the maximum summed PCB congener concentration was 100.2 ng/g ww. Although few persistent pesticides were detected, -hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was detected in each of the species collected from below the confluence of the two rivers, and in A. plicata collected above it on both the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, at a maximum concentration of 103.5 ng/g ww. Aldrin, ??-HCH and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were detected in few of the specimens collected. The findings of this preliminary investigation suggest that unionid mussels from near the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers may be at risk of negative health effects of elevated exposure to certain environmental contaminants. Studies examining the health and productivity of unionid mussels from this area appear warranted.published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

The effect of exercise referral schemes upon health and wellbeing: Initial observational insights using individual patient data meta-analysis from The National Referral Database

Objectives: To examine if exercise referral schemes (ERS)s are associated with meaningful changes in health and wellbeing in a large cohort of individuals throughout England, Scotland, and Wales from The National Referral Database. Methods: Data were obtained from 23,731 participants from 13 different ERSs lasting 6 weeks to 3 months. Changes from pre- to post-ERS in health and wellbeing outcomes were examined including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (SBP & DBP), resting heart rate (RHR), short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS), World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Exercise Related Quality of Life scale (ERQoL), and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES). Two-stage individual patient data meta-analysis was used to generate effect estimates. Results: Estimates [95%CIs] revealed statistically significant changes occurred compared to point nulls for BMI (-0.55 kg.m2 [-0.69 to -0.41]), SBP (-2.95 mmHg [-3.97 to -1.92]), SWEMWBS (2.99 pts [1.61 to 4.36]), WHO-5 (8.78 pts [6.84 to 10.63]), ERQoL (15.26 pts [4.71 to 25.82]), ESES (2.58 pts [1.76 to 3.40]), but not RHR (0.22 fc [-1.57 to 1.12]), DBP (-0.93 mmHg [-1.51 to -0.35]). However, comparisons of estimates [95%CIs] against null intervals suggested the majority of outcomes may not improve meaningfully. Conclusions: We considered whether meaningful health and wellbeing changes occur in people who are undergoing ERSs? Regarding this broad question, these results demonstrate that, although many health and wellbeing outcomes improved, the changes be not achieve meaningful levels. This suggests the need to consider the implementation of ERSs more critically to discern how to maximize their effectiveness

Encouraging eyewitnesses to falsely corroborate allegations : effects of rapport-building and incriminating evidence

Building rapport involves developing a harmonious relationship with another person and conveying understanding and acceptance towards that person. Law enforcement officers use rapport-building to help gather information from witnesses. But could rapport-building, in some situations, work to contaminate eyewitness testimony? Research shows that compelling incriminating evidence can lead people to corroborate false accusations made against another person. We investigated whether rapport-building – when combined with either Verbal or Verbal+Visual false evidence – might boost these corroboration rates. Subjects took part in a pseudo-gambling task, in which their counterpart was falsely accused of cheating. Using a 2 (Rapport: Rapport vs. No-rapport) × 2 (Incriminating Evidence: Verbal vs. Verbal+Visual) between-subjects design, we persuaded subjects to corroborate the accusation. We found that both rapport and verbal+visual incriminating evidence increased the compliance rate. Even when the incriminating evidence was only presented verbally, rapport-building subjects were almost three times as likely to corroborate a false accusation compared to subjects who did not undergo rapport-building. Our results suggest that although there is widespread and strong support for using rapport-building in interviews, doing so also has the potential to aggravate the contaminating power of suggestive interview techniques

The Relationship between Marital Status and Psychological Resilience in Chronic Pain

We examined the relationship between marital status and a 2-stage model of pain-related effect, consisting of pain unpleasantness and suffering. We studied 1914 chronic pain patients using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) to clarify whether marital status was a determinant factor in the emotional or ideational suffering associated with chronic pain after controlling for pain sensation intensity, age, and ethnicity. Marital status was unrelated to immediate unpleasantness (). We found a strong association with emotional suffering () but not with negative illness beliefs (). Interestingly, widowed subjects experienced significantly less frustration, fear, and anger than all other groups (married, divorced, separated, or single). A final MANCOVA including sex as a covariate revealed that the emotional response to pain was the same for both widow and widower. Only those individuals whose spouse died experienced less emotional turmoil in the face of a condition threatening their lifestyle. These data suggest that after experiencing the death of a spouse, an individual may derive some “emotional inoculation” against future lifestyle threat

Optical and ultraviolet observations of nova Vul 1987

The outburst for a nova discovered in Nov. 1987 and followed since then is summarized. Although it was possible to observe it with the IUE at maximum, its ultraviolet energy faded rapidly, and after the first 2 weeks it was impossible to observe it at IUE wavelengths. It is observed to form a thick dust shell and is in the nebular stage

Liquefaction Hazard Mitigation by Prefabricated Vertical Drains

Liquefaction has typically been mitigated by in-situ densification; however vertical composite drains offer the possibility of preventing liquefaction and associated settlement while reducing the cost and time required for treatment. Three case histories are presented which describe the use of vertical drains to mitigate liquefaction hazard and techniques to control the flow of water exiting the drains. In addition, results from a test case are presented where controlled blasting techniques were used to evaluate drain performance in-situ. Blasting was successful in liquefying loose sand in an untreated test site. Similar blast charges were then detonated at adjacent sites treated with drains. Measurements demonstrated that the drains significantly increased the rate of pore pressure dissipation. In addition, the installation process typically densified the surrounding soil, thereby decreasing the liquefaction potential. Computer analyses successfully matched the measured response and suggest that the drains could be effective for earthquake events

Comments on Maki v. Frelk--Comparative v.Contributory Negligence: Should the Court or Legislature Decide?

Believing that the holdings and opinions in the case of Maki v. Frelkare significant legal developments, the Vanderbilt Law Review has solicited comments on these decisions, which it is now pleased to publish. These comments by six distinguished torts teachers and writers bear on the relative merits of comparative and contributory negligence, but more importantly, they discuss whether the judicial or legislative method is most appropriate for adoption of a rule of comparative negligence. It is hoped that these comments will be used as a sound basis for action, whether the problem arises before the courts or legislatures

Stimulus Responsive Nanoparticles

Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes

A robust preference for cheap-and-easy strategies over reliable strategies when verifying personal memories

People depend on various sources of information when trying to verify their autobiographical memories. Yet recent research shows that people prefer to use cheap-and-easy verification strategies, even when these strategies are not reliable. We examined the robustness of this cheap strategy bias, with scenarios designed to encourage greater emphasis on source reliability. In three experiments, subjects described real (Experiments 1 and 2) or hypothetical (Experiment 3) autobiographical events, and proposed strategies they might use to verify their memories of those events. Subjects also rated the reliability, cost, and the likelihood that they would use each strategy. In line with previous work, we found that the preference for cheap information held when people described how they would verify childhood or recent memories (Experiment 1); personally-important or trivial memories (Experiment 2), and even when the consequences of relying on incorrect information could be significant (Experiment 3). Taken together, our findings fit with an account of source monitoring in which the tendency to trust one’s own autobiographical memories can discourage people from systematically testing or accepting strong disconfirmatory evidence

93-GT-300 CALIBRATING ULTRASONIC IMAGES FOR THE NDE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS

ABSTRACT Ultrasonic imaging is taking a larger and larger role in the NDE of turbine engine materials and in support of fracture mechanics calculations. It is also playing an increasing role in quality and process control