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Odorants are released during the decomposition of organic waste at compost treatment plants. Composting releases volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), including alcohols, aldehydes, volatile fatty acids, ammonia and other nitrogen compounds, xenobiotic solvents, and various sulphur compounds into the environment as categorised by a compost odor wheel. Each odorant possesses a characteristic odour signature - quality and threshold as well as a toxicity value. This paper presents data relating the human odour detection limit to human health threshold criteria developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 and the World Health Organisation. This comparison indicates that: (1) the human odour threshold concentrations (OTC) for most compost odorants are far lower than their respective human health risk (regulator/) threshold values, (2) several compost odorants have OTC that are below some of their respective regulatory thresholds and above others (i.e, dimethyl amine, formic acid acetone, ethyl benzene and toluene) and (3) only the VOCs probably present as contaminants in the raw composting material have OTC greater than all of its regulatory thresholds (Le. benzene). Benzene is the most hazardous VOC associated with composting and should be monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventeen native English speakers participated in an investigation of language users' knowledge of English main stress patterns. First, they produced 40 two-syllable nonwords of varying syllabic structure as nouns and verbs. Second, they indicated their preference for first or second syllable stress of the same words in a perception task. Finally, they indicated words they considered to be phonologically similar to the nonwords. Analyses of variance on the production and perception data indicated that both syllabic structure and lexical class (noun or verb) had an effect on main stress assignment. In logistic regression analyses on the production and perception responses, predictions of stress placement made by (1) syllable structure, (2) lexical class, and (3) stress patterns of phonologically similar words all contributed significantly and uniquely to the prediction of main stress assignment. The results indicate that phonological theories of English word stress need to allow for multiple, competing, probabilistic factors in accounts of main stress placement including syllabic structure (most notably vowel length), lexical class, and stress patterns of phonologically similar words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a model of case management with rural clients entering drug and alcohol treatment. As part of a larger treatment protocol called Structured Behavioral Outpatient Rural Therapy, behavioral contracting is combined with strengths perspective case management to help rural clients motivate themselves to engage and complete drug and alcohol treatment. This combined approach is designed to continually communicate and teach an "A-B-C" cognitive-behavioral approach to problem-solving and change. While not a panacea for addressing the myriad problems facing clients with drug use problems, such an approach promises to improve "treatment as usual" formats, which often ignore the formidable obstacles to human change experienced by rural clients and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a unique single incision modification of the Nuss procedure and compare results to a historical cohort of standard Nuss patients.Methods: A retrospective review of 32 patients who underwent the Nuss procedure at a tertiary academic medical center over a 4-year period (2007-2010). Fourteen consecutive patients who underwent the modified technique (MN) were compared to the previous 18 patients who underwent the standard procedure (SN). We evaluated for differences between group demographics, operative variables, and postoperative course. The major technical modification was performing the entire procedure through a single right lateral thoracic incision. The dissection for bar placement on the left side of the chest was performed in a subcutaneous, pre-sternal and pre-muscular plane from the right-sided incision. The bar was placed from the right side and positioned in the standard fashion. Thoracoscopy was preformed via the same incision using a 45-degree thoracoscope and multiple trocar positions. The bar was anchored to the chest wall with a unilateral bar stabilizer.Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups in any of the patient, operative or postoperative care parameters.Conclusion: The single incision modified Nuss procedure is as safe and efficacious as the standard technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate historical exposure from wood treatment facilities, attic dust samples were collected from residential structures and blood samples were collected from current and past residents of four communities surrounding wood treatment facilities throughout the United States. The pattern of dioxin/furan congeners detected in both attic dust and blood samples was found to be consistent with exposure to contaminants generated during the wood treatment process. Levels in the U.S. population of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-pdibenzodioxin toxic equivalents (2,3,7,8-TCDD TEQs) for all 17 carcinogenic dioxin/furan congeners as well as octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) adjusted to its TEQ value and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-hepta-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD) adjusted to its TEQ value were compared to the TEQ levels in the combined data set for all four communities and in the data sets for each individual community. TEQ concentrations in these communities were found to be significantly greater than in the general U.S. population. The levels of dioxins in attic dust were compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regional screening levels and found to far exceed the levels that are regarded as safe for the general population. These findings reveal that a very significant potential for contaminant-related health risks exists in communities surrounding wood treatment facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]