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Serotonin, which is a vasoactive amine, is an important neurotransmitter and is involved in many behavioral and psychological phenomena, such as pain, appetite, mood, and sleep. The primary purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of high-pressure administration of sterile physiological saline isotonic solution (HpPSIS) into nasal cavity and to determine the expression of the serotonin.The study was made in two branches, the previous with 14 volunteers, the subsequent study with 40 patients with mild anxiety disorder. The middle third of the inferior turbinate epithelial cells on the right nostril was scraped using a sterile curette and indicated as (pre), then, a spray of sterilized isotonic solution at high pressure on the left nostril was delivered, and 5 minutes later a similar stimulation was delivered on the same nostril. The stimulation was made with a specific spray dispenser. The middle third of the inferior turbinate epithelial cells on the left nostril was scraped using a sterile curette and indicated as (post). Then, based on the first part of our study, we started the second part and gave a treatment on forty new patients with anxiety disorder.The results of these studies highlight the possibility of endogenous enhancement of serotonin by stimulation of mast cells. In the first part of the study, Serotonin significantly increased in protein extracts after treatment (64.35±5.33 vs. 10.97±2.17; unpaired two tailed t-test, t=9.8, df=24, p≤0.0001; F=6.035; DFn=12; DFd=12). In the second part of the study, in patients treated with HpPSIS, we observed improvement of mood, after one, two and three months, with a statistically significant reduction of DASS-21, while no reduction was observed in control patients, treated with normal pressure commercial spray.This pilot study showed that the topical treatment of HpPHIS increases serotonin levels in nasal cavity. The observation reported in this study opens the way to a new valid strategy to enhance the level of endogenous serotonin. We observed a significant improvement of ASI on patients during HpPHIS therapy.

Composting is an alternative management practice for handling and storing manure in intensive cattle production systems. With composting, cattle manure is converted into a soil amendment with improved nutrient and physical properties and is easier to handle. Despite its benefits, composting can produce large amounts of gaseous carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) emissions that include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3). A process-based model for cattle manure compost windrows was developed and incorporated into the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM, v. 4.3), a whole-farm simulation model of crop, dairy, and beef production systems. Designed to simulate the different processes that influence C and N balances in windrows, the compost windrow model predicts changes in C (organic C, microbial C) and N (organic N, microbial N, ammonium (NH4+-N), nitrate (NO3--N)) contents in the windrow; CO2, CH4, N2O, and NH3 emissions throughout composