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Background The standard of care in management of intra-cardiac thrombus has been the use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The emergence and use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in other conditions has led to the consideration of their use in patients with intra-cardiac thrombus. Thus far, case-reports have provided the majority of data regarding the efficacy of DOACs in this population. Purpose The aim of this observational study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of DOACs in intracardiac thrombus not associated with atrial fibrillation, compared to the current standard of care, VKAs. Methods An observational study was conducted between 10 hospitals in our region. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2019 in patients with a diagnosis of intracardiac thrombus. All left and right, atrial and ventricular thrombi were included. Patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. Patient information was collected from the hospital electronic record. The primary endpoints were clinically significant bleeding requiring transfusion and thromboembolic events, excluding myocardial infarction. Results 1153 patients had a diagnosis of intracardiac thrombus. 878 out of 1153 patients were discharged on warfarin and 275 were discharged on a DOAC. In the warfarin population 73 of 878 patients (8.3%) had clinically significant bleeding events compared to 21 of 275 patients (7.6%) in the DOAC population (p=0.801). The median ages were 60.5 and 58 respectively. The median time period to a bleeding event was 151 and 198 days respectively. In the warfarin population, 116 of 878 patients (13.2%) had thromboembolic disease versus 34 of 275 patients (12.4%) in the DOAC arm (p=0.759). The median ages were 62 and 62.5 respectively. The median time period to a thromboembolic event was 114 and 184 days respectively. In the warfarin arm, 3 patients had systemic thromboembolism and 113 patients had embolic strokes. In the DOAC arm, 2 patients had systemic thromboembolism, 32 patients had embolic strokes. Conclusion The data from this study suggests that DOACs may be a feasible alternative to warfarin in patients with intracardiac thrombus. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of clinically significant bleeding or in incidence of thromboembolic disease. To our knowledge, this is the largest observational study to date on this topic. Randomized controlled trials are needed to fully establish the efficacy of DOACs in this patient population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Table 1

The shear stress and hypoxia in the pulmonary artery in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) causes endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle proliferation and activation of thrombotic pathways leading to in situ thrombosis. Targeting the thrombotic pathways is a proposed mechanism to slow disease progression and improve survival. Over the years, the survival in patients with PAH has improved due to multiple factors with the increased use of anticoagulation as one of them. Both European Respiratory Society/European Society of Cardiology and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines make grade II recommendations for using anticoagulation in PAH. The guidelines are based on weak observational studies with high risk of bias which have only studied warfarin as the choice of anticoagulation. In this article, we review the pathophysiology, rationale and the current literature investigating the role of anticoagulation in PAH.

Highlights: (1) Resource limits and climate disruption have created a new biophysical context characterized by a long, drawn-out descent, (2) An initial aspect of this will be an unexpected decline in surplus energy, (3) The result is a new behavioral context that the social sciences are only slowly coming to understand, (4) One major challenge is that the environmental behaviors needed later this century cannot be fully known in advance, yet we must somehow begin to plan for them now, (5) Attentional vitality and psychological equipoise are essential for the envisioning and behavioral planning needed now, and the behavior change that follows, (6) Clusters of behavior must be adopted; the past focus on serial and incremental change will not suffice, and (7) By understanding the conditions under which human envision and plan, conditions can be created whereby citizens become behavioral entrepreneurs.

Background In cardiac transplant recipients, the development of antibodies to the endothelial intermediate filament protein vimentin (antivimentin antibodies, AVA) has been associated with rejection and poor outcomes. However, the incidence of these antibodies prior to transplantation and their association with early rejection has not been investigated. Methods Pre-transplant serum was analyzed from 50 patients who underwent de novo cardiac transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital from 2004 to 2012. Demographic, one-yr rejection, and survival data were obtained from the transplant database. Results The incidence of pre-transplant AVA was 34%. AVA-positive patients were younger (p = 0.03), and there was an a trend toward incidence in females (p = 0.08). Demographic data were similar among both groups. AVA positivity did not predict rejection in the first year post-transplant. There was no difference in rejection-free graft survival (53 vs. 52%, p = 0.85) at one yr. Similarly, there was no difference in graft survival at one yr (82 vs. 88%, p = 0.56) or graft survival at a median follow-up of 23 and 26 months, respectively (76 vs. 85%, p = 0.41). Conclusions AVA is common in the cardiac pre-transplant population with a higher incidence in the young. The presence of detectable AVA did not correlate with early post-transplant rejection or graft survival.

