Bi-weekly Basis Research Articles

Recent changes in primary production and phytoplankton in the offshore region of southeastern Lake Michigan

Phytoplankton abundance, composition, and productivity were monitored on a bi-weekly basis from March/April through November/December at two offshore stations in southeastern Lake Michigan in 1983–1987, 1995–1998 and 2007–2008 (exception 1983–1984 which were sampled from May to August). During the spring isothermal mixing period, surface-mixed layer (SML) chlorophyll a and phytoplankton biomass (carbon) and water column primary productivity decreased substantially in 2007–2008 as compared to 1995–1998 (66%, 87%, and 70% decrease, respectively). Smaller or no decreases were noted between 1983–1987 and 1995–1998 (chlorophyll a 23% decrease, phytoplankton biomass 5% increase, and production 22% decrease). Phytoplankton composition also changed during the spring isothermal mixing period in 2007–2008 as compared to 1983–1987 and 1995–1998; all phytoplankton groups with the exception of cyanobacteria and chlorophytes exhibited dramatic reductions in 2007–2008. The pronounced changes in phytoplankton properties during spring mixing in 2007–2008 were attributed to the filtering activities of the quagga mussel ( Dreissena rostriformis bugensis). During mid- and late thermal stratification periods, SML phytoplankton chlorophyll a and phytoplankton carbon and water column primary production exhibited only one significant change across all decades (mid-stratification production in 2007–2008 as compared to 1995–1998 and 1983–1987). Phytoplankton compositional changes in the SML also were limited during thermal stratification. The size of the deep chlorophyll layer (DCL) in 2007–2008 was similar to or smaller than those in 1983–1987 and 1995–1998. However, phytoplankton composition in the DCL changed as net diatoms constituted < 5% of total phytoplankton in the 2007–2008 DCL but over 50% in 1983–1987 and 1995–1998.

Repetitive Electric Stimulation Elicits Enduring Improvement of Sensorimotor Performance in Seniors

Age-related changes occur on all stages of the human somatosensory pathway, thereby deteriorating tactile, haptic, and sensorimotor performance. However, recent studies show that age-related changes are not irreversible but treatable through peripheral stimulation paradigms based on neuroplasticity mechanisms. We here applied repetitive electric stimulation (rES) to the fingers on a bi-weekly basis for 4 weeks to induce enduring amelioration of age-related changes in healthy individuals aged 60–85 years. Tactile, haptic, and motor performance gradually improved over time of intervention. After termination of rES, tactile acuity recovered to baseline within 2 weeks, while the gains in haptic and motor performance were preserved for 2 weeks. Sham stimulation showed no comparable changes. Our data indicate that age-related decline of sensorimotor performance can be ameliorated by rES and can be stabilized by the repeated application. Thus, long-term application of rES appears as a prime candidate for maintaining sensorimotor functions in elderly individuals.

Treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a biweekly schedule of irinotecan (I), paclitaxel, and cisplatinum (P): A phase II study

e19076 Background: Irinotecan, paclitaxel (taxol, T), and cisplatinum are among the most active agents in the treatment of NSCLC, given alone as single agents or in combination. Based in previous data (Proc ASCO 2003 # 2816), we performed a confirmatory phase II study of the activity of a bi-weekly combination of I (120 mg/m2), T(60 mg/m2) and P (40 mg/m2) in advanced NSCLC. Methods: Forty-three patients (pts) (37 male, 6 female) with histologically proven IIIA-IV NSCLC were treated at our institution. Median age was 61 years (33–79). All pts were ECOG 0–2. 14 pts had locally advanced disease (8 IIIA, 6 IIIB) and 29 metastatic disease. Previous treatments included surgery (5 pts), radiotherapy (4 pts), chemotherapy (5 pts), surgery + radiotherapy (3 pts) and surgery + chemotherapy (2 pt). In three cases, treatment was administered as adjuvant after resection of a primary (2 cases) or a metastatic tumor (1 case). Results: A total of 299 courses were administered (median 6, range 2–14). Toxic episodes grade III-IV were neutropenic fever (10/299; 3.3%), anemia (1/299; 0.3%), asthenia (3/299; 1%), diarrhea (5/299; 17%), hemorrhagic colitis (1/299; 0.3%), mucositis (2/299, 0.6%), vomiting (4/299; 1.3%) and peripheral neuropathy (1/299; 0.3%). With a median follow-up of 72 months (9–97), 2 pts (4.6%) presented pathological complete response, 26 (60%) partial response, 11 (25%) stable disease and 1 pt progressed. Four partial responders were rendered free of disease after rescue surgery. Median time to progression was 6 months. Median survival was 10 months. The actuarial 2 and 5-year overall survival are 26% and 13% respectively. Conclusions: I, T and P at the referred doses can be safely administered in a bi-weekly basis, with a good tolerance and response rate in advanced NSCLC pts. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia in menopausal women

