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Degradation of propanil by bacterial isolates and mixed populations from a pristine lake.

The microbial transformation rates of propanil, a commonly used herbicide, were investigated using water from a pristine lake in northeast Georgia. Microbial degradation rates were measured using natural water microflora, the natural water microflora amended with five bacterial species (Aerobacter aerogenes, Aeromonas hydrophila, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Proteus mirabilis, and Aeromonas salmonicida) isolated from the same lake, and the five isolates individually. Transformation rate constants for propanil were compared for the mixed microbial assemblages and isolates at similar initial bacterial concentrations (approximately 5.0 x 10(-3) bacteria/mL). Degradation started within 60 hours and was completed by 160 hours in all experiments. The mean first-order rate constant for natural microflora was -(4.80 +/- 0.620) x 10(-3) h-1. Natural waters amended with the bacterial isolates yielded rate constants ranging from -(0.39 +/- 0.186) x 10(-3) h-1 to -(2.13 +/- 0.029) x 10(-3) h-1 with an overall mean of -(1.63 +/- 0.242) x 10(-3) h-1. After 660 hours following the first amendment of propanil, (i.e., 500 hours after propanil degradation was complete), each sample was again amended with propanil. Subsequent degradation rates ranged from -(21.3 +/- 0.186) x 10(-3) h-1 to -(64.2 +/- 0.786) x 10(-3) h-1 and the mean rate constant was -(37.5 +/- 0.922) x 10(-3) h-1. No significant differences were observed between first-order rate constants among isolates following the first or the second addition of propanil. After the second spike, however, the average of rate constants was approximately 20 times greater than that following the first spike. Rates for the individual isolates varied greatly from one isolate to another, ranging from virtually no degradation with A. calcoaceticus to -(21.6 +/- 0.332) x 10(-3) h-1 for the composite treatment of all isolates.

Acinetobacter↗

Surface runoff pollution by cattle slurry and inorganic fertilizer spreading: chemical oxygen demand, ortho-phosphates, and electrical conductivity levels for different buffer strip lengths.

As a way of dealing with the removal of pollutants from farming practices generated wastewater in the EU, we investigate the effect of spreading cattle slurry and inorganic fertiliser on 8 x 5 m2 and 8 x 3 m2 areas, referred to surface runoff chemical oxygen demand (COD), ortho-phosphates (o-P) and electrical conductivity (EC) levels, and the efficiency of grass buffer strips of various lengths in removing pollutants from runoff. The experimental plot was a 15% sloped Lolium perenne pasture. Surface runoff was generated by means of a rainfall simulator working at 47 mm h-1 rainfall intensity. Runoff was sampled by using Gerlach-type troughs situated 2, 4, 6 and 8 m downslope from the amended areas. During the first rainfall simulation, COD, o-P and EC levels were consistently higher in the slurry zone, more evidently in the larger amended area. During the second and third rainfall simulations, concentration and mass levels show a downslope drift into the buffer zones, with no clear buffer strip length attenuation. Correlation between runoff and mass drift is clearly higher in the slurry zone. Percentage attenuation in COD and o-P levels, referred to initial slurry concentrations--including rainfall dilution--were higher than 98%, and higher than 90% for EC.

Agriculture↗

A phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel and gemctiabine infused at a constant rate in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine and paclitaxel both have significant single agent activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because both are cell cycle and phase specific in their mechanism of action, frequent exposure should optimize activity. Phase I data support that gemcitabine is maximally converted to the active metabolite when it is infused at a rate of 10 mg/(m2 min). Based on this, we designed a phase II trial to examine gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 infused over 80 min with paclitaxel 110 mg/m2 infused over 3 h both on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days as first line therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. The primary objectives were to assess the response rate, toxicity and survival of the combination in advanced NSCLC. Secondary objectives were to determine the effect of paclitaxel on the pharmacokinetic (PK) distribution of gemcitabine, the ability to achieve a concentration of 10-20 microM when gemcitabine was infused at a rate of 10 mg/(m2 min), as well as to assess the quality of life (QOL) with the functional assessment of cancer therapy-lung (FACT-L) questionnaire. METHODS: Patients with NSCLC, no prior treatment, ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1, adequate bone marrow, renal, and hepatic function were eligible for this trial. Paclitaxel 110 mg/m2 was infused over 3 h, followed by gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 infused over 80 min on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days for the first 2 patients, and then amended to days 1 and 8 every 21 days after the first 2 patients required day 15 dose omissions due to myelosupression. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were treated. Nine PS = 0; 28 PS = 1; Stage IIIB = 3, Stage IV = 36; median age 62 (range: 39-77). A median of six cycles (range: 0-10) was delivered. Grade 3-4 toxicities observed in > or =10% of patients included leucopenia in 26%, neutropenia in 28%, dyspnea in 13%, febrile neutropenia in 3% (1 patient). Fourteen of 39 (35%, 95% CI: 21-53%) patients had a partial response (PR), 14 of 39 (35%, 95% CI: 21-53%) had stable disease (SD) and 5 patients (13%, 95% CI: 4-27%) had progressive (PD). Median survival was 10.4 months (95% CI: 5.3-13.6). One-and two-year survival rates were 35% (95% CI: 21-53%) and 5% (95% CI: 0.6-17%), respectively. QOL as measured by the FACT-L and the trial outcome index (TOI) did not change significantly from baseline over the course of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel and gemcitabine is an active and well-tolerated combination in advanced NSCLC. Patients on this trial had no significant change in their QOL as assessed by the FACT-L questionnaire.