For many people, sustainable behavior can be clearly articulated through an array of consumer choices made every day based on: where products come from, the environmental impact of the ingredients in household products, and how products are disposed of at the end of their life cycle. But outside of consumerism, are there other avenues an individual might explore in the pursuit of living a sustainable lifestyle? In an activity called Conceptual Content Cognitive Mapping (3CM) completed by environmentally-concerned academics and professionals, this study asked what it means to be a green citizen. Green citizenship, as understood and lived by our participants, transcends multiple levels of involvement that extend beyond consumer behavior. Green citizens embrace their individual agency to affect change, while recognizing the socially embedded nature of their actions. Beyond the support of community networks, green citizens also identify higher institutional structures as both conduits and barriers to change. Implications for constructing supportive pathways to sustainable participation focusing on the whole citizen, rather than just the consumer, will be discussed.

What does it mean to be a green citizen? To date, discussion of green citizenship has been heavily rooted in theory, drawing largely from political and consumer studies. The scant empirical evidence exploring the behavioral components of this concept has overwhelmingly focused on individuals’ identification as “green” via their role as consumers. However, little empirical research exists exploring participant-driven understandings of what it means to be a green citizen and how this role relates to and expands upon that of the green consumer. This study seeks to resolve these gaps by expanding the definition of green citizenship through a participatory process called the Conceptual Content Cognitive Mapping exercise (3CM). Through this modified card-sorting task, participants are able to visually communicate their lived understandings of green citizenship by arranging and categorizing labeled cards into networks of meaning that reflect their personal understandings of this abstract concept. This chapter will focus on the 3CM exercise as a fruitful methodology to promote participant engagement in social science research on sustainability in general, and green citizenship in particular.

University students listened to six words spoken either by a speaker originally from the Republic of Korea (ROK) or a native U.S. speaker. Listeners made significantly more correct identifications of words spoken by a U.S. speaker than by a ROK speaker at 100%, 75%, and 50% information. Listeners were more likely to correctly identify four words as spoken by the U.S. speaker at 75% information than the ROK speaker at 100% information because of substitutions or omissions by the ROK speaker. A correct sound analysis suggested listeners' misunderstandings might be a result of U.S. listeners' inability to discriminate phonemes.

At a time when environmental problems are growing and biophysical limits-to-growth are apparent, encouraging sustainable behavior is a critical societal objective. Within the college campus sustainability movement this is expressed as the need to broaden student involvement in environmental stewardship initiatives. This chapter proposes that campus community gardens are particularly well-suited to the task of increasing student engagement across the entire campus population, not just among those with a prior interest in sustainability or gardening. To explore this proposition, a survey of undergraduate attitudes about motivations for and interest in gardening at a large, non-land-grant, research university was conducted. Results show that student interest is strongly related to how the campus gardening experience is structured. In particular, interest in gardening is related to clearly defined personal and community benefits. What is most fascinating is that the level of interest is not related to prior gardening experience or to strong pro-environmental attitudes, suggesting that campus gardens and farms may be made to appeal to a wide range of students.

This study compares native and non-native English speakers’ (sojourners) perceptions of incompetent communication in difficult conversations. Analysis of covariance results reveal that native speakers’ ratings of ineffectiveness and inappropriateness are significantly higher than sojourners, but sojourners tend to blame themselves for difficulties, whereas native speakers thought both speakers were equally at fault. Furthermore, results from a discriminant analysis show that inappropriateness (but not ineffectiveness) significantly distinguished between native and sojourner respondents. An explanation for the results is that native speakers marginalize non-native speakers primarily on the basis of non-natives’ perceived inappropriate communication. The non-native speaker of English tends to find fault with him- or herself, and may accept this out-grouping.

By virtue of the Constitution Act, 1982. Canada has established that some rights andfreedoms are beyond the reach ofgovernment. However, the protection of properly, especially with regard to the guaranteeing of compensation ifproperty is taken by the state, has not been elevated to this same level of constitutional protection. This article examines regulatory takings claims under Article 1110 ofthe North American Free Trade Agreement and provides an exposition of the law insofar as it has developed in the NAFTA context. It begins with a survey of constructive takings in international and domestic U.S. law and concludes by highlighting the obvious differences between the protection afforded to foreign NAFTA investors in Canada and domestic owners of properly when property is taken.

607 ISSN 1758-3004 10.4155/CMT.11.59 © 2011 Future Science Ltd The converging of climate disruption, energy descent and economic instability is stressing civilization, perhaps foreshadowing a downshift to a lower level of complexity [1]. It is easy to despair at the unsustainability of human behavior; however, such despair may come from taking too narrow and pessimistic a view of human nature, such as believing

This study measured the influence of a sportscaster's vocal pitch on listeners' perceptions of authoritativeness from a constructivist theoretical perspective. College students heard sportscasts read by a low- or high-pitched male or female and completed questionnaires measuring authoritativeness and sexist attitudes toward women. Male sportscasters were considered more authoritative than females, but male sportscasters with higher-pitched voices were rated more authoritative than those with lower pitches.

