Psychoeducational groups versus waitlist in treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity/impulsivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: a protocol for a pilot randomized waitlist-controlled multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Psychoeducation is included in the Norwegian national guidelines for treatment of adult ADHD. Despite some promising results for the treatment of other conditions and ADHD, little is known about the efficacy of such interventions. This paper presents a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial featuring a psychoeducational group program for patients with ADHD. The main objective of this pilot trial is to investigate adherence, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of a ten-session psychoeducational group designed to address specific challenges faced by adults diagnosed with ADHD. METHODS: This pilot study will evaluate patient satisfaction and preliminary efficacy of a psychoeducational group treatment using a randomized waitlist-controlled trial at two different outpatient clinics in mid-Norway. All participants will receive treatment as usual, concomitant with the intervention and waitlist period. Client satisfaction (CSQ 8), general self-efficacy (GSE-6), ADHD-related quality of life (AAQoL), symptoms of ADHD (SCL-9; ASRS), and work participation will be assessed at the time of recruitment prior to randomization (T0), pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), and at 10 weeks follow-up (T3). Recruitment and dropout rates along with treatment adherence will also be evaluated. DISCUSSION: This study offers valuable insight into the preliminary efficacy of educational programs implemented in outpatient clinics. The aim of the trial is to evaluate adherence, feasibility, patient satisfaction, and the preliminary efficacy of a psychoeducational group intervention for patients with adult ADHD and provide further insight into the design and construction of a large-scale trial. The results also offer preliminary empirical evidence to inform the development of larger and more complex studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03337425, Registered 9 November 2017.

Litter Type and Number of Flocks Affect Sex Hormones in Broiler Litter.

Broiler litter contains 17ß-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone, which can contaminate surface waters when surface applied to grasslands and no-till fields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of litter type (full or cake cleanout), litter treatment (none or sodium bisulfate), and number of flocks raised on the litter (1-5) on sex hormone concentrations. Our results showed that in untreated broiler litter, cake cleanout had greater concentrations of 17ß-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone than full cleanout, whereas in litter treated with sodium bisulfate, only the concentration of 17ß-estradiol was greater in cake than in full cleanout. The concentrations of 17ß-estradiol and estrone in untreated broiler litter increased as the number of flocks increased from one to three, with the largest increase observed for estrone in cake cleanout. We also sampled three broiler houses in brooding and nonbrooding sections during the growout period. We found no differences in hormone concentrations between sections of each house, but changes in hormone concentrations during growout varied depending on broiler litter water content. Water contents corresponding to ∼60% water-filled porosity favored a decrease in hormone concentrations with time, whereas a water-filled porosity of 44% was associated with increases in hormone concentration, probably due to slow decomposition rates. Our results suggest that cake cleanout of untreated litter, as well as all cleanouts from houses that have raised several flocks on the same bedding, may be good targets for treatments that can reduce hormone concentrations before the litter is surface applied to fields.

Twelve months effect of self-referral to inpatient treatment on patient activation, recovery, symptoms and functioning: A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of having a contract for self-referral to inpatient treatment (SRIT) in patients with severe mental disorders. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with 53 adult patients; 26 participants received a SRIT contract, which they could use to refer themselves into a Community Mental Health Centre up to five days for each referral without contacting a doctor in advance. Outcomes were assessed after 12 months with the self-report questionnaires Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS), and the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-32) and analyzed using linear mixed and regression models. RESULTS: There was no significant effect on PAM-13 (estimated mean difference (emd) -0.41, 95% CI (CI):-7.49-6.67), nor on the RAS (emd 0.02, CI:-0.27-0.31) or BASIS-32 (0.09, CI:-0.28-0.45). An exploratory post hoc analysis showed effect of SRIT in those with low PAM below ≤47 (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: There were no group differences after 12 months, but both groups maintained their baseline levels. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: SRIT contracts can be recommended as it supports the rights to self-determination, promote user participation in decision-making in own treatment without any indication of adverse effects.

Short-term effects of a peer co-led educational programme delivered before mental health treatment: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the 1-month effects of an educational programme co-led by peers delivered before treatment on treatment preferences, self-management knowledge and motivation in comparison to usual care. METHODS: Adults referred to a community mental health centre were randomised to either a control group (n=48) or a peer co-led educational programme (intervention group, n=45). The programme consisted of an 8-hour group education session followed by an individual pretreatment planning session. The main topics of the educational programme were treatment options, patients' rights, self-management, the importance of patient activation and participation. RESULTS: At 1-month follow-up, a significantly larger proportion of the patients in the intervention group knew which type of treatment they preferred (76.7% vs. 32.5%, p<0.001). The intervention group had significantly higher self-management knowledge (p<0.001). There was no effect on treatment motivation (p=0.543). CONCLUSION: At 1-month following the delivery of a pretreatment educational programme, we found that participants' knowledge of treatment preferences and self-management had improved. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Educational interventions co-led by peers can optimise the process of informing and educating outpatients, thereby helping patients to clarify their treatment preferences.

17ß-estradiol and testosterone sorption in soil with and without poultry litter.

17ß-estradiol and testosterone are naturally occurring steroids that co-occur in poultry litter. The effects of litter on sorption of these hormones to soil are not known. Sorption isotherms were developed for C-labeled testosterone and H-labeled estradiol in a Cecil sandy clay loam with and without poultry litter addition. The effect of applying the hormones alone (single-sorbate) or together (multisorbate) was also investigated. C-testosterone sorption in soil increased from 2 to 48 h and remained relatively constant thereafter. H-estradiol sorption in soil was relatively constant from 2 to 24 h and then decreased to 72 h. These differences may reflect transformation of the parent hormones to products with different solid-phase affinity. The maximum sorption coefficient () in soil for C-testosterone (20.2 mL g) was similar to that for H-estradiol (19.6 mL g) in single-sorbate experiments. When hormones were applied together, sorption of both hormones in soil decreased, but the C-testosterone (12.5 mL g) was nearly twice as large as the H-estradiol (7.4 mL g). We propose this resulted from competition between the hormones and their transformation products for sorption sites, with C-testosterone and its expected transformation product (androstenedione) being better competitors than H-estradiol and its expected transformation product (estrone). When poultry litter was mixed with soil, sorption increased for H-estradiol but decreased for C-testosterone. This may have been because poultry litter slowed the transformation of parent hormones. Our results show that poultry litter could have important effects on the mobility of estradiol and testosterone.

Influence of aeration implements, phosphorus fertilizers, and soil taxa on phosphorus losses from grasslands.

Attenuation of rainfall within the solum may help to move contaminants and nutrients into the soil to be better sequestered or utilized by crops. Surface application of phosphorus (P) amendments to grasslands may lead to elevated concentrations of P in surface runoff and eutrophication of surface waters. Aeration of grasslands has been proposed as a treatment to reduce losses of applied P. Here, results from two small-plot aeration studies and two field-scale, paired-watershed studies are supplemented with previously unpublished soil P data and synthesized. The overall objective of these studies was to determine the impact of aeration on soil P, runoff volume, and runoff P losses from mixed tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.]-bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) grasslands fertilized with P. Small-scale rainfall simulations were conducted on two soil taxa using three types of aeration implements: spikes, disks, and cores. The-field scale study was conducted on four soil taxa with slit and knife aeration. Small-plot studies showed that core aeration reduced loads of total P and dissolved reactive P (DRP) in runoff from plots fertilized with broiler litter and that aeration was effective in reducing P export when it increased soil P in the upper 5 cm. In the field-scale study, slit aeration reduced DRP losses by 35% in fields with well-drained soils but not in poorly drained soils. Flow-weighted concentrations of DRP in aerated fields were related to water-soluble P applied in amendments and soil test P in the upper 5 cm. These studies show that the overall effectiveness of mechanical soil aeration on runoff volume and P losses is controlled by the interaction of soil characteristics such as internal drainage and compaction, soil P, type of surface-applied manure, and type of aeration implement.

Impact of water troughs on cattle use of riparian zones in the Georgia Piedmont in the United States.

Cattle use of riparian areas may lead to stream water contamination with nutrients, pathogens, and sediments. Providing alternative water away from the stream may reduce the amount of time cattle spend near streams and therefore reduce contamination. We conducted this study to 1) evaluate the effect of providing water troughs outside of the riparian zones on the amount of time cattle spend in riparian zones, and 2) evaluate if environmental factors such as temperature and humidity affect the impact of water trough availability on the amount of time cattle spend within riparian and nonriparian locations. Global positioning system (GPS) collars were used to document cow locations every 5 min in 2 mixed tall fescue/common bermuda-grass pastures of the Georgia Piedmont in the United States. We found that when the temperature and humidity index (THI) ranged between 62 and 72, providing cattle with water troughs outside of riparian zones tended to decrease time cattle spent in riparian zones by 63% (52 min x d(-1); P = 0.11). When THI ranged between 72 and 84, nonriparian water availability did not have a significant impact on the amount of time cattle spent in the riparian zone or in riparian shade. These results suggest that water troughs placed away from unfenced streams may improve water quality by reducing the amount of time cattle spend in riparian zones when environmental conditions as evaluated by THI are not stressful.

Aerating grasslands: effects on runoff and phosphorus losses from applied broiler litter.

Aeration has been promoted as improving infiltration of rainfall and extending grass or forage productivity, but research on the impact of this practice on P losses from grasslands has had mixed results. We designed a study to determine at the field scale, using a paired watershed approach, the impact of slit aeration on runoff volume and P losses in runoff from fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)/bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) hay fields fertilized with broiler litter. Three pairs of 0.8-ha fields, each with similar soils (Typic Kanhapludults, Aquic Hapludults, and Aquultic Hapludalfs), were fertilized with broiler litter and monitored under similar management from 1995 through 1998, then one field in each pair received aeration treatment from 2001 through 2003. In the field with mostly well-drained soils, grassland aeration reduced surface runoff volume and mass losses of dissolved reactive P (DRP) in runoff by approximately 35%. In contrast, when poorly drained soils dominated, grassland aeration increased runoff volume (4.8 mm/runoff event) and mass losses of DRP and total P (0.25 kg TP ha-1 per runoff event). This implies that aeration of well-drained soils in the top poultry-producing counties of Georgia (0.2 million ha) could decrease dissolved phosphorus losses by more than 500 Mg P each year. This is not the case if soils are poorly drained.

A model for phosphorus transformation and runoff loss for surface-applied manures.

Agricultural P transport in runoff is an environmental concern. An important source of P runoff is surface-applied, unincorporated manures, but computer models used to assess P transport do not adequately simulate P release and transport from surface manures. We developed a model to address this limitation. The model operates on a daily basis and simulates manure application to the soil surface, letting 60% of manure P infiltrate into soil if manure slurry with less than 15% solids is applied. The model divides manure P into four pools, water-extractable inorganic and organic P, and stable inorganic and organic P. The model simulates manure dry matter decomposition, and manure stable P transformation to water-extractable P. Manure dry matter and P are assimilated into soil to simulate bioturbation. Water-extractable P is leached from manure when it rains, and a portion of leached P can be transferred to surface runoff. Eighty percent of manure P leached into soil by rain remains in the top 2 cm, while 20% leaches deeper. This 2-cm soil layer contributes P to runoff via desorption. We used data from field studies in Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arkansas to build and validate the model. Validation results show the model accurately predicted cumulative P loads in runoff, reflecting successful simulation of the dynamics of manure dry matter, manure and soil P pools, and storm-event runoff P concentrations. Predicted runoff P concentrations were significantly related to (r2=0.57) but slightly less than measured concentrations. Our model thus represents an important modification for field or watershed scale models that assess P loss from manured soils.

Sorption and transport of 17beta-estradiol and testosterone in undisturbed soil columns.

Land-applied domestic animal wastes contain appreciable amounts of 17beta-estradiol (henceforth, estradiol) and testosterone. These sex hormones may be transported through soil to groundwater and streams, where they may adversely affect the environment. Previous column transport studies with these hormones used repacked soil and did not consider preferential flow. We, therefore, determined the sorption and transport characteristics of estradiol and testosterone in undisturbed soil columns (15-cm i.d. by 32-cm height). In the sorption experiment, isotherms for estradiol and testosterone were nonlinear with Freundlich exponents (n) less than one. Sorption of both hormones decreased with soil depth, and estradiol sorbed more strongly than testosterone. Average estradiol Freundlich sorption coefficients (K(f)) values were 36.9 microg(1 - n) mL(n) g(-1) for the 0- to 10-cm soil depth and 25.7 microg(1 - n) mL(n) g(-1) for the 20- to 30-cm soil depth. Average testosterone K(f) values were 26.7 microg(1 - n) mL(n) g(-1) for the 0- to 10-cm soil depth and 14.0 microg(1 - n) mL(n) g(-1) for the 20- to 30-cm soil depth. In the transport experiment, 27% of the estradiol and 42% of the testosterone leached through the soil columns. Approximately 50% of the remaining soil-bound hormones were sorbed in the top 10 cm of soil. In almost all instances, breakthrough concentrations of estradiol, testosterone, and a chloride tracer peaked simultaneously. Simultaneous breakthrough and HYDRUS-1D transport parameters indicated both chemical and physical nonequilibrium processes affected hormone transport. This suggests hormones placed on soil surfaces may contaminate groundwater under conditions of preferential flow.

Phosphorus, sediment, and Escherichia coli loads in unfenced streams of the Georgia Piedmont, USA.

Contamination of unfenced streams with P, sediments, and pathogenic bacteria from cattle (Bos taurus) activity may be affected by the availability of shade and alternative water sources. The objectives of this study were to evaluate water quality in two streams draining tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)-common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) pastures with different shade distribution, and to quantify the effects of alternative water sources on stream water quality. For 3 yr, loads of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured during storm flow, and loads of DRP, TP, TSS, and Escherichia coli were measured every 14 d during base flow. We also used GPS collars to determine amount of time cattle spent in riparian areas. Our results showed that cattle-grazed pastures with unfenced streams contributed significant loads of DRP, TP, TSS, and E. coli to surface waters (p < 0.01). Time spent by cattle in riparian areas as well as storm flow loads of DRP, TP, and TSS were larger (p < 0.08) in the pasture with the smaller amount of nonriparian shade. Water trough availability decreased base flow loads of TSS and E. coli in both streams, and decreased time cattle spent in riparian areas in the pasture with the smaller amount of nonriparian shade (p < 0.08). Our results indicate that possible BMPs to reduce contamination from cattle-grazed pastures would be to develop or encourage nonriparian shade and to provide cattle with alternative water sources away from the stream.

Nitrogen mineralization from organic residues: research opportunities.

Research on nitrogen (N) mineralization from organic residues is important to understand N cycling in soils. Here we review research on factors controlling net N mineralization as well as research on laboratory and field modeling efforts, with the objective of highlighting areas with opportunities for additional research. Among the factors controlling net N mineralization are organic composition of the residue, soil temperature and water content, drying and rewetting events, and soil characteristics. Because C to N ratio of the residue cannot explain all the variability observed in N mineralization among residues, considerable effort has been dedicated to the identification of specific compounds that play critical roles in N mineralization. Spectroscopic techniques are promising tools to further identify these compounds. Many studies have evaluated the effect of temperature and soil water content on N mineralization, but most have concentrated on mineralization from soil organic matter, not from organic residues. Additional work should be conducted with different organic residues, paying particular attention to the interaction between soil temperature and water content. One- and two-pool exponential models have been used to model N mineralization under laboratory conditions, but some drawbacks make it difficult to identify definite pools of mineralizable N. Fixing rate constants has been used as a way to eliminate some of these drawbacks when modeling N mineralization from soil organic matter, and may be useful for modeling N mineralization from organic residues. Additional work with more complex simulation models is needed to simulate both gross N mineralization and immobilization to better estimate net N mineralized from organic residues.

Rainfall timing and poultry litter application rate effects on phosphorus loss in surface runoff.

Phosphorus (P) in runoff from pastures amended with poultry litter may be a significant contributor to eutrophication of lakes and streams in Georgia and other areas in the southeastern United States. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of litter application rate and initial runoff timing on the long-term loss of P in runoff from surface-applied poultry litter and to develop equations that predict P loss in runoff under these conditions. Litter application rates of 2, 7, and 13 Mg ha(-1), and three rainfall scenarios applied to 1- x 2-m plots in a 3 x 3 randomized complete block design with three replications. The rainfall scenarios included (i) sufficient rainfall to produce runoff immediately after litter application; (ii) no rainfall for 30 d after litter application; and (iii) small rainfall events every 7 d (5 min at 75 mm h(-1)) for 30 d. Phosphorus loss was greatest from the high litter rate and immediate runoff treatments. Nonlinear regression equations based on the small plot study produced fairly accurate (r(2) = 0.52-0.62) prediction of P concentrations in runoff water from larger (0.75 ha) fields over a 2-yr period. Predicted P concentrations were closest to observed values for events that occurred shortly after litter application, and the relative error in predictions increased with time after litter application. In addition, previously developed equations relating soil test P levels to runoff P concentrations were ineffective in the presence of surface-applied litter.

Alum treatment of poultry litter: decomposition and nitrogen dynamics.