Sleep disturbances have been reported to be one of the most troubling manifestations of menopause. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has historically been considered a first-line treatment for menopausal insomnia, many women are now seeking alternative treatments due to concerns about the risks and side-effects of HRT. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of ramelteon, a selective melatonin receptor agonist, for the treatment of menopausal insomnia. A total of 20 healthy peri- and postmenopausal women with insomnia participated in this six-week, prospective, open-label trial of ramelteon (8 mg) at an academic medical centre. Participants completed sleep-wake diaries on a daily basis for six weeks. Self-report measures of sleep impairment, daytime functioning, quality of life and mood were also completed on a bi-weekly basis. Significant improvements in latency to sleep onset, total sleep time and sleep efficiency were observed in diary data while gains in sleep quality, sleep impairment, daytime functioning, quality of life and mood were found in self-report measures. There was no evidence of tolerance or rebound over the course of the trial. Overall, results suggest that ramelteon is an effective non-hormonal approach for the treatment of insomnia in menopause. Randomized-controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of this intervention.

Seasonal relationships among indicator bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, Cryptosporidium oocysts, Giardia cysts, and hydrological indices for surface waters within an agricultural landscape

The South Nation River basin in eastern Ontario, Canada is characterized by mixed agriculture. Over 1600 water samples were collected on a bi-weekly basis from up to 24 discrete sampling sites on river tributaries of varying stream order within the river basin between 2004 and 2006. Water samples were analyzed for: densities of indicator bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, enterococci, total and fecal coliforms), the presence of pathogenic bacteria ( Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp.), and densities of parasite Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. Relationships between indicator bacteria, pathogens, and parasite oocysts/cysts were overall weak, seasonally dependent, site specific, but primarily positive. However, L. monocytogenes was inversely related with indicator bacteria densities. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were most frequently detected in the fall. E. coli O157:H7 was detected at a very low frequency. Exploratory decision tree analyses found overall that E. coli densities were the most utilitarian classifiers of parasite/pathogen presence and absence, followed closely by fecal coliforms, and to a lesser extent enterococci and total coliforms. Indicator bacteria densities that classified pathogen presence and absence groupings, were all below 100 CFU per 100 mL −1. Microorganism relationships with rainfall indices and tributary discharge variables were globally weak to modest, and generally inconsistent among season, site and microorganism. But, overall rainfall and discharge were primarily positively associated with indicator bacteria densities and pathogen detection. Instances where a pathogen was detected in the absence of a detectable bacterial indicator were extremely infrequent; thus, the fecal indicators were conservative surrogates for a variety of pathogenic microorganisms in this agricultural setting. The results from this study indicate that no one indicator or simple hydrological index is entirely suitable for all environmental systems and pathogens/parasites, even within a common geographic setting. These results place more firmly into context that robust prediction and/or indicator utility will require a more firm understanding of microorganism distribution in the landscape, the nature of host sources, and transport/environmental fate affinities among pathogens and indicators.