Adult↗

Effect of lowering the alcohol limit in Denmark.

On 1 March 1998, the Danish per se limit was lowered from 0.08 to 0.05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for motor vehicle drivers. Based on accident data and drivers' drinking habits before and after the amendment, the effect of the new limit has been evaluated. Interviews revealed a significant decrease in the number of drinks that drivers allow themselves to drink within a 2-h period before driving. The proportion of drivers, who would not drink at all or only have one drink, increased from 71% before the amendment to 80% after the amendment. Drivers with changed drinking habits most often stated the lower limit as the main reason for having less alcohol. However, based on accident data from the first year after the amendment, this has not resulted in a marked decrease in the proportion of injury accidents with impaired motor vehicle drivers (BAC>/=0.05%) compared to all injury accidents. On the contrary, the proportion of fatal accidents with drink-drivers compared to all fatal accidents has increased in the after-period. The total number of drink-driving sentences were a little larger in 1999 than in 1997 because of the lower limit, but a significant change from higher towards lower alcohol levels can be seen.

Accidents, Traffic↗

[An overview of legal amendments in the campaign against venereal diseases during the first Czechoslovak Republic].

The incidence of venereal diseases had a rising trend after the first world war. After the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic this problem had to be resolved. During the first years legal regulations on VD from the Austro-Hungarian monarchy were still in force. The authors give an account of the regulations and of attempts of Czechoslovak state organs to resolve this problem by new legal regulations.

Czechoslovakia↗

Enhanced yield of shiitake by saccharide amendment of the synthetic substrate.

Three experiments were performed to determine the effect of selected saccharides on mushroom yield and basidiome size of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) when grown on a synthetic substrate. Substrate formulations of sawdust, wheat bran, and millet were nonamended or amended with sucrose, fructose, or glucose. Addition of sucrose (0.6 to 1.2% [dry weight]) to the substrate stimulated mushroom yield by 11 to 20% or more. Addition of fructose at 1.2% and glucose at 0.6% resulted in similar yield increases. Most of the yield increase occurred on the first break. The substrate amended with 1.2% sucrose tended to have a more synchronous maturation for the second break resulting in fewer days when mushrooms were harvested.

Journal Article↗

Heavy metal leaching from mine tailings as affected by organic amendments.

A column experiment was conducted to investigate Zn, Cd, and Pb leaching from mine tailings as affected by the addition of organic amendments. Composted yard waste, composted cattle manure, and cattle manure aged for one month increased heavy metal leaching from mine tailings when compared to an unamended control. Aged cattle manure and composted cattle manure significantly increased Zn concentration in the leachate. The maximum Zn concentration in leachate from the manure-amended treatments was as high as 3.7 mg/L, whereas Zn concentrations from the control were less than 0.7 mg/L. All organic amendments increased Cd leachate concentrations. The presence of aged cattle manure greatly increased Pb concentrations in the leachate from less than 10 microg/L for the control treatment to higher than 60 microg/L. Lead concentration in leachate was positively correlated with inorganic carbon, total organic carbon, total carbon and bicarbonate. Although organic amendments increased Zn, Cd, and Pb leaching when compared with the control treatment, Zn concentrations were lower than the 5 mg/L secondary drinking water standard, and Pb concentrations were only minimally higher than the 15 microg/L drinking water standard. Cadmium concentrations from manure treatments exceeded the 5 microg/L drinking water standard but only during the first 15 days. Organic amendments may encourage establishment of vegetation in mining areas that may minimize heavy metal contamination through runoff and erosion. However, increased risk due to heavy metal leaching in the presence of organic amendments should be carefully considered.

Metals, Heavy↗

[Ethical aspects of clinical trials and patient informed-consent sheet: HIV/AIDS].