While the poultry industry is a major economic benefit to several areas in the USA, land application of poultry litter to recycle nutrients can lead to impaired surface and ground water quality. Amending poultry litter with alum [Al3(SO4)2 x 14H2O] has received considerable attention as a method of economically reducing ammonia volatilization in the poultry house and soluble phosphorus in runoff waters. The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of alum on broiler litter decomposition and N dynamics under laboratory conditions. Litter that had been amended with alum in the poultry house after each of the first four of five flock cycles (Experiment I) and litter that had been amended with alum after removal from a poultry house after the third flock cycle (Experiment II) were compared with unamended litter in separate studies. The litters in Experiment I were surface-applied to simulate application to grasslands, while the litters in Experiment II were incorporated to simulate application to conventionally tilled crops. The only statistically significant differences in decomposition due to alum occurred early in Experiment II and the differences were small. The only statistically significant differences in net N mineralization, soil inorganic N, and soil NH4+-N in either experiment was found in Experiment I after 70 d of incubation where soil inorganic N was significantly greater for the alum treatment. Thus, alum had little effect on decomposition or N dynamics. Results of many of the studies on litter not amended with alum should be applicable to litters amended with alum to reduce P availability.

Trace element speciation in poultry litter.

Trace elements are added to poultry feed for disease prevention and enhanced feed efficiency. High concentrations are found in poultry litter (PL), which raises concerns regarding trace element loading of soils. Trace metal cation solubility from PL may be enhanced by complexation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Mineralization of organo-As compounds may result in more toxic species such as As(III) and As(V). Speciation of these elements in PL leachates should assist in predicting their fate in soil. Elemental concentrations of 40 PL samples from the southeastern USA were determined. Water-soluble extractions (WSE) were fractionated into hydrophobic, anionic, and cationic species with solid-phase extraction columns. Arsenic speciation of seven As species, including the main As poultry feed additives, roxarsone (ROX; 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid) and p-arsanilic acid (p-ASA; 4-aminophenylarsonic acid), was performed by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS). Total As concentrations in the litter varied from 1 to 39 mg kg(-1), averaging 16 mg kg(-1). Mean total Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations were 479, 11, and 373 mg kg(-1), respectively. Copper and Ni were relatively soluble (49 and 41% respectively) while only 6% of Zn was soluble. Arsenic was highly soluble with an average of 71% WSE. Roxarsone was the major As species in 50% of PL samples. However, the presence of As(V) as the major species in 50% of the PL samples indicates that mineralization of ROX had occurred. The high solubility of As from litter and its apparent ready mineralization to inorganic forms coupled with the large quantity of litter that is annually land-applied in the USA suggests a potential detrimental effect on soil and water quality in the long term.

Distribution of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in stream flow of two Southern Piedmont watersheds.

Innate distributions or variability of nutrient concentrations within the fluvial system must be better understood to establish nutrient guidelines that are applicable and to discern which areas or landscape positions within the watershed are more vulnerable to nutrient losses. This work was conducted to (1) determine the system-wide spatial distribution of N and P concentrations in biweekly stream samples from two Southern Piedmont watersheds, and (2) determine the relationship between N and P concentrations in biweekly samples and watershed morphological features. From December 1998 through December 2000 samples were collected biweekly from 17 sampling sites located on Rose Creek and from 18 sampling sites located on Greenbrier Creek. The samples were analyzed for ammonium (NH4), nitrate (NO3), and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations. We found that spatial autocorrelation of nitrate concentrations was evident and that some spatial autocorrelation of DRP concentrations was also present. We further found that the fluvial network morphological feature, drainage density, explained part of the spatial autocorrelation found for nitrate but did not for DRP. These results indicate that innate variability of nutrient concentrations within streams exists and suggest that decision makers should begin to consider location within the watershed when making nutrient management guidelines and decisions.

Phosphorus and ammonium concentrations in surface runoff from grasslands fertilized with broiler litter.

Application of broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter to grasslands can increase ammonium (NH4-N) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations in surface runoff, but it is not known for how long after a broiler litter application that these concentrations remain elevated. This long-term study was conducted to measure NH4-N and DRP in surface runoff from grasslands fertilized with broiler litter. Six 0.75-ha, fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.-)bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] paddocks received broiler litter applications in the spring and fall of 1995-1996 and only inorganic fertilizer N in the spring of 1997-1998. Surface runoff from each paddock was measured and analyzed for NH4-N and DRP. Broiler litter increased flow-weighted NH4-N and DRP concentrations from background values of 0.5 and 0.4 mg L(-1), respectively, to values > 18 mg L(-1) in a runoff event that took place immediately after the third application. Ammonium concentrations decreased rapidly after an application and were not strongly related to time after application or runoff volume. In contrast, DRP concentrations tended to decrease more slowly, reaching values near 1 mg L(-1) by 19 mo after the last application. Dissolved reactive P concentrations decreased linearly with the natural logarithm of days after application (p<0.03), and increased linearly with the natural logarithm of runoff volume (p<0.0001).

Phosphorus losses from grasslands fertilized with broiler litter: EPIC simulations.

Broiler litter, a mixture of poultry excreta and bedding material, is commonly used to fertilize grasslands in the southeastern USA. Previous work has shown that under certain situations, application of broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter to grasslands may lead to elevated levels of phosphorus (P) in surface runoff. The EPIC simulation model may be a useful tool to identify those situations. This work was conducted to evaluate EPIC's ability to simulate event and annual runoff volume and losses of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) from tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)-bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] paddocks fertilized with broiler litter. The EPIC simulations of event runoff volume showed a trend toward underestimation, particularly for runoff events >30 mm. On an annual basis, EPIC also tended to underestimate runoff, especially at runoff volumes > 100 mm. Both event and annual runoff estimations were strongly associated with observed values, indicating that model calibration could improve the simulation of surface runoff volume. The relationship between simulated and observed values of DRP loss was relatively poor on an event basis (r=0.65), but was stronger (r=0.75) on an annual basis. In general, EPIC tended to underestimate annual DRP losses. This underestimation was apparently caused by the lack of an explicit mechanism to model broiler litter on the soil surface. These results suggested that additional work on the EPIC P submodel would be warranted to improve its simulation of surface application of broiler litter to grasslands.

Denitrification at a long-term forested land treatment system in the Piedmont of Georgia.

Spray irrigation of forested land can provide an effective system for nutrient removal and treatment of municipal wastewater. Evolution of N2 + N2O from denitrifying activity is an important renovation pathway for N applied to forested land treatment systems. Federal and state guidance documents for design of forested land treatment systems indicate the expected range for denitrification to be up to 25% of applied N, and most forest land treatment systems are designed using values from 15 to 20% of applied N. However, few measurements of denitrification following long-term wastewater applications at forested land treatment sites exist. In this study, soil N2 + N2O-N evolution was directly measured at four different landscape positions (hilltop, midslope, toe-slope, and riparian zone) in a forested land treatment facility in the Georgia Piedmont that has been operating for more than 13 yr. Denitrification rates within effluent-irrigated areas were significantly greater than rates in adjacent nonirrigated buffer zones. Rates of N2 + N2O-N evolved from soil in irrigated forests ranged from 5 to 10 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) N on the three upland landscape positions and averaged 38 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) N within the riparian zone. The relationship between measured riparian zone denitrification rates and soil physical and chemical properties was poor. The best relationship was with soil temperature, with an r2 of 0.18. Overall, on a landscape position weighted basis, only 2.4% of the wastewater-applied N was lost through denitrification.

[Cough-inducing capsaicin challenge test in a healthy population]. / Test de provocación tusígena con capsaicina: resultados en una población sana.

OBJECTIVE: Cough-inducing agents are used to study the cough reflex in both pharmacological and physiological research. Clinical use of cough challenge testing as a tool in diagnostic algorithms has been limited by the lack of either uniform methodology or reference values for healthy subjects. The objective of this study was to determine the cough threshold for capsaicin in a sample of healthy subjects, while also evaluating the influence of age, sex and smoking. We also assessed the reliability and repeatability of the test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-two healthy subjects were enrolled and given a capsaicin challenge test using concentrations from 0.49 to 500mg. The concentrations of capsaicin that triggered two and five coughs, C2 and C5 respectively, were recorded. The test was repeated three days later in a sub-sample of 30 subjects. RESULTS: No subject showed clinical or functional signs of bronchoconstriction. The mean values obtained for the study population were log C2:1.5 +/- 0.69 mM. and log C5: 2.1 +/- 0.4 microM. The geometric means were 31.6 and 134.8 microM for C2 and C5, respectively. No significant differences were found for sex or smoking; however age was significantly related to log C5 (r: -0.27, p < 0.05). Repeatability of the capsaicin test was high, with intra-class correlation coefficients and 95% confidence intervals of 0.75 (0.53-0.87) and 0.88 (0.76-0.97)for C2 and C5, respectively. CONCLUSION: The capsaicin challenge test was safe and easy to administer,gave reproducible results and allowed us to obtain reference values for a healthy population in our community.