Compare the Levels of Use of Activated Carbons for Water Treatment and Biogas Purification as Well as Their Reactive Abilities

The conducted research concerned a comparison of the levels of use of activated carbons purifying water and biogas, and their reactivation capacity. The process of reactivation of both activated carbons was carried out using laboratory kiln. Reactivation was carried out in identical conditions for both tested samples. The obtained results proved that both activated carbons can be regenerated although they differ significantly in degree of use. It was proven that the technological process, the degree of contamination, and the contact time of activated carbon with the medium have a significant impact on the quality, speed, and success of the reactivation process.

Changes in Production Practices by Green Industry Growers from 2009 to 2019

As a result of the latest economic recession (2007 to 2009), the U.S. green industry suffered significant economic losses, leading to major industry structural changes. To be competitive and effectively manage risk, nursery and greenhouse operators need reliable and up-to-date information. However, the availability of such data from federal government sources has become limited. This report summarizes the state of the industry, focusing on trends in production-related characteristics from the 2009, 2014, and 2019 survey years. As firm size increased, the percent of annual sales attributed to large plant species (e.g., deciduous trees) increased, while herbaceous (e.g., perennials) and specialty (e.g., Christmas tree) plants made up a larger percentage of annual sales for small- and medium-sized firms. The majority of respondents (73.3%) indicated a proportion of their sales came from container-grown plants. The most frequently used integrated pest management (IPM) practice was removal of infested plants (81%), followed by cultivation/hand weeding. As firm size increased, participation in IPM strategies increased. Interestingly, statistical differences between small- and medium-sized firms were infrequent, indicating similar levels of use; however, most of the IPM strategies used were more frequently employed by large-sized firms when compared to small- or medium-sized firms. Index words: Container-grown, greenhouse, integrated pest management (IPM), nursery, ornamental plants.

Uptake of evidence by physicians: De-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after the TREAT trial

Background Variation in de-adoption of ineffective or unsafe treatments is not well-understood. We examined de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemia treatment among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) following new clinical evidence of harm and ineffectiveness (the TREAT trial) and the FDA’s revision of its safety warning. Method We used a segmented regression approach to estimate changes in use of epoetin alfa (EPO) and darbepoetin alfa (DPO) in the commercial, Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) populations. We also examined how changes in both trends and levels of use were associated with physicians’ characteristics. Results Use of DPO and EPO declined over the study period. There were no consistent changes in DPO trend across insurance groups, but the level of DPO use decreased right after the FDA revision in all groups. The decline in EPO use trend was faster after the TREAT trial for all groups. Nephrologists were largely more responsive to evidence than primary care physicians. Differences by physician’s gender, and age were not consistent across insurance populations and types of ESA. Conclusions Physician specialty has a dominant role in prescribing decision, and that specializations with higher use of treatment (nephrologists) were more responsive to new evidence of unsafety and ineffectiveness.

Using Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) in the Community

For ORT to have a maximum impact on public health it should be used in the community, in the home. A number of programs have been developed over the years to extend ORT to home use. One of the most successful approaches was the Oral Therapy Education Program (OTEP) developed by BRAC, the world’s largest NGO. Mothers were taught in the home by an OTEP worker using seven simple messages and a demonstration. The program, which led to high levels of use and knowledge retention, is described. What the OTEP and other successful home-based programs have demonstrated is that home care of diarrhea using ORS can be effectively implemented and can have a positive impact on the reduction of diarrhea morbidity and mortality.

Conceptualizing the (non) users of the internet

Most studies about internet use examine how usage differs among users and why. Less attention has been paid to the varied degrees of non-use or low levels of use. Non-adopters of digital media are usually understood as not having access to digital media. However, there is a considerable variation among them with regards to how and why they lack the connectivity. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge those who do have access but use the internet only in a limited capacity. Digital exclusion does not only occur among those who do not have access but expands to those who cannot use the internet effectively. A new type of digital exclusion is emerging due to this variation of usage and appropriation. We propose a nuanced approach in defining the various levels of internet non- and low use. Rather than highlighting how social exclusion, therefore the lack of connectivity, leads to digital exclusion, this paper looks at the various contexts in which people might be digital disengaged and therefore digitally excluded.

Conceptualizing the (non) users of the internet

Most studies about internet use examine how usage differs among users and why. Less attention has been paid to the varied degrees of non-use or low levels of use. Non-adopters of digital media are usually understood as not having access to digital media. However, there is a considerable variation among them with regards to how and why they lack the connectivity. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge those who do have access but use the internet only in a limited capacity. Digital exclusion does not only occur among those who do not have access but expands to those who cannot use the internet effectively. A new type of digital exclusion is emerging due to this variation of usage and appropriation. We propose a nuanced approach in defining the various levels of internet non- and low use. Rather than highlighting how social exclusion, therefore the lack of connectivity, leads to digital exclusion, this paper looks at the various contexts in which people might be digital disengaged and therefore digitally excluded.

Emotional distress among police academy recruits: Humor and coping

Police work, beginning as early as academy training, is inherently stressful and carries risks for officer wellbeing. Humor has been cited as useful way for officers to handle stress. This study investigated the relationship between humor and emotional distress among a sample of 101 police recruits from Phase 1 of the National Police Research Platform. Findings indicated that reliance on humor as a coping strategy increased among recruits during the police academy and hierarchical regression analyses showed that greater levels of use of humor as a coping strategy in the academy predicted a decrease in emotional distress upon academy graduation.

Addition of fermented catfish waste into ration for increasing performance of Drake in Growth Period

Utilization of organic waste is wasted by fermentation into quality feed ingredients in an effort to improve drake performance. Good farming zero waste. This study aims to study the effect of FCW (fermented catfish waste) to improve drake performance and obtain levels of use of fermented catfish waste in rations that produce the best drake performance. The research method uses a completely randomized experimental design (CRD) 4 treatment rations (0, 1.67, 3.33, and 5% FCW) each treatment repeats 5 times. One hundred drake aged 1 day were kept until 12 weeks old, put in 20 units of the cage. The results showed that the addition of FCW in the ration had a significant influence on drake performance. The ration given 10% FCW produced the best drake performance. This is supported by the following data the average consumption of drake rations that is 8.240 gram, the average weight gain 2.280 gram, and the average conversion rations 3.61.

Uptake of evidence by physicians: De-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after TREAT trial showed they are ineffective and unsafe

Variation in de-adoption of ineffective or unsafe treatments is not well-understood. We examined de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemia treatment among patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) following new clinical evidence of harm and ineffectiveness (the TREAT trial) and the FDA's revision of its safety warning. We used an interrupted time series approach to estimate changes in use of epoetin alfa (EPO) and darbepoetin alfa (DPO) in the commercial and Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) populations. We also examined how changes in both trends and levels of use were associated with physicians’ characteristics. Study cohort included patients with CKD stages 3 to 5 during 2007-2015. Use of DPO and EPO declined over the study period. There were no consistent changes in DPO trend across insurance groups, but the level of DPO use decreased right after the FDA revision in all groups. The decline in EPO use trend was faster after the TREAT trial for all groups. Nephrologists were largely more responsive to evidence than primary care physicians. Differences by physician's gender, and age were not consistent across insurance populations and types of ESA.