This study explores the roles of mentors and proteges as they manage dialectical tensions in a professional environment. Sixty‐two first‐year teachers in a county school district in the southeastern USA answered a questionnaire about their mentors’ empathic and directive listening, playful communication, social attractiveness, and ability to help them manage dialectical tensions of socialization. Regression analyses revealed that both empathic and directive listening helped the protege relieve these tensions. While playful communication did not directly explain relieving protege’s tensions, it did predict social attraction. These findings support cognitive reappraisal and Rogerian models of helping, underscore the importance of listening to effective mentoring, and suggest that mentors receive training in empathic and directive listening techniques.

In this study are presented evidences for the functionalization of polypropylene surfaces accomplished in a sequential process: argon- or oxygen-plasma enhanced generation of free radical sites on polypropylene surfaces was followed by “in situ” gas phase derivatization in the absence of plasma using ethylene diamine, or propylene diamine; and an “in situ”, gas phase derivatization using oxallyl chloride or “ex situ” derivatization in the presence of glutaraldehyde. The free radicals’ presence on the plasma-exposed polypropylene surfaces was confirmed using “in situ” sulfur dioxide or nitric oxide labeling techniques. It was shown that the free radical sites readily react under “in situ” conditions with the stable chain-precursor components and generate the desired spacer-chain molecules revealed by ESCA analysis. Functionalized polypropylene substrates were used for immobilization of α-chymotrypsin in the presence of spacer-chain molecules. The activity of the immobilized α-chymotrypsin was found to be comparable to the activity of the free enzyme when the spacer molecules have been used.

Coping with the challenges of global climate disruption and the peaking of the rate of fossil fuel production will require behavioral change on a massive scale. There are many skills that will help individuals deal with this coming transition but none more central than the abilities to problem-solve creatively, plan and restrain behavior, and manage the emotions that result from the loss of an affluent lifestyle. These abilities require a mental state called vitality. Even in the best of circumstances, maintaining this state can be difficult and, to make matters worse, it seems that modern culture is conspiring to wear down this aspect of mental effectiveness. This article discusses mental vitality as being based upon the capacity to direct attention. Functioning effectively despite the distractions and challenges of an electrifying and changing world fatigues this capacity. Restoring one's ability to direct attention is explained as a likely precondition to effective problem-solving, planning, a...

H owever vast were the resources used to create industrial civilization, they were never limitless. Biophysical constraints, always a part of human existence, could be ignored for these past few centuries, a one-time era of resource abundance. This is no longer possible. Many of the challenges we face can be traced to our centurieslong consumption and construction binge and, soon, to its abrupt culmination. Climate disruption, a consequence of our rapacious use of fossil fuels, is intensifying. The amount of available net energy (the energy available to society after deducting energy used during extraction and production) was massive at first, misleading us with the false prospect of endless growth. False because, easily unnoticed, net energy has been on a relentless decline. We are approaching the day when net energy becomes insufficient for maintaining, let alone building out, modern society. Technological innovation, to which we attribute much of our success, cannot create energy or natural resources, and our industrial prowess cannot negate the laws of thermodynamics. Thus, while our ingenuity can slow the approach of a resource-limited future, it will not fundamentally change that outcome. Soon we will leave behind the infantile techno-fantasy of a world without limits giving us a life without want. We will all, of necessity, accept that biophysical limits are a defining characteristic of life. Such acceptance is long overdue but hard for us, hard because it demands profoundly different worldviews and patterns of living. Ecopsychology can help us realize that our future will be attained through thrift and humility, not by the consumptive growth and boosterism that gave us our fling with material affluence. Unfortunately, we may well try all possible alternatives to outright acceptance before realizing that limits are, by their very nature, not open to negotiation or repudiation. Yet acceptance is but the first step and not nearly as hard as what comes next. The depth and duration of the required transition is unprecedented. Adapting well to a drawn-out decline in resource availability is not something with which we are familiar. Furthermore, since we seem to be starting late in the process, having temporarily delayed the needed behavior change, we will likely need to quickly respond to events. Prefiguring our response could ease the transition. It is here that ecopsychology can play an essential role, since what is being faced is not a technological or political challenge but an existential one. The broader missions of ecopsychology and that of a society facing biophysical constraints will converge on the need to lay a new foundation for sustainable, interdependent, and mutually enhancing relations with nature as well as within the human community. In fact, the coming transition provides the ecopsychology community with a rare moment. During the initial phase of downshifting, there likely will be a period of flux, a time during which people might be willing to reshape their emotional connection and moral stance toward each other and the rest of the planet. It is during this time that our community’s ongoing efforts to promote ecological consciousness and to help people reconnect with nature might turn to the even larger goal of adopting an ecological partnership society to replace the extractive dominator society.

