Land application of sewage sludge: perceptions of New Jersey vegetable farmers.

Understanding farmers' perceptions and choices regarding land application of sewage sludge is key to developing locally accepted strategies for managing its sewage sludge. Semi-structured interviews, with mostly open-ended questions were conducted with 50 fruit and vegetable farmers at the New Jersey Annual Vegetable Meeting in 1999. The in-depth interviews indicated that the application of sewage sludge to land is currently not a common agricultural practice for these growers. Perceived risks, including heavy metals in sewage sludge (soil-build up, crop-uptake), negative public perception, odour complaints, and increase of contaminants in the water supply outweigh economic incentives and soil improvement benefits. When naming benefits and drawbacks, farmers tend to think first of their crop and their land, and do not mention the environment. It is only when they are questioned directly about environmental benefits and risks that they discuss these aspects. Communication efforts should focus on practical information to which farmers can relate.

Organizational theory and the stages of risk communication.

The evolution of risk communication has been described as a series of communication strategies. This article suggests that organizational theory provides another dimension to understanding the evolution of risk communication, and that risk communication can be seen as an organizational adaptation of chemical manufacturers to external pressure. Following the tragedy in Bhopal the chemical manufacturing sector's loss of legitimacy led to destabilization of its authority and to increased uncertainty in its external environment. Risk communication was one means to increase legitimacy, thereby decreasing uncertainty and potential impact on resources. However, although risk communication may evolve from crises of legitimacy, the concept of "isomorphism"--conformance to norms within a corporate sector--predicts this need not be the case.

Glutamate transport and cellular glutamine metabolism: regulation in LLC-PK1 vs. LLC-PK1-F+ cell lines.

The glutamate (Glu) transporter may modulate cellular glutamine (Gln) metabolism by regulating both the rates of hydrolysis and subsequent conversion of Glu to alpha-ketoglutarate and NH+4. By delivering Glu, a competitive inhibitor of Gln for the phosphate-dependent glutaminase (PDG) as well as an acid-load activator of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) flux, the transporter may effectively substitute extracellularly generated Glu from the gamma-glutamyltransferase for that derived intracellularly from Gln. We tested this hypothesis in two closely related porcine kidney cell lines, LLC-PK1 and LLC-PK1-F+, the latter selected to grow in the absence of glucose, relying on Gln as their sole energy source. Both cell lines exhibited PDG suppression as the result of Glu uptake while disrupting the extracellular L-Glu uptake, with D-aspartate-accelerated intracellular Glu formation coupled primarily to the ammoniagenic pathway (GDH). Conversely, enhancing the extracellular Glu formation with p-aminohippurate and Glu uptake suppressed intracellular Gln hydrolysis while NH+4 formation from Glu increased. Thus these results are consistent with the transporter's dual role in modulating both PDG and GDH flux. Interestingly, PDG flux was actually higher in the Gln-adapted LLC-PK1-F+ cell line because of a two- to threefold enhancement in Gln uptake despite greater Glu uptake than in the parental LLC-PK1 cells, revealing the importance of both Glu and Gln transport in the modulation of PDG flux. Nevertheless, when studied at physiological Gln concentration, PDG flux falls under tight Glu transporter control as Gln uptake decreases, suggesting that cellular Gln metabolism may indeed be under Glu transporter control in vivo.

Conducting Layered Organic-inorganic Halides Containing <110>-Oriented Perovskite Sheets.

Single crystals of the layered organic-inorganic perovskites, [NH(2)C(I=NH(2)](2)(CH(3)NH(3))m SnmI3m+2, were prepared by an aqueous solution growth technique. In contrast to the recently discovered family, (C(4)H(9)NH(3))(2)(CH(3)NH(3))n-1SnnI3n+1, which consists of (100)-terminated perovskite layers, structure determination reveals an unusual structural class with sets of m <110>-oriented CH(3)NH(3)SnI(3) perovskite sheets separated by iodoformamidinium cations. Whereas the m = 2 compound is semiconducting with a band gap of 0.33 +/- 0.05 electron volt, increasing m leads to more metallic character. The ability to control perovskite sheet orientation through the choice of organic cation demonstrates the flexibility provided by organic-inorganic perovskites and adds an important handle for tailoring and understanding lower dimensional transport in layered perovskites.

Cool laser optics treatment of large telangiectasia of the lower extremities.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity telangiectases have been traditionally treated using sclerotherapy. However, because of significant side effects from sclerotherapy, laser treatments have been investigated. Results from laser treatments have been generally unsatisfactory. OBJECTIVE: This study was based on the premise that simultaneous cooling and lasing would permit more effective treatment. METHODS: Thirty lower extremity telangiectases on 13 patients were treated by a technique of simultaneous cooling and lasing. Argon (488/514 nm) and argon dye (577 nm, 585 nm) laser light were delivered through a new cooling device to telangiectatic vessels of approximately 1-mm diameter on the thigh and leg. Pulsed and continuous beam treatments were utilized at high levels of irradiance. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of treated sites were improved; half of these were completely or nearly completely cleared. There were no complications. In only 2 of 30 (7%) treated sites were there persistent pigmentary changes. CONCLUSION: These results compare favorably with other methods for treatment of lower extremity telangiectases. Successful treatment of large lower extremity telangiectases by simultaneous cooling and lasing with minimal side effects suggests a reduction of thermal injury to nonvascular tissue while allowing destruction of ectatic vasculature.

Risk communication activities of state health agencies.

Surveys concerning the risk communication practices and needs of state health agencies were completed by agency commissioners and designated staff of 48 states and territories. These data indicate that agencies are expending more effort on responding to requests for information than on initiating dialogues with interested constituencies or alerting the public to risk. The data also suggest a gap between the stated philosophy and practice of the agencies.