The TRT-5 (Treatment and Therapeutic Research) group, created in 1992, is a coalition of eight advocacy and service-providing HIV/AIDS nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) [originally five NGOs] working together on treatment and research issues in the field of HIV/AIDS in France. After 11 years of work in the defending and advocating for the rights and the welfare of HIV+ individuals in the area of drug development and clinical research, we felt authorised to make comments and propose changes to the currently ongoing reform of the French Law (Loi Huriet) defining the legal framework of clinical research in France. Several of our proposals aiming to include into the new law solutions to many of the ethical problems we regularly face in clinical research have been incorporated into amendments submitted to Parliament during the first reading in the lower Chamber last October. Some of these amendments have been approved by the majority of deputies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Use of sequential extraction to assess the influence of sewage sludge amendment on metal mobility in Chilean soils.

In Chile, the increasing number of plants for the treatment of wastewater has brought about an increase in the generation of sludge. One way of sludge disposal is its application on land; this, however involves some problems, some of them being heavy metal accumulation and the increase in organic matter and other components from sewage sludge which may change the distribution and mobility of heavy metals. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of sewage sludge application on the distribution of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in agricultural soils in Chile. Three different soils, two Mollisols and one Alfisol, were sampled from an agricultural area in Central Chile. The soils were treated with sewage sludge at the rates of 0 and 30 ton ha(-1), and were incubated at 25 degrees C for 45 days. Before and after incubation, the soils were sequentially extracted to obtain labile (exchangeable and sodium acetate-soluble), potentially labile (soluble in moderately reducing conditions, K4P2O7-soluble and soluble in reducing conditions) and inert (soluble in strong acid oxidizing conditions) fractions. A two-level factored design was used to assess the effect of sludge application rate, incubation time and their interaction on the mobility of the elements under study. Among the metals determined in the sludge, zinc has the highest concentration. However, with the exception of Ni, the total content of metals was lower than the recommended limit values in sewage sludge as stated by Chilean regulations. Although 23% of zinc in sludge was in more mobile forms, the residual fraction of all metals was the predominant form in soils and sludge. The content of zinc only was significantly increased in two of the soils by sewage sludge application. On the other hand, with the exception of copper, the metals were redistributed in the first four fractions of amended soils. The effect of sludge application rate, incubation time and their interaction depended on the metal or soil type. In most cases an increase in more mobile forms of metals in soils was observed as the final effect.

Agriculture↗

Pointing movement in an artificial perturbing inertial field: a prospective paradigm for motor control study.

The present experiment focused on spatial accuracy and kinematics of fast pointing movements submitted to a multi-directional inertial perturbation. Pointing movements were performed without direct visual control, on a rotating armchair adding centrifugal and Coriolis forces to the natural displacement of the arm. The simultaneous action of these two forces induced a perturbation of the arm displacement both in amplitude and direction. Results showed that these two parameters were adjusted differently according to their own temporal constraint. Movement amplitude was adjusted on-line from the very first trial through the amendment of the whole acceleration pattern. Conversely, adjustment to directional perturbation was progressively achieved through several movement rehearsals. This correction appeared to be primarily due to a modification of the initial orientation of the arm trajectory, based seemingly on kinaesthetic knowledge from previous performances. The amendment of spatial parameters during motor response in the perturbing environment was discussed with an emphasis on the involvement of the cerebellum in reaching movement and the learning process.

Adult↗

Quality assurance program for pharmacokinetic assay of antiretrovirals: ACTG proficiency testing for pediatric and adult pharmacology support laboratories, 2003 to 2004: a requirement for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Proficiency testing (PT) is a mandated requirement for clinical laboratories doing therapeutic drug monitoring and is an invaluable tool to help laboratories identify and correct problems in analytical procedures. The AIDS Clinical Trial Group Pharmacology Quality Assurance Committee implemented a new antiretroviral PT program for all currently available antiretroviral drugs in 2001. The PT program was designed for the AIDS Clinical Trial Group Pharmacology Specialty Laboratories actively involved in assaying these drugs in clinical trial samples so as to comply with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Results from the first 3 rounds of PT have been analyzed and reported and provided support for formalizing the guidelines of the PT testing program. The PT program has expanded with the addition of nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitors (NRTIs) and atazanavir. This report includes results from rounds 4 to 7 over 2 additional years of standard operations. Additionally we include results from NRTIs for all rounds and atazanavir for a single round. There were 9 participating laboratories. Eight used high-performance liquid chromatography as the primary method of detection and 2/8 also reported LC-MS-MS results. One laboratory used LC-MS-MS as their primary detection method. All laboratories measured protease inhibitors, most measured at least 1 non-nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor and 5 had NRTI capabilities. Results were normally distributed and the acceptance range of +/-20% best corresponded to a 95% confidence interval. Overall score for 9 participating laboratories was 96% correct out of 1826 challenges over 4 rounds. Laboratories scored 95, 98 and 97% correct for protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitorss and NRTIs, respectively. Three laboratories reporting LC-MS-MS results had 92% correct (347/378) challenges for all drugs. The percentage of correct results is about the same as previously reported. There is a continued need for a PT program to help participating laboratories maintain essential quality assurance and quality control.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

The development of technical and spectrum requirements for meeting federal, state and local public safety agency communication requirements through the year 2010, establishment of rules and requirements for priority access service--FCC. Final rule.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a First Report and Order ("First Report") contemporaneously with a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that is summarized elsewhere in this edition of the Federal Register. In the First Report, the Commission amends its rules relating to public safety communications in the 764-806 MHz band ("700 MHz band") that the Commission previously reallocated for public safety services and in general. This action commences the process of assigning licenses for frequencies in the 700 MHz band and addresses an urgent need for additional public safety radio spectrum and the need for nationwide interoperability among local, state, and federal entities. By this action, the Commission also takes additional steps toward achieving its goals of developing a flexible regulatory framework to meet vital current and future public safety communications needs and ensuring that sufficient spectrum to accommodate efficient, effective telecommunications facilities and services will be available to satisfy public safety communications needs into the 21st century.

Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems↗

Castration of sex offenders: prisoners' rights versus public safety.

Sexual victimization of children and adults is a significant treatment and public policy problem in the United States. To address increasing concerns regarding sex offender recidivism, nine states have passed legislation since 1996 authorizing the use of either chemical or physical castration. In most statutes, a repeat offender's eligibility for probation or parole is linked to acceptance of mandated hormonal therapy. Future legal challenges to this wave of legislation will probably include arguments that such laws violate constitutional rights guaranteed to the offender by the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. When the promise of freedom is predicated on mandated treatment, the clinician must carefully assess the validity of informed consent.

Adult↗

Data on the C- and N-transformation dynamics of the soil.

The C- and N-transformation processes were measured over 11 days incubation period under laboratory conditions in the calcareous sandy and chernozem soil. The experiment was carried out with and without glucose carbon source under different N nutritional conditions. The CO2 production and the ammonium- and nitrate-N content of the soil samples were determined from time to time during incubation. The glucose amendment resulted in the first two days period of net immobilization. Between the samplings on days 3 and 11 days the N immobilization and mineralization processes were approximately of equal size. Soil samples CO2 production incubated with glucose and different quantity of N-nutrient, reached a high value already on the first two days of incubation. Later, the intensity of glucose decomposition was controlled by the rate of mineralization of the organic N-forms of the soil.

Biomass↗

Reclamation of a burned forest soil with municipal waste compost: macronutrient dynamic and improved vegetation cover recovery.

The reclamation of burned soils in Mediterranean environments is of paramount importance in order to increase the levels of soil protection and minimise erosion and soil loss. The changes produced in the content of total organic carbon (TOC), N (Kjeldahl) and available P, K, Ca and Mg by the addition of different doses of a municipal solid waste compost to a burned soil were evaluated during one year. The effect of organic amendment on the improvement in the vegetation cover after one year was also evaluated. The organic amendment, particularly at a high dose, increased the TOC and N-Kjeldahl content of the soil in a closely related way. The levels of available K in soil were also enhanced by the organic amendment. Although the effects on all three parameters tended to decrease with time, their values in the amended soils were higher than in the control soil, which clearly indicates the improvement in the chemical quality of the soil brought about by the organic amendment. The available P content did not seem to be influenced by organic treatment, while available Mg levels were higher than in the control during the first 4 months following organic amendment. The application of compost to the burned soil improved its fertility and favoured rapid vegetal recovery, thus minimising the risk of soil erosion.

Biomass↗

Federal regulation of clinical laboratories and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988--Part I.

In this first part of a two-part article, we have summarized some of the pertinent features of CLIA 1988 with review of the complexity model, waived testing, personnel standards, proficiency testing and quality control requirements, and patient test management. In addition to a survey of other Federal regulations applicable to clinical laboratories, we have briefly reviewed events subsequent to the publication of the Final Rule in February of 1992, specifically the recommendations of CLIAC and the Technical Corrections published on January 19, 1993. The second part of this paper will discuss sanctions and enforcement; how laboratory inspections are likely to be performed, accreditation of private organizations, state exemptions, cytology and other specialty regulations, and the evolving interaction between CLIAC, FDA, CDC, DHHS, and the regulated laboratory community.

Clinical Medicine↗