The surface functionalization process was accomplished in a consecutive 3 step process including: (1) Argon- and oxygen-plasma enhanced generation of free radical sites on cellophane surfaces; (2) “In situ” gas phase derivatization in the absence of plasma using hydrazine, ethylene diamine, or propylene diamine; (3) Second “in situ”, gas phase derivatization in the absence of plasma using oxallyl chloride or “ex situ” derivatization in the presence of glutaraldehyde. The presence of free radical sites on the plasma exposed cellophane surfaces was demonstrated using “in situ” sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide labeling techniques. It was shown that the free radical sites readily react under “in situ” conditions with the stable chain-precursor components and generate the desired spacer-chain molecules. ESCA, ATR-FTIR analysis and dying techniques were used to monitor the cellophane surface changes. A factorial design was used for selecting the optimal plasma parameters. Functionalized cellophane substrates were used for immobilization of α-chymotrypsin in the presence of spacer-chain molecules. The activity of the immobilized α-chymotrypsin was found to be lower in comparison to the activity of the free enzyme and the presence of virgin cellophane in the free enzyme solution also reduced significantly the activity of the enzyme. It is suggested that the swollen state of the cellophane plays a significant role in the decrease of the immobilized enzyme activity.

A number of acetic acid (HAc) based pulping trials were carried out to determine the best conditions to produce a jute pulp with low residual lignin content and high physical properties. The extended delignification, with increasing temperature, strongly affected the strength properties. The highest tensile strength of 24 N m/g was found at 150 °C and 10 min, 300 ml CSF condition. However, increasing temperature to 200 °C dramatically reduces the strength in the acetic acid system especially for beyond 20 min cooks. The improvements of tensile strength (5–25%) with certain level of refining were observed. The highest tensile strength of 27 N m/g was found at 150 °C and 10 min pulping conditions which freeness of 100 ml CSF. The results found with Simons’ stain procedure over acetic acid jute pulps were generally consistent with the strength properties of the pulps.

Research suggests that there is an audience sex bias in evaluating sportscasters, with women perceived as being less authoritative than men. In this study, college students were questioned about sexism and the authoritativeness of sportscasters, with 119 respondents listening to a woman and 125 listening to a man. One-way ANOVA and LSD post hoc comparisons showed that male listeners rated the male sportscaster more authoritative than the female, and that female listeners rated the male sportscaster as more authoritative than male listeners rated the female. Regression analyses showed weak but significant support for sexist attitudes predicting the authoritativeness rating of the female sportscaster.

Cardiomyopathy is an intrinsic structural disorder of the myocardium that may result in ventricular dysfunction and can progress to clinical heart failure. Non-invasive imaging modalities can determine whether abnormalities are present in the myocardium, valves, pericardium, or vessels. These imaging techniques can also present important prognostic information, as well as direct treatment and further management. Echocardiography is the most common imaging technique used for the initial diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathy; however, other imaging modalities, including nuclear cardiac imaging, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac computed tomography, may play an important role depending on the underlying etiology of the cardiomyopathy. This article reviews the role of non-invasive imaging in the work-up and management of patients with cardiomyopathy.

Humans not only structure the landscape through their activities, but their perceptions of nature are affected by the spatial and temporal arrangements (structure) in the landscape. Our understanding of these interactions, however, is limited. We explored the relationship between landscape structure and peoples’ perceptions of nature in the Chicago, IL, USA, suburbs of Riverside and Berwyn because they offer contrasting paradigms of an urban landscape. Designed in the 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted, Riverside has several unique design elements (curvilinear streets, ample setbacks, parkways of variable width with mowed grass and naturalistic groupings of trees) that define the structure and composition of this landscape. The urban forest was the keystone of Olmsted's desire to create a harmonious community characterized by “refined sylvan beauty”. In contrast, the adjacent community of Berwyn has right-angled streets with small lots and narrow setbacks for houses. Differences in landscape structure between the two communities produced differences in the diversity, size, and composition of woody vegetation. As measured by patch-size distribution, Riverside had greater diversity in landscape structure than Berwyn, and in turn, Riverside had greater diversity in the composition and size of the woody vegetation compared to Berwyn. Riverside tended toward a “natural” appearance with vegetation, while yards in Berwyn tended to be trimmed and edged. Significant differences between the mean ratings of Riverside and Berwyn respondents were found for six of seven community attribute categories. Riverside participants reported receiving greater benefit from the visual and nature-related features of the urban forest than did Berwyn respondents. Berwyn residents ranked social atmosphere for the community and locomotion (wayfinding) highest among the seven community attribute categories. Despite differences between the two communities, residents valued the green residential environment provided by vegetation. However, the more diverse urban landscape as measured by built structures, woody vegetation, and lot size and shape proved to be more satisfying to the residents of these two communities. The design concepts developed and implemented by Olmsted more than century ago in Riverside are still relevant to city planners striving to develop living environments that are satisfying to urban and suburban residents.