Temporal variability of uranium concentrations and 234U/ 238U activity ratios in the Mississippi river and its tributaries

234U/ 238U activity ratios and total dissolved uranium concentrations in the Lower Mississippi River at New Orleans, LA have been analyzed on a bi-weekly basis over 2003–2004. During this time period, the range in 234U/ 238U activity ratios is approximately 17% (from 1.241 to 1.473), while uranium concentrations span an even greater range of 130% (0.28 to 1.33 ppb). There is no correlation between uranium activity ratio and discharge, and only a very weak correlation between uranium concentration and discharge. In order to examine the cause of the substantial variability in the lower river concentrations and 234U/ 238U activity ratios, we sampled the four major tributaries of the Mississippi River (Ohio, Missouri, Upper Mississippi, and Arkansas Rivers). Each river was sampled four times, each time representing a unique discharge season. In general, lithological and climatological parameters in the tributary sub-basins exert the greatest control on Lower Mississippi River uranium concentration and isotope signatures. These parameters may also be influenced by groundwater infiltration below the confluences of the major tributaries. Our temporal analysis suggests that if one were to estimate Mississippi River uranium fluxes to the ocean based on single-point sampling during 2003–2004, significant over- or under-estimations of these values would ensue. Our two-year average Mississippi River uranium-flux values suggest that previous best estimates of the contribution of Mississippi River uranium to the global average riverine 234U/ 238U activity ratio are too high by 36%. If other major world rivers are as poorly constrained with respect to uranium systematics as the Mississippi River, then the global average riverine U flux and 234U/ 238U activity ratio need to be revised.

The influence of environmental conditions on the morphological variability of phytoplankton in an oligo-mesotrophic Turkish lake

2Phytoplankton dynamics and morphological plasticity were studied in an oligo-mesotrophic lake from late spring to early autumn in 2004 on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental constraints on morphological plasticity and size structure of dominant species through the stratified period of the lake. While centric diatoms developed mainly in the epilimnion, Fragilaria crotonensis, Synedra sp. and Synedra acus were very well distributed through the whole water column, as was the cryptophyte Plagioselmis nannoplanctica. A filamentous cyanobacterium, Planktothrix rubescens, was stratified in the metalimnion throughout the sampling period, while Mougeotia sp. was entrained through the whole water column during the early autumn. Surface area / volume (S/V) ratios were calculated for the dominant species on each sampling date. The minimum S/V ratio was found with centric diatoms, while maximal values measured were for Synedra sp. and Asterionella formosa. The S/V ratio of the only dominant cryptophyte, Plagioselmis nannoplanctica was also high; variations were negatively correlated with NO3-N and PO4-P (-0.62 and -0.61, respectively) and positively correlated with euphotic depth (r=0.57) and temperature (r=0.82). On the other hand, the S/V ratios of Fragilaria crotonensis and Cyclotella ocellata each showed strong negative correlation with silica concentrations (-0.55 and -0.62, respectively). It is concluded that allometric relationships showed significant differences among species according to depth and season.

The Universal Protein Resource (UniProt)

The ability to store and interconnect all available information on proteins is crucial to modern biological research. Accordingly, the Universal Protein Resource (UniProt) plays an increasingly important role by providing a stable, comprehensive, freely accessible central resource on protein sequences and functional annotation. UniProt is produced by the UniProt Consortium, formed in 2002 by the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI), the Protein Information Resource (PIR) and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB). The core activities include manual curation of protein sequences assisted by computational analysis, sequence archiving, development of a user-friendly UniProt web site and the provision of additional value-added information through cross-references to other databases. UniProt is comprised of three major components, each optimized for different uses: the UniProt Archive, the UniProt Knowledgebase and the UniProt Reference Clusters. An additional component consisting of metagenomic and environmental sequences has recently been added to UniProt to ensure availability of such sequences in a timely fashion. UniProt is updated and distributed on a bi-weekly basis and can be accessed online for searches or download at .

Risk management practices of Australasian BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Dust storms are significant contributors to ambient levels of particulate matter (PM) in many areas of the world. Central Asia, an area that is relatively understudied in this regard, is anticipated to be affected by dust storms due to its proximity to several major deserts that are in and generally surround Central Asia (e.g., the Aral Sea region, the Taklimakan desert in Western China). To investigate the relative importance of mineral dust (dust specifically composed of soil related minerals and oxides) in Central Asia, PM10 and PM2.5, and by difference, coarse particles (particles with diameters between 2.5 and 10 μm) were measured at two sites, Bishkek and Lidar Station Teplokluchenka (Lidar), in the Kyrgyz Republic. Samples were collected every other day from July 2008 to July 2009. Daily samples were analyzed for mass and organic and elemental carbon. Samples were also composited on a bi-weekly basis and analyzed for elemental constituents and ionic components. In addition, samples collected on days with relatively high and low PM concentrations were analyzed before, and separately, from the biweekly composites to investigate the chemical differences between the episodic events. Data from the episodic samples were averaged into the composited averages. Using the elemental component data, several observational models were examined to estimate the contribution of mineral dust to ambient PM levels. A mass balance was also conducted.Results indicate that at both sites, mineral dust (as approximated by the “dust oxide” model) and organic matter (OM) were the dominant contributors to PM10 and PM2.5. Mineral dust was a more significant contributor to the coarse PM (PM10-2.5) during high event samples at both sites, although the relative contribution is greater at the Lidar site (average ± standard deviation = 42 ± 29%) as compared with the Bishkek site (26 ± 16%). Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was performed using data from both sites, and PCA indicated that mineral dust explained the majority of the variance in PM concentrations, and that the major apportioned factors of PM10 and PM2.5 were chemically similar between sites.

Monitoring of Airborne Tritium in Vicinity of Radioluminescent Light Manufacturer

Passive diffusion samplers (PDS) composed of a vial with a solution of distilled water and ethylene glycol have an affinity to capture tritium oxide (tritiated water vapour, HTO) from surrounding air through an orifice in a lid. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of such samplers for tracking changes in the HTO air concentrations attributable to variations in tritium emission rates, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) measured the HTO concentrations in air for one year on a bi-weekly basis at various distances along four directions from an operating radioluminescent light manufacturing facility. The collected data demonstrate that the PDS are low cost and low maintenance means for reliable monitoring of airborne HTO emissions. The data indicate a rapid decrease of atmospheric HTO concentrations with increasing distance from the facility in all directions. A strong correlation (r=0.89) was found between reported releases of HTO from the facility and the HTO air concentrations observed at the monitoring locations. Distribution of HTO around the facility correlated strongly (r=0.99) with local wind distribution.

Enhanced N Removal using Horizontal, Subsurface Flow, Fixed Film Beds with Recycle

Enhanced N Removal using Horizontal, Subsurface Flow, Fixed Film Beds with RecycleThe waste treatment and research facility at the Grand Prairie Rest Area, is located on is located on I-49 in central Louisiana and maintained by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) A variety of data has been collected on a bi-weekly basis since the facility opened in 1996. Treatment plant details, waste characterization, and long term BOD and TSS removal...Author(s)D.M. GriffinCurtis. A. FletcherRobert D. CrawfordSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 35: Small Community Wastewater TreatmentDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2004ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20040101)2004:13L.291;1-DOI10.2175/193864704784138179Volume / Issue2004 / 13Content sourceWEFTECFirst / last page(s)291 - 300Copyright2004Word count148

Link between reproductive output and larval supply of a common damselfish species, with evidence of replenishment from outside the local population

The link between reproductive output and larval supply is described for a common dam- selfish species Pomacentrus vaiuli in tropical Western Australia. I monitored the reproduction of 2 groups of P. vaiuli that occupied slightly different habitats. Egg clutches laid on artificial substratum were quantified on a bi-weekly basis during the consecutive spawning seasons of 1994/95 and 1995/96. The timing of egg production was similar for both groups and showed a distinctly semi-lunar pattern. The majority of the larvae hatched during the period when flood tide occurred 2 h either side of sunset. At Ningaloo this only happens during neap tides when the tidal amplitude is at its mini- mum. However, this means that larvae are dispersed nocturnally when the risk of predation is mini- mal. No relationship was found between egg production and changes in water temperature. Spawn- ing ended prematurely for 1 of these groups of fish following the passing of a tropical cyclone within 80 km of the coast. Larval supply of P. vaiuli was estimated in the vicinity of the reproductive sites by capturing pre-settlement fish at one of these locations (Tantabiddy), and post-settlement fish at the other (Bundegi). The arrival of P. vaiuli larvae to Tantabiddy was on a lunar cycle with periodicities between 28 to 30 d. When these larval supply data were lagged by the average pelagic duration of 22 d, and then cross-correlated with the spawning data, there was a weak relationship. At Bundegi, I constructed recruitment patterns and estimated the birth dates of juveniles, using otolith analysis. By back-calculating the birth dates of individual fish that settled at Bundegi I made 2 discoveries. Firstly, most juveniles from 1994/95 hatched when spawning output at Bundegi was low, and secondly, more than 50% of fish caught in 1995/96 hatched after the spawning season had ended prematurely. This suggests that many of the juvenile P. vaiuli that settled at Bundegi during the sec- ond summer were not produced by this population but from elsewhere. I discuss the likelihood that larvae arriving to Ningaloo are from adult populations which inhabit fringing reefs to the north and that the observed patterns in larval supply are the result of an interaction between both physical and behavioural processes.

Particle fluxes in a coastal upwelling zone: sediment trap results from Santa Barbara Basin, California

Particle fluxes were measured in the center of Santa Barbara Basin on a bi-weekly basis for a three-year period beginning in August 1993. Lithogenic material dominates the total flux throughout the entire year, although it is delivered to the basin primarily during the winter rainy period. It appears that both biological and physical processes control the eventual transport of detrital material to the deep part of the basin. Biogenic sedimentation in Santa Barbara Basin is dominated by opaline silica, with highest fluxes during the spring–summer upwelling period. Export ratios (ratios of organic carbon flux to primary production) are inversely related to primary production. This relationship may be due to increased advective transport and/or enhanced regeneration of organic carbon during the highly productive upwelling period. During the first half of the study period, Santa Barbara Basin was influenced by El Niño conditions and our data suggest that productivity in this region is reduced during such periods. Seasonal changes in the relative contributions of biogenic and lithogenic material to the total particle flux, combined with the lack of bioturbation on the sea floor, results in the accumulation of varved sediments in Santa Barbara Basin.

Role of Soil Joints in Causing Bluff Erosion Along the Lake Erie Shoreline, Northeast Ohio

Bluff erosion along the Lake Erie shoreline in Ohio is a major environmental problem causing extensive damage to homes, agricultural land, and lakeshore roads. The most extensive erosion takes place in areas where the bluffs are made of well-jointed, overeonsolidated, glacial till material (CL; ML-CL) that is overlain by lacustrine silts (ML) or silty clays (CL). In order to investigate the effect of soil joints on bluff erosion, four sites, all characterized by the presence of well-developed joints, were selected between Painesville, Ohio, and the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The detailed line survey technique was used to measure orientations and other aspects (continuity, spacing, surface features, aperture, nature of infilling material, presence or absence of water) of the joints at the four sites. Erosion rates were monitored on a bi-weekly basis for a period of one year, using equally spaced pegs on the bluff face. Photographs were taken frequently to aid in monitoring of bluff erosion. Results indicate that bluff erosion in the study area is greatly influenced by the presence of joints in the glacial till. The joints enhance erosion by providing pathways for water movement in both horizontal and vertical directions which, in turn, leads to widening of the joint openings and piping of the overlying silty material. The buildup of pore pressure along the joints, after a prolonged rainfall or a sudden snowmelt, also contributes to bluff instability. In the toe area, wave attack results in the formation of notches, cavities, and concave zones. Erosion at the bluff toe, accelerated by soil joints, initiates block falls and planar slides along the pre-existing joint surfaces above the toe area. The slump and flow type failures that occur in the overlying lacustrine material are a consequence of the joint-promoted failures in the underlying till. Thus, any remedial measures that are undertaken to minimize bluff erosion along Lake Erie must take into account the effect of soil joints.

Temporal trends in nitrogen isotope values of nitrate leaching from an agricultural soil

The concentration and δ 15N of NO 3 − in leachate from two undisturbed and unfertilized soil lysimeters, one conventionally tilled and one with no tillage, was determined on a bi-weekly basis from March through November, 1993 to assess the origins and transformations of NO 3 − leaching from an agricultural soil. Concentrations of NO 3 − in leachate from the tilled lysimeter were approximately twice those from the non-tilled lysimeter throughout the year and are consistent with observations that tilling favors the mineralization process in soils. Although no difference in δ 15N between lysimeters was evident, NO 3 − from both lysimeters exhibited considerable isotopic variability, ranging from −3.9‰ in March to a late summer maximum of 9.6‰. Low δ 15N values in the spring and fall were indicative of NO 3 − derived from soil organic matter and affected by fractionation during mineralization. High values in late summer indicated NO 3 − originating from soils that had been influenced to a small extent by fractionation during denitrification. Weighted mean δ 15N values for NO 3 − from the conventionally tilled and non-tilled lysimeters were 1.7 and 3.2‰, respectively, and are depleted in 15N by greater than 4‰ relative to soil organic matter. These δ 15N values would normally be indicative of NO 3 − derived from fertilizers, however, in this study they reflect an origin from soil organic matter and are depleted in 15N in response to fractionation during mineralization. The wide range of δ 15N values in this study illustrates that sampling of NO 3 − in soil leachate at one point in time is clearly not sufficient to assess origins or identify the predominant microbial processes occurring in soils. Our results indicate that NO 3 − in soil leachate is subject to considerable isotopic variation and that δ 15N may provide more information on the predominance of microbial processes in soils than on origins.

Thrips Control on Pepper, 1996

Abstract The study was conducted on Waikele Farms, Inc. located at Kunia, HI. The field was set up in a RCB design with seven treatments and four replications (blocks). Each treatment plot consisted of two rows of plants 30 ft long. Each plot was separated by a 5.5-ft spacing. Blocks were separated by 10-ft spacing. Plants were planted at 18-inch spacing. Total field size was 0.17 acre. Treatments were applied at 40 psi with an output of 60 gpa using a compressed CO2 sprayer. One TJ60 8006 spray nozzle was used per row. Treatments were applied at 7-day intervals on 13, 20, 27 Sep, and 10 Oct. Surveys were made on a bi-weekly basis for a total of two post-treatment surveys. At each survey, two stages of the plant were sampled: flowers and young fruit approximately 1-2" in diameter. Ten randomly selected flowers and fruits were sampled from each treatment plot and separately placed in plastic zip-lock bags. Each sample was washed separately with a detergent solution and the thrips were collected on a 150-mesh sieve. Thrips were recorded by developmental stages; first-instar larvae (LI), second-instar larvae (LII), and adults (A). At harvest, mature fruits were examined and ranked on a scale of 0-5. A rating of “0” indicated no damage on the fruit. The maximum rank of “5” was assigned to a fruit showing 50% or more of its surface scarred with thrips damage. Each rated fruit was also rated as ‘marketable’ or ‘unmarketable’ based on established grading criteria.

Exploring the lived experiences of psychiatric nursing students through self‐reflective journals

This study explores the use of journals to identify important issues facing nursing students when learning in a psychiatric setting. During a 13-week psychiatric clinical experience, 18 third-year students kept journals describing the most significant event that occurred each week, reflecting on the impact and accompanying attitudes of that event. Throughout the clinical experience, the nursing faculty read the students' journals and provided written feedback on a bi-weekly basis. Major themes that students wrote about in their journals were identified. These included: meaningful learning, issues of the novice, relationships, control, self-reflection, and identification with clients. Keeping a journal provided the students with an opportunity to become more self-reflective in their practice. The issues identified by students in their journals may assist nurse educators to anticipate the learning needs of their students in psychiatry.

