Seasonal patterns of metals and nutrients in Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel in a constructed wetland in the west of Ireland

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. An understanding of the seasonal variation in the standing stock of metals and nutrients in emergent vegetation of constructed wetlands (CWs), as well as the amounts present in aboveground (AG) and belowground (BG) biomass, is crucial to their design and management. Given that biomass harvesting is a labour and time consuming operation, a paucity of information currently exists on accumulation and standing stocks in biomass in CWs, in particular in North Western European countries. To address this knowledge gap, this paper examined the seasonal variations of metals and nutrients in Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel in a CW treating municipal wastewater, with a view to identifying an optimal time for biomass harvesting of the AG vegetation. Although the AG biomass was greatest in August (1636 ± 507 g m −2 ), the maximum concentrations and accumulations of metals and nutrients occurred at different times throughout the duration of the study (April to November). Furthermore, with the exception of zinc and nitrogen, metals and nutrients measured in BG biomass ranged from 66% (phosphorus) to greater than 80% (nickel and chromium) of the AG biomass. This indicates that analysis of only the emergent shoots may significantly underestimate the metal and nutrient uptake and capacity of the plant. In order to effectively target the bulk of metals and nutrients, an AG harvest in late August or September is suggested

4-(Benzyl­ideneamino)benzene­sulfonamide

The title compound, C13H12N2O2S, formed by Schiff base condensation of benzaldehyde with sulfanilamide, crystallizes as discrete mol­ecular species linked by N—H⋯N and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the sulfamide nitro­gen H atoms and the aza­methine N and one sulfamide O atom, respectively, forming a two-dimensional array in the bc plane. The aza­methine group is rotated slightly out of the benzaldehyde benzene plane [C—C—C—N torsion angle = 8.1 (3)°], while the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 30.0 (1)°

(η6-Benzophenone)(η5-penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)ruthenium(II) tetra­phenyl­borate

The structure of the title compound, [Ru(C10H15)(C13H10O)](C24H20B), consists of discrete [Cp*Ru(II)benzophenone] cations and tetra­phenyl­borate anions (Cp* = penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl). Tethering the Cp*Ru group to one aryl ring of benzophenone results in average values of 1.42 (1) and 1.38 (1) Å for the C—C bond lengths in the Ru-tethered and untethered phenyl rings, respectively. The dihedral angle between the benzene and phenyl rings of the benzophenone group is 50.5 (1)°

Rethinking the Kyoto Protocol: Are There Legal Solutions to Global Warming and Climate Change?

Professor Williams moderates a panel discussion of the Kyoto Protocol and potential solutions to climate change. Other participants include Anita Halvorssen, J. Kevin Healy, William Pizer, and Jacob Werksman

Surgical Treatment of Habitual Patella Dislocation with Genu Valgum

Habitual dislocation of patella is a rare disorder. Sometimes it is associated with angular deformity such as genu valgum. We experienced habitual patella dislocation associated with genu valgum that was treated with corrective osteotomy of distal femur and soft tissue realignment procedure including lateral release and medial reefing

Metaphor use in the political communication of major resource projects in Australia

This article explores the patterns of political communication surrounding the environmental regulation of major Australian resource projects during the Business Advisory Forum of April 2012. The Forum discussed business and government responses to major project approvals to improve national productivity at a time when these projects also posed significant implications for anthropogenic global warming. The article’s method is to examine print news articles published during this period. While the international literature has long demonstrated how the American fossil fuel lobby has employed metaphor to characterise climate change as a ‘non-problem’—therefore allegedly making regulation of greenhouse gas emissions economically and politically unnecessary—no Australian study of metaphor use in climate science news has been conducted. This article, in finding news stories on so-called ‘green tape’ environmental regulation were saturated with metaphor clusters, argues that journalistic metaphor use has made the complex issue of environmental regulation accessible to mass audiences. But, in so doing, we also argue this metaphor use has supported business and government’s position on environmental deregulation of major projects. Finally, this article also argues that some journalists’ use of metaphors encouraged policy-makers to adopt, and re-use, journalists’ own language and, in so doing, allow those journalists to be seen as complicit in the shaping of softer public attitudes to the impact of major projects on anthropogenic climate change