The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of extracts from pine species were evaluated for various plant components, with emphasis on the seed cones. Seed cones from pine species were found to contain relatively high amounts of both total phenolics and antioxidant activity, and there appears to be some correlation of the two measurements. Juvenile cones contained by far the highest phenolic and antioxidant activity, but this high activity appears to be related to seeds retained in some of the samples, possibly due to the presence of proteins or additional antioxidants in the seeds. The phenolic content and antioxidant activity were also measured for other plant components and for a few other species for comparison. In general, the cones of red and jack pine exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to black and southern pines. The general trend for both total phenolics and antioxidant activity was (highest to lowest): juvenile cones>needles>new cones> bark>old cones>wood. Obviously, cones could represent a viable source of antioxidants, especially compared to the wood of species that had comparatively low activity. Collection and extraction of pine cones for antioxidants would be a non-destructive method for procurement of this medicinal aid.

Freshmen in an orientation course at a state university answered questionnaires about their peer mentors' listening and how well their peer mentors help them balance dialectical tensions of socialization. Results showed that perceived directive and emotional listening help the protege manage these tensions. Perceived emotional listening discriminated between high and low levels of liking and relational closeness but was only a slightly better predictor of reducing the protege's socialization tensions. Both types of perceived listening responses are important to effective mentoring: emotional listening helps proteges form positive relationships with their mentors and directive listening meets proteges' expectations.

Private landowners manage many rare species' habitats, yet research on their responses to species conservation legislation is scarce. To address this need, we examined private landowners' responses to the listing of the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). We mailed a questionnaire designed to measure these responses to a sample of landowners. The adjusted response rate was 46% (n =379). The questionnaire asked landowners whether they had managed their land to improve the Preble's habitat and to minimize the chance of the Preble's living on it. We also asked whether landowners had or would allow a survey for the Preble's on their property. We hypothesized that landowners would respond to these questions based on their aesthetic preferences, economic concerns, information sources, parcel size, personal values, recreation activities, residence status, social influences, and other factors. Listing the Preble's under the ESA does not appear to have enhanced its survival prospects on private land. In terms of hectares owned, for example, the efforts of landowners who reported they had sought to help the Preble's (25%) were canceled out by the efforts of those who sought to harm it (26%). Moreover, the majority of respondents had not or would not allow a biological survey (56%), thus preventing the collection of data for conserving the species. All eight hypothesized determinants significantly predicted responses to the listing when they were considered individually. When considered simultaneously, however, only one economic consideration (dependence on agriculture), recreation activity (consumptive), and social factor (distrusting government), and select information sources (conservation and social), and personal values (valuing nature, valuing local control, and denying landowner responsibility) remained direct determinants. To promote the conservation of rare species by private landowners, we recommend communicating information through social networks, alleviating landowners' economic concerns, increasing use of collaborative processes, and institutionalizing assurances that landowners will not be harmed by managing their land to help rare species.

Indulin kraft lignin and polypropylene were subjected to plasma treatments in a rotating electrodeless plasma reactor at 13.56 MHz radio frequency, with the goal of improving the strength properties of the composites made from these materials. It was shown that efficient surface modification could be achieved by these plasma treatments, avoiding long reaction times and large volumes of reactants for modification by conventional wet chemistry. SiCl4-plasma treatments of lignin at 100 and 200 W resulted in silicon implantation in the range of 4–10% that depended on the treatment time. However, the effect of power in the treatments was minimal, given that changes in silicon implantation were not observed for changes in this parameter. SiCl4-plasma treatment of polypropylene at 80 W, 1 and 10 min, resulted in silicon implantation in the order of 10–15%, for the two different treatment times, showing that low power and short treatment times were sufficient to significantly alter the polypropylene surface. However at high power (250 W), the longer treatment time of polypropylene apparently led to formation of oligohalosilanes. Other plasma treatments in the rotating reactor such as plasma-induced copolymerization of acryloyl chloride on both lignin and polypropylene, and plasma-state polymerization of acryloyl chloride on polypropylene under pulsing conditions, resulted in thin film depositions. Evaluation of composites from these treated materials is described in the next contribution (Part III) from this series. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1920–1926, 2004