A Comparison of Short- and Long-Term Effects of Mid-Winter Pruning on Cold Hardiness of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay Buds

This study examined the influence of dormant winter pruning on the cold hardiness of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay buds using low temperature exotherm (LTE) analysis. Short-term studies examined the effects of pruning 24, 48, or 72 hours prior to LTE analysis. Short-term samples taken from December to March on approximately a bi-weekly basis showed no significant difference in either LTE or bud injury. Long-term studies examined the effects of pruning one to 10 weeks or more prior to LTE analysis. These samples also indicated little difference in cold hardiness of buds. In fact, both short- and long-term studies yielded data that suggested a potential benefit of pruning on bud cold hardiness. There was no indication the pruning procedure followed in this study caused earlier budbreak and, therefore, increased susceptibility to spring frost in these two wine grape cultivars. It should be emphasized that these results represent a single season and conditions specific to the Yakima Valley of Washington.

Antihypertensive effect of metoprolol in diuretic‐treated, mild primary hypertension

AbstractMetoprolol tartrate was administered to 41 patients with mild essential hypertension already treated with a diuretic for a period of 2 weeks. In the majority of those patients, other step 2 antihypertensive agents either failed to control high blood pressure or caused adverse reactions. All other antihypertensive agents except diuretics were discontinued during the 2‐week wash‐out period. Patients with a diastolic blood pressure of 95 to 104 mmHg (inclusive) received oral metoprolol at a dose of 50mg twice daily for 2 weeks. Subsequently, metoprolol titration was individualized on a bi‐weekly basis until either the diastolic blood pressure was = 90 mmHg and/or a maximal daily dose of 300mg of metroprolol was reached. The analysis of efficacy and safety was done for a total period of 14 weeks. Diastolic blood pressure and heart rates were significantly reduced (P≤0.05) in all treatment groups. Minor adverse reactions such as mild fatigue in 11 patients, nervousness in 2, and leg cramps in 2 patients were reported. Transient skin rash, dizziness, headache, chest pain, insomnia, and cold extremities were also reported in one patient each. It is concluded from the present study that metropolol (in twice daily dose) in combination with a diuretic is safe, effective, and well tolerated in the treatment of mild hypertension.

Indice de qualité de l'eau permettant le suivi environnemental et la mesure des impacts locaux

Environmental indices are useful as a means of communication between governmental control agencies and the general public. While air quality indices are broadly used, water quality indices have found little practical application. The multiplicity of parameters necessary to describe water quality (coliforms, BOD, toxicants, nutrients) renders the public perception of pollution unclear.The present study proposes a new local index for the evaluation of effluent impacts on a receiving water body; this index makes use of linear weighting functions calculated on the differences between the upstream and downstream measurements of parameters which are affected by specific effluents. The procedure ranks each parameter value with regard to the maximum and minimum values observed before and after the outfall. For this reason, the resulting values are very sensitive to local perturbations. Linear characteristics of the index structure allow simple conversion from local databases to broader ones, thus allowing the measure of the cumulative impacts downstream. This index also allows the comparative rating of the water quality through time, if the effluent is subjected to some intervention. As such, it can also contribute to the environmental follow-up of a sanitation program.If a hydrological basin is equipped with a monitoring network, the proposed methodology permits the use of the resulting global database to quantify relative impacts of different effluents, and thus allows a hierarchical classification of the effluents to be treated according to priority.The proposed impact index has been tested with water quality data obtained during one year on a bi-weekly basis upstream and downstream from the untreated sewage outfall of Sainte-Anne de la Pérade (Portneuf, Province of Québec). The computed index as a whole is more sensitive to changes in water quality than individual parameters. External factors such as river flow and temperature do not significantly affect the values of the index. Key words: index, quality, river, impact, environment. [Journal translation]