Contextual Factors Influencing Cost and Quality Decisions in Health and Care: A Structured Evidence Review and Narrative Synthesis

Background Decisions affecting cost and quality are taken across health and care but investigation of the mediating role of context in these is in its infancy. This paper presents a synthesis of the evidence on the contextual factors that influence ‘decisions of value’ – defined as those characterised by having a significant and demonstrable impact on both quality and resources – in health and care. The review considers the full range of resource/quality decisions and synthesises knowledge on the contextual drivers of these. Methods The method involved structured evidence review and narrative synthesis. Literature was identified through searches of electronic databases (HMIC, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, NHS Evidence, Cochrane, Web of Knowledge, ABI Inform/Proquest), journal and bibliography hand-searching and snowball searching using citation analysis. Structured data extraction was performed drawing out descriptive information and content against review aims and questions. Data synthesis followed a thematic approach in accordance with the varied nature of the retrieved literature. Results Twenty-one literature items reporting 14 research studies and seven literature reviews met the inclusion criteria. The review shows that in health and care contexts, research into decisions of value in health and care is in its infancy and contains wide variation in approach and remit. The evidence is drawn from a range of service and country settings and this reduces generalisability or transferability of findings. An area of relative strength in the published evidence is inquiry into factors influencing coverage and commissioning decisions in health care systems. Allocative decisions have therefore been more consistently researched than technical decisions. We use Pettigrew’s (1985) distinction between inner and outer context to structure analysis of the range of factors reported as being influential. These include: evidence/information, organisational culture and governance regimes, and; economic and political conditions. Conclusion Decisions of value in health and care are subject to range of intersecting influences that often lead to a departure from narrow notions of rational decision-making. Future research should pay greater attention to the relatively under-explored area of technical, as opposed to allocative, decision-making

Randomised Controlled Trial to determine the appropriate time to initiate peritoneal dialysis after insertion of catheter to minimise complications (Timely PD study)

Background. The most appropriate time to initiate dialysis after surgical insertion of Tenckhoff catheters is not clear in the literature. There is the possibility of peritoneal dialysis (PD) complications such as leakage and infection if dialysis is started too soon after insertion. However, much morbidity and expense could be saved by reducing dependency on haemodialysis (HD) by earlier initiation of PD post catheter insertion. Previous studies are observational and mostly compare immediate with delayed use. The primary objective is to determine the safest and shortest time interval between surgical placement of a Tenckhoff catheter and starting PD. Methods/Design. This is a randomised controlled trial of patients who will start PD after insertion of Tenckhoff catheter at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) or Rockhampton Base Hospital (RBH) who meet the inclusion criteria. Patients will be stratified by site and diabetic status. The patients will be randomised to one of three treatment groups. Group 1 will start PD one week after Tenckhoff catheter insertion, group 2 at two weeks and group 3 at four weeks. Nurses and physicians will be blinded to the randomised allocation. The primary end point is the complication rate (leaks and infection) after initiation of PD. Discussion. The study will determine the most appropriate time to initiate PD after placement of a Tenckhoff catheter

Diagnostic definitions and figures of male and female Tetanocera punctifrons and T. latifibula, new records of T. punctifrons in Ireland, and notes on biology (Diptera: Sciomyzidae).

The presence of Tetanocera punctifrons Rondani, 1868 in Ireland is reconfirmed. The species is distinguished from the very similar T. latifibula Frey, 1924. The female abdomens of both species are described for the first time. The distributions of both species are summarised. The history of type examinations and of taxonomists’ conceptions of the two species is tracked, especially the relative reliability of published figures of diagnostic features. We emphasise the need for such analyses of rare and closely related species, even if apparently disjunct in distribution. Habitats of T. punctifrons and T. latifibula are described, and the biology and morphology of the immature stages are compared