In the agricultural Mid-west, riparian corridors are vital for protecting biodiversity and water quality. The cumulative management decisions of hundreds of private landowners have a tremendous impact on this riparian zone. This study of 268 farmers in a typical Mid-western watershed in Michigan looked at farmer's motivations for adopting conservation practices, their current management practices along their rivers and drains as well as their future management plans. The results of the study showed that farmers are intrinsically motivated to practise conservation by such factors as their attachment to their land, rather than by motivations such as receiving economic compensation. Farmers are also likely to engage in conservation practices that make their farm appear well-managed. Furthermore, those farmers with strong intrinsic motivations were likely to adopt conservation practices that protect streams, such as maintaining a woody vegetative buffer or practicing no-till farming. This study shows that pro...

Fluorinated thin layers were created on chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) sisal paper surfaces with fluorotrimethylsilane (FTMS) radio frequency-plasma conditions. It was found that the FTMS-discharge environments caused implantation of fluorine and –Si(CH3) x groups into the surface layers of the paper substrates. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis, as well as Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy analyses revealed a smooth surface for the FTMS plasma-treated paper, apparently covered completely with a cross-linked polymerized network. Although the plasma reaction takes place with the cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, it appears that the chemical linkage is mainly to the lignin component on the CTMP paper surface by means of mainly C–O–Si–F, with some C–Si–F structures. The CTMP fibers apparently have a high lignin surface concentration. The water absorption for the plasma-treated CTMP paper was reduced from greater than 300 to 17 g of water/m2 and the contact angle increased from less than 15° to greater than 120° the strength properties were only slightly reduced and the brightness was essentially unaffected with the FTMS plasma treatment.

This was the first of a series of papers presented February 20, 2001 at a national conference sponsored by North Texas State University held in the Omni Hotel Dallas, TX. The author relates the 1950 status of two-year college development, numbers and locations of university professors specializing in the field, and the need to persuade citizens they should have a public two-year college in their midst. Events are traced which led up to the overwhelming demand by the public in the late 1960s and early 1970s to have their own two-year college. This condition precipitated the untiring work of university faculty specialized in this field to accommodate the need for assistance at both the state level planning and for local college establishment. The citizens participatory comprehensive study involvement developed initially as a way of overcoming resistance and persuading citizens they needed a college is a viable approach today for periodically evaluating and future planning to meet changing societal manpower ...

Previous examinations of manual performance asymmetries have utilised relatively simple movements such as goal-directed aiming and rapid finger-tapping. In the present research, three-dimensional kinematic analyses were employed to examine manual asymmetries in the production of transitive limb gestures. Transitive limb gestures involve the use of tools and/or objects and are complex movements used in the evaluation of limb apraxia. Ten healthy right hand dominant participants produced two transitive limb gestures in response to verbal command both with (tool-use) and without (pantomime) the appropriate tool. Analyses revealed a dominant (right) hand advantage, although the magnitude of this advantage was influenced by movement context (pantomime vs tool-use). This study provides the first evidence that manual asymmetries are elicited during the production of transitive limb gestures, and mandates that future kinematic analyses of limb apraxia consider the impact of pre-morbid manual asymmetries when contrasting the performance of left and right hemisphere damaged patients.

Woodlots provide important environmental benefits in the Midwestern (USA) landscape, where they are undergoing rapid change. An increasingly diverse farm and non-farm population owns these non-industrial private forests (NIPFs). It is essential to understand what motivates NIPF landowners to retain and manage their forests. We describe a study of NIPF owners in an agricultural watershed where forest cover is increasing. What motivations and management practices might be contributing to this increase? The results of a survey of 112 NIPF owners suggest that aesthetic appreciation is the strongest motivator for retaining woodlots, especially by non-farmers. Protecting the environment also seems to be important for both farmers and non-farmers, while economic motivations are significantly less important. Landowners indicated that they are primarily taking a “hands-off” approach to management. This study provides insights for those interested in understanding NIPF landowners’ motivations and for developing effective programs.

