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Sustainable Method (sustainable + method)
Selected AbstractsX-ray fluorescence holography: a novel treatment for crystal structure determinationACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION A, Issue 2 2003F. N. Chukhovskii It is shown that it is possible to use a linear regression algorithm direct method to solve crystal structures from X-ray fluorescence holography (XFH) data. It is found that, in contrast to conventional X-ray structure determination methods, which do not always work unambiguously, the sustainable method utilizing the XFH data generally provides the unique phase-retrieval structure solution and is able, in many cases, to replace the above for determining both the absolute values (moduli) and phases of structure factors. The XFH scan with a fluorescing Cu atom from a spherical cluster of a Cu3Au single crystal, at an energy of 10,keV for the incident unpolarized plane-wave X-radiation, is numerically simulated to test the performance of the method in finding a unique solution for the structure factors involved in the restoration procedure using the linear regression algorithm. [source] The response of protist and metazoan communities in permeable pavement structures to high oil loadingsTHE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005S. J. COUPE Permeable pavement structures (PPS) have been demonstrated to provide an efficient and sustainable method of controlling urban derived hydrocarbon contamination. Until recently, laboratory PPS mesocosm models have used crushed granite as the load bearing sub-base material. However, the use of virgin stone may not be the optimal choice of substrate, as this is not necessarily sustainable or cost effective in the long term when compared to the use of recycled materials. However, recycled materials such as waste concrete may change the environmental conditions in PPS mesocosms, and the characteristics of the eukaryotic community may become different from those which have been previously described. In the current experiment, granite and recycled concrete sub-base materials were compared for their ability to retain 900 g/m2 of clean mineral oil applied to the mesocosm surface. It was observed that, even at this very high oil loading, 99.95% of the applied oil was retained within granite and concrete-based structures, but the effluent was two pH units more alkaline in concrete mesocosms than granite. The eukaryotic microfauna in the effluent from both mesocosm types showed a ten-fold increase in protist abundance, and a doubling in the number of protist genera, compared with earlier work using only 18 g/m2 of applied oil. Five genera of testate amoebae not previously recorded in PPS were identified, these included Arcella, Assulina, Cryptodifflugia, Cyclopyxis and Difflugia in addition to the three genera observed previously using the lower oil application. Metazoan abundances increased from 1.5 × 101 organisms per ml using the lower oil loadings to 2.0 × 103/ml in the current experiment. Rotifers and nematodes were the most numerous, but tardigrades were also observed in both concrete and granite-based mesocosms. Despite the differences in effluent pH, it was apparent that there were only marginal differences in the eukaryotic microbiology of the two mesocosm types. This was thought to be due to the layered structural arrangement of the pavement and the location of the highly oil-retentive polypropylene geotextile and extensive biofilm layer positioned above the concrete sub-base. Work is now underway to find oil loadings that will adversely affect the abundance and diversity of eukaryotic organisms in PPS mesocosms. [source] Could translocation aid hen harrier conservation in the UK?ANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 1 2001Mark Watson Translocation is increasingly used in conservation to re-establish or augment populations of threatened species or to remove individual animals from areas of human-wildlife conflict. We assess the feasibility and utility of translocating hen harriers (Circus cyaneus) in the UK to enhance their distribution and abundance whilst simultaneously reducing the impact of harrier predation on red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) populations and shooting bags. Current knowledge of hen harrier feeding ecology, dispersal, survival and recruitment suggests that they would be suitable subjects for translocation with the aim of increasing their distribution in the UK. Assessment of habitat and food availability suggest that there are suitable recipient sites beyond the current range of the hen harrier in the UK. However, translocation would not be a sustainable method of reducing predation on grouse moors because it would have to continue indefinitely as long as grouse moors attracted harriers. Translocation of harriers to grouse moors where they have been locally extirpated would not be appropriate until levels of illegal control are reduced. Establishing new harrier populations through translocation away from grouse moors may become desirable if initiatives to reduce human-raptor conflicts on grouse moors are unsuccessful, or as an interim measure to accelerate the recovery of hen harriers in the UK. [source] Survivorship care after breast cancer: Follow-up practices of Australian health professionals and attitudes to a survivorship care planASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Meagan E BRENNAN Abstract Objective: The increasing number of breast cancer survivors and the complexity of follow-up care make the provision of high-quality survivorship care a challenge. This study explored the follow-up practices of health professionals and their attitudes to alternative models such as shared care and the use of a survivorship care plan. Methods: Specialist oncologists (surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists) breast physicians and breast-care nurses completed an online survey. Results: A total of 217 practitioners completed the survey, which was estimated to include 42.8% of oncologists treating breast cancer in Australia. One-third of responding specialists reported spending more than 25% of their clinical time providing follow-up care. They reported many positive aspects to follow-up consultations and viewed follow-up care as an important part of their clinical role but expressed concern about the sustainability of follow-up care in their practices. The follow-up intervals and recommendations were in line with national guidelines. The specialists were supportive of sharing follow-up care with primary-care physicians, breast physicians and breast-care nurses. Most professionals felt that a survivorship care plan would improve care and said they would use a proforma. Conclusion: The oncologists felt that follow-up care was an important part of their role and they were supportive of the concepts of shared care programs and a survivorship care plan. Input from consumers is required to evaluate the acceptability of these alternative models and to assess ways of implementing these changes to work towards a more comprehensive and sustainable method of delivering survivorship care. [source] | ||||||||||