Low density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers for the investigation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) point sources in rivers

This study aims to provide a passive sampling approach which can be routinely used to investigate polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) sources in rivers. The approach consists of deploying low density polyethylene (LDPE) strips downstream and upstream of potential PCB sources as well as in their water discharges. Concentrations of indicator PCBs (iPCBs) absorbed in samplers (Cs) from upstream and downstream sites are compared with each other to reveal increases of PCB levels. Cs measured in water discharges are used to determine if released amounts of PCBs are compatible with increases revealed in the river. As water velocity can greatly vary along a river stretch and influences the uptake at each site in a different way, differences in velocity have to be taken into account to correctly interpret Cs. LDPE strips were exposed to velocities between 1.6 and 37 cm s−1 using a channel system built in the field. Relationships between velocity and Cs were established for each iPCB to determine the expected change in Cs due to velocity variations. For PCBs 28 and 52, this change does not exceed a factor 2 for velocity variations in the range from 1.6 to 100 cm s−1 (extrapolated data above 37 cm s−1). For PCBs 101, 138, 153 and 180, this change only exceeds a factor 2 in the case of large velocity variations. The approach was applied in the Swiss river Venoge to first conduct a primary investigation of potential PCB sources and then conduct thorough investigations of two suspected sources.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program: Executive Summary 2001

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for households weatherized to completion during calendar year 2001. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2001 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program: Executive Summary 2001

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for households weatherized to completion during calendar year 2001. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2001 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program: Executive Summary 2003

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for households weatherized to completion during calendar year 2001. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2001 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2003

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for households weatherized to completion during calendar year 2003. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2003 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations for households completed during the calendar year 2003..

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2004

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2004. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2004 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2005

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2005. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2005 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2006

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2006. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2006 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2007

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2007. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2007 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2008

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2008. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2008 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Improving college access and success for low-income students: Evidence from a large need-based grant program

Using comprehensive administrative data on France's single largest financialaid program, this paper provides new evidence on the impact of large-scaleneed-based grant programs on the college enrollment decisions, persistenceand graduation rates of low-income students. We exploit sharp discontinuitiesin the grant eligibility formula to identify the impact of aid on student outcomesat different levels of study. We find that eligibility for an annual cashallowance of 1,500 euros increases college enrollment rates by up to 5 percentagepoints. Moreover, we show that need-based grants have positive effectson student persistence and degree completion.

PTH and 1.25 vitamin D response to a low-calcium diet is associated with bone mineral density in renal stone formers.

BACKGROUND: Renal calcium stones and hypercalciuria are associated with a reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Therefore, the effect of changes in calcium homeostasis is of interest for both stones and bones. We hypothesized that the response of calciuria, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1.25 vitamin D to changes in dietary calcium might be related to BMD. METHODS: A single-centre prospective interventional study of 94 hyper- and non-hypercalciuric calcium stone formers consecutively retrieved from our stone clinic. The patients were investigated on a free-choice diet, a low-calcium diet, while fasting and after an oral calcium load. Patient groups were defined according to lumbar BMD (z-score) obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry (group 1: z-score <-0.5, n = 30; group 2: z-score -0.5-0.5, n = 36; group 3: z-score >0.5, n = 28). The effect of the dietary interventions on calciuria, 1.25 vitamin D and PTH in relation to BMD was measured. RESULTS: An inverse relationship between BMD and calciuria was observed on all four calcium intakes (P = 0.009). On a free-choice diet, 1.25 vitamin D and PTH levels were identical in the three patient groups. However, the relative responses of 1.25 vitamin D and PTH to the low-calcium diet were opposite in the three groups with the highest increase of 1.25 vitamin D in group 1 and the lowest in group 3, whereas PTH increase was most pronounced in group 3 and least in group 1. CONCLUSION: Calcium stone formers with a low lumbar BMD exhibit a blunted response of PTH release and an apparently overshooting production of 1.25 vitamin D following a low-calcium diet.

Validation of a clinical algorithm to identify low-risk patients with pulmonary embolism.

Summary Background: We previously derived a clinical prognostic algorithm to identify patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) who are at low-risk of short-term mortality who could be safely discharged early or treated entirely in an outpatient setting. Objectives: To externally validate the clinical prognostic algorithm in an independent patient sample. Methods: We validated the algorithm in 983 consecutive patients prospectively diagnosed with PE at an emergency department of a university hospital. Patients with none of the algorithm's 10 prognostic variables (age >/= 70 years, cancer, heart failure, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease, cerebrovascular disease, pulse >/= 110/min., systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg, oxygen saturation < 90%, and altered mental status) at baseline were defined as low-risk. We compared 30-day overall mortality among low-risk patients based on the algorithm between the validation and the original derivation sample. We also assessed the rate of PE-related and bleeding-related mortality among low-risk patients. Results: Overall, the algorithm classified 16.3% of patients with PE as low-risk. Mortality at 30 days was 1.9% among low-risk patients and did not differ between the validation and the original derivation sample. Among low-risk patients, only 0.6% died from definite or possible PE, and 0% died from bleeding. Conclusions: This study validates an easy-to-use, clinical prognostic algorithm for PE that accurately identifies patients with PE who are at low-risk of short-term mortality. Low-risk patients based on our algorithm are potential candidates for less costly outpatient treatment.

Low-grade metamorphism of the Gets nappe (Western Alps)

The Gets nappe, a decollement cover nappe located at the top of the Prealps, is characterized by the occurrence of ophiolitic rocks. The metamorphic grade in the Gets nappe was determined using illite crystallinity and clay mineral assemblages. Samples from the same locality were analyzed to estimate variations in illite crystallinity values and in the parageneses of clay minerals, both in sedimentary elements of a breccia and in the embedding shaly flysch. For samples from one and the same locality, the range in illite crystallinity data between breccia elements and the shaly flysch is comparable to the variation between different shaly beds. Two S-N transects along the Gets nappe reveal the same metamorphic gradient, with the internal parts of the nappe being characterized by middle anchizonal metamorphism and the external parts showing diagenetic conditions. The metamorphic grade is higher within the Gets nappe than in its hangingwall (i.e. the Breche and Simme nappes), suggesting that the metamorphism in the Gets unit is transported. The timing and conditions of thrusting of the Gets Nappe onto the Br che and the Simme nappes is constrained by stratigraphic and metamorphic data.

Periodic Solutions in Low-Dimensional Climatic Models

Classic climatic models use constitutive laws without any response time. A more realistic approach to the natural processes governing climate dynamics must introduce response time for heat and radiation fluxes. Extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT) is a good thermodynamical framework for introducing nonclassical constitutive laws. In the present study EIT has been used to analyze a Budyko–Sellers one-dimensional energybalance model developed by G. R. North. The results present self-sustained periodic oscillations when the response time is greater than a critical value. The high-frequency (few kiloyears) damped and nondamped oscillations obtained can be related to abrupt climatic changes without any variation in the external forcing of the system