Plasma-based technologies are an exciting alternative for cellulose andpaper modification. Barrier coatings and surface functionalization of celluloseenhances properties and creates new possibilities for cellulose-based products.A parallel plate radio frequency (RF)-plasma reactor was used to modify papersubstrates under discharge parameters such as power, time and pressure. Carbontetrafluoride RF-plasma treatment of paper caused intense fluorination and itwas demonstrated that the fluorination reaction mechanisms can be controlled bythe external plasma parameters. Fluorine contents as high as 51.3% (contactangle=147°) were obtained for the treated cellulose. It was shown that eventreatment times as low as 30 s can generate relative surface fluorineatomic concentrations as high as 30%. High resolution ESCA and ATR-FTIRanalysisindicated covalently bound CFx functional groups with CF4treatment. It was found that under certain experimental conditionssuper-hydrophobic paper surfaces are created by combining the high surfacefluorine atomic concentrations with specific plasma-generated surfacetopographies.

Summary The effect of biological pretreatment of sisal with several white rot fungi on the energy consumption in refining and on the mechanical properties of the pulps was evaluated in this investigation. Improvements were realized in all the mechanical properties (22–66 %) and a reduction in the energy consumption of > 39% was realized for the treated pulps with the different fungi. The best strength improvement and energy reduction results overall were obtained with the white-rot fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. The incubation time was optimized for this fungus with the optimum mechanical properties obtained with a two week treatment time.

The effects of pinosylvin, pinosylvin monomethyl ether, pinosylvin dimethyl ether, and resveratrol on the fungal shoot blight and canker pathogen of conifers Sphaeropsis sapinea were examined in vitro. Effects of compounds, isolates, and concentrations on both conidial germination and mycelial growth were significant (values of P < 0.001), indicating inhibitory activity of these compounds.

This study was conducted to determine if an alternate seed treatment approach based on plasma chemistry would offer a more viable alternative over traditional seed coating technologies. Seed germination characteristics were modified in five agricultural species by coating the surface of the seeds with macromolecules from a cold plasma process using a rotating plasma reactor. The source gas entering the plasma chamber during the reaction process determined the type of coating, and coatings were typically much less than 5.0 micrometer in thickness. To delay germination we utilized two different hydrophobic source gases, carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) or octadecafluorodecalin (ODFD). Seeds of radish (Raphanus sativus) and two pea cultivars (Pisum sativum cv. Little Marvel, P. sativum cv. Alaska) treated with CF4, resulted in a significant delay in germination compared with untreated controls. Similarly, plasma treatment with ODFD significantly delayed germination in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], corn (Zea mays L.), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds. The degree of delay was dependent on the amount of coating applied, with an increased thickness of coating resulting in a greater delay in germination. To enhance germination we treated seeds with cyclohexane, or with a gas such as aniline or hydrazine. Seeds treated with cyclohexane resulted in a significant acceleration in germination percentage for soybean but not corn seeds, while hydrazine-treated corn seed showed a small acceleration over control seed. However, both aniline-treated soybean and corn seed had a significant acceleration in germination percentage. Tests of water uptake determined that the major mode of action of the plasma coatings was largely on the rate of imbibition. These results demonstrate a potentially important technique to modify seed germination characteristics in agricultural plant species.

This article contends that while striving to promote environmentally responsible behavior, we have focused attention too narrowly on just two classes of motives. There is a need to expand the range of motives available to practitioners and to provide a framework within which motives can be evaluated for both their immediate and long-term effectiveness. The article then examines a strategy for promoting environmentally responsible behavior that has significant potential. This strategy is based on a particular form of motivation called intrinsic satisfaction. Nine studies are reviewed that have outlined the structure of intrinsic satisfaction. A key theme discussed is the human inclination for competence. This fundamental human concern is shown to have both a general form and a resource-specific version. Although the search for motives effective at promoting environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) is being enthusiastically pursued, the work so far has been somewhat confined. The vast majority of attention has been given to only two motivations: providing material incentives and disincentives sufficient to make the behavior worth attending to and focusing on the altruistic reasons for engaging in the behavior. There has been relatively little exploration of other, potentially more useful alternatives. Early attention was given to the use of incentives and disincentives. Scott Geller and his colleagues explored the effectiveness of incentives and disincentives in promoting ERB and established that such behavior can be motivated by the manipulation of material reward, whether token or real (Geller, 1987, 1992; Geller

The interaction and adhesion between the fiber and matrix has a significant effect in determining the mechanical and physical behavior of fiber composites. The effect of the interface and interphase depends on several factors such as chemical composition (functional groups), molecular structure characteristics (branching, molecular weight distribution, cross-linking), and details of its physical state (above or below Tg, nature and degree of crystallinity). Natural fibers have complex and varying chemical structures that have uneven surface topographies. This creates difficulties in using single fiber composite testing to accurately evaluate the interfacial shear strengths, except for comparisons. A review of our interphase related research in natural fiber composites is presented. When using coupling agents it is well known that the tensile and flexural strengths increase dramatically in natural fiber reinforced composites. However, in the case of modulus, the results are more complex. For two ethylene-propylene impact copolymers, the uncoupled systems had much higher Young's moduli than the coupled systems. The dynamic storage moduli of the uncoupled impact polymers were higher than the coupled composites at temperatures up to about 50°C. At higher temperatures the presence of the coupling agent resulted in higher storage moduli. Transcrystallinity may play an important role in this phenomenon. Creep and other long-term properties are also affected by the quality of the interphase, although the level of improvement decreases with an increase in the molecular weight of the matrix polymer. Coupling agents reduced the rate of water absorption and the moduli were less affected in blends with a higher concentration of coupling agents.

Summary A novel plasma-enhanced coating for wood substrates has been developed which diminishes the degradation of wood under simulated harsh environmental conditions. Reflective (zinc oxide) and electromagnetic radiation (EMR)-absorbent (benzotriazole, 2-hydroxybenzophenone, phtalocyanine, and graphite) substances were incorporated into a liquid phase, high-molecular-weight polydimethylsiloxane and deposited as thin layers on wood surfaces. The macromolecular films, containing the dispersed materials, were then converted into a three-dimensional solid state network by exposure to a 30 kHz-oxygen-RF-plasma. The discharge induced chemistry and altered surface topographies in the surface layers were monitored by survey and high resolution Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The surface characteristics and the resistance to weathering of the plasma treated substrates were evaluated and compared to the properties of un-modified samples.

Summary Three stilbenes, pinosylvin (PS), pinosylvin monomethyl ether (PSM) and pinosylvin dimethyl ether (PSD), were extracted from white spruce (Picea glauca), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), and red pine (Pinus resinosa) pine cones, and their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic and chromatographic (HPLC, GC/MS, NMR and FTIR) analysis. PS, PSM, PSD or a 1:1:1 mixture of these stilbenes at concentrations of 0.1 % and 1.0 % were examined for their fungal inhibitory activity by two bioassay methods. Growth of white-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium), and brown-rot fungi (Neolentinus lepideus, Gloeophyllum trabeum and Postia placenta) on agar media in the presence of each of the stilbenes or a 1:1:1 mixture inhibited growth of white-rot fungi, but slightly stimulated growth of brown-rot fungi. Soil-block assays, conditions more representative of those found in nature, did not correlate with those from the screening on agar media. PS, PSM, PSD or a 1:1:1 mixture of the three compounds at concentrations of 0.1 % and 1.0 % did not impart any significant decay resistance to white-rot fungi inoculated on a hardwood (Red maple). However under the same conditions, decay resistance was observed against brown-rot fungi on a softwood (Southern yellow pine). It appears that stilbenes at least partially contribute to wood decay resistance against brown-rot fungi.

Pulping of blue agave waste, from the production of tequila, was evaluated by both chemical and biomechanical pulping processes. Two conventional and two organosolv systems were used to pulp the agave waste under a standard set of conditions. The soda-ethanol process was superior in terms of delignification and pulp properties in comparison to the soda and ethanol organosolv processes for pulping of agave waste; however, the kraft process gave the best strength properties. In general, the strength of the agave waste pulps was rather poor in comparison to wood and other agro-based pulps; however, the tear strength was relatively high. This result is typical of poorly bonded sheets and may be due to the coarseness of the agave fibers and/or loss of hemicelluloses in the steaming process for the tequila production. Fungal treatment of the agave waste with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora reduced the energy consumption for mechanical refining but gave biomechanical pulps with inferior strength properties. The blue agave chemical pulps should be suitable for blending with softwood kraft pulps for publication grade paper.

Summary Southern yellow pine wood surfaces were modified under cold plasma conditions in order to create water repellent characteristics. The surface chemistry of the plasma “polymerized” hexamethyldisiloxane (PHMDSO) deposited onto wood surfaces was investigated using Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The presence of a crosslinked macromolecular structure, based on Si-O-Si and Si-O-C linkages was detected. Pyrolysis Mass Spectroscopy (MS) was carried out to investigate the nature of the building blocks of the plasma generated macromolecular structure. Plasma modified samples exhibited very high water contact angle values (contact angle = 130 degrees) in comparison to the unmodified samples (contact angle ≤ 15 degrees), indicating the presence of a hydrophobic surface. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images, collected both from unmodified and HMDSO-plasma modified samples, indicate the progressive growth of the plasma “polymer”, resulting in the deposition of a smooth layer at 10 minutes treatment time. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) indicated high thermal stability of the PHMDSO.