Response of graywater recycling systems based on hydroponic plant growth to three classes of surfactants

Anionic (sodium laureth sulfate, SLES), amphoteric (cocamidopropyl betaine, CAPB) and nonionic (alcohol polyethoxylate, AE) surfactants were added to separate nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic systems containing dwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. USU Apogee) in a series of 21 day trials. Surfactant was added either in a (1). temporally dynamic mode (1-3 g surfactant m(-2) growing area d(-1)) as effected by automatic addition of a 300 ppm surfactant solution to meet plant water demand, or (2). continuous mode (2 g surfactant m(-2) growing area d(-1)) as effected by slow addition (10 mLh(-1)) of a 2000 ppm surfactant solution beginning at 4d after planting. SLES showed rapid primary degradation in both experiments, with no accumulation 24 h after initial addition. CAPB and AE were degraded less rapidly, with 30-50% remaining 24 h after initial addition, but CAPB and AE levels were below detection limit for the remainder of the study. No reductions in vegetative growth of wheat were observed in response to SLES, but biomass was reduced 20-25% with CAPB and AE. Microbial communities associated with both the plant roots and wetted hardware surfaces actively degraded the surfactants, as determined by monitoring surfactant levels following pulse additions at day 20 (with plants) and day 21 (after plant removal). In order to test whether the biofilm communities could ameliorate phytotoxicity by providing a microbial community acclimated for CAPB and AE decay, the continuous exposure systems were planted with wheat seeds after crop removal at day 21. Acclimation resulted in faster primary degradation (>90% within 24h) and reduced phytotoxicity. Overall, the studies indicate that relatively small areas (3-5m(2)) of hydroponic plant systems can process per capita production of mixed surfactants (5-10 g x person(-1)d(-1)) with minimal effects on plant growth.     

The feasibility of producing laser plasmas via photoionization

The production of uniform large-volume laser plasmas with electron-ion densities on the order of 10¹²/cm³or larger by means of photoionization is investigated. An externally applied electric field heats the electron gas to the optimal temperature for excitation of laser levels. Photoionization by intense UV light may take place in a low partial pressure gas of low ionization potential species dispersed throughout the host laser medium, or the laser medium itself may serve as the photoionized species. Both single-photon ionization and two-photon two-step ionization are shown to be applicable.     

Telemetered heart rate and skin potential of a chronic schizophrenic patient especially during periods of hallucinations and periods of talking.

Took telemetric recordings of a male 23-yr-old chronic schizophrenic patient's heart rate and skin potential while on the ward. During periods of hallucinations, the skin potential increased significantly, while there were no changes in heart rate. Neither heart rate nor skin potential increased during periods of talking. When very angry, heart rate showed a substantial deceleration followed by a large increase. There was no change in skin potential during the period of anger. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictability, control, and the pituitary-adrenal response in rats.

Compared the effects of signaled and unsignaled shock on the pituitary-adrenal response of 68 male Long-Evans hooded rats. In Exp I, exposure to the 2 procedures yielded no difference in plasma corticosterone levels. In Exp II, the addition of a food-reinforced leverpressing baseline produced conditioned suppression in the signaled condition but no group difference in steroid values. To guard against steroid elevations produced by exposure to shock, blood samples in Exp III were obtained during brief test sessions prior to the occurrence of shock. The procedure resulted in a significant elevation in the steroid levels of the signaled shock group. In Exp IV, a within-Ss sampling procedure revealed that disparate group steroid values obtained earlier in the session had converged by the end of the test session. The final experiment produced the original failure to obtain a steroid difference due to predictability in the absence of a behavioral baseline. Results suggest that (a) the effects of predictability are largely seen in the temporal pattern of steroid elevations and not in their terminal values, (b) the effects of predictability on steroids are modulated by the availability of control, and (c) control is not confined to the stimulus that is being predicted. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonlinear optical susceptibility of the thiogallate CdGa2S4

The nonlinear optical coefficient d36of CdGa2S4was measured to be 5 times larger than d31(LiNbO3). This large non-linearity is in good agreement with theory.     

Emerging Cooperation With Minimal Effort: Rewarding Over Mimicking

This paper compares supervised and unsupervised learning mechanisms for the emergence of cooperative multiagent spatial coordination using a top-down approach. By observing the global performance of a group of homogeneous agents-supported by a nonglobal knowledge of their environment-we attempt to extract information about the minimum size of the agent neurocontroller and the type of learning mechanism that collectively generate high-performing and robust behaviors with minimal computational effort. Consequently, a methodology for obtaining controllers of minimal size is introduced and a comparative study between supervised and unsupervised learning mechanisms for the generation of successful collective behaviors is presented. We have developed a prototype simulated world for our studies. This case study is primarily a computer games inspired world but its main features are also biologically plausible. The two specific tasks that the agents are tested in are the competing strategies of obstacle-avoidance and target-achievement. We demonstrate that cooperative behavior among agents, which is supported only by limited communication, appears to be necessary for the problem's efficient solution and that learning by rewarding the behavior of agent groups constitutes a more efficient and computationally preferred generic approach than supervised learning approaches in such complex multiagent worlds     

Metabolomic Evidence for Peroxisomal Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic and debilitating disease characterized by unexplained physical fatigue, cognitive and sensory dysfunction, sleeping disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, and gastrointestinal problems. People with ME/CFS often report a prodrome consistent with infections. Using regression, Bayesian and enrichment analyses, we conducted targeted and untargeted metabolomic analysis of plasma from 106 ME/CFS cases and 91 frequency-matched healthy controls. Subjects in the ME/CFS group had significantly decreased levels of plasmalogens and phospholipid ethers (p < 0.001), phosphatidylcholines (p < 0.001) and sphingomyelins (p < 0.001), and elevated levels of dicarboxylic acids (p = 0.013). Using machine learning algorithms, we were able to differentiate ME/CFS or subgroups of ME/CFS from controls with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values up to 0.873. Our findings provide the first metabolomic evidence of peroxisomal dysfunction, and are consistent with dysregulation of lipid remodeling and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These findings, if validated in other cohorts, could provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ME/CFS and highlight the potential use of the plasma metabolome as a source of biomarkers for the disease.     

The feasibility of smoking bans on psychiatric units

Cryptococcal meningitis has a high mortality rate of central nervous infection. The patients usually die of the disease itself, or complications from increased intracranial pressure. Early diagnosis and treatment, including surgical drainage, will improve the results. In this series, twenty-one patients with high intracranial pressure (ICP > 300 mmH2 O) are presented. Fourteen received implantation of Ommaya reservoir to aspirate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for relief of symptoms of ICP. Meanwhile 4 of these 14 patients also received intraventricular injection of amphotericin B because of poor response to systemic drugs. Another seven patient received systemic drug therapy only. Survival during therapy occurred in 11 of 14 patients in the surgical group, compared with only 1 of 7 patients treated by drug therapy alone (P = 0.019). In the 14 patients who received implantation of an Ommaya reservoir, there was one complication of CSF leakage when the reservoir ruptured because of repeated aspiration. For patients with cryptococcal meningitis with high ICP, early implantation of an Ommaya reservoir will improve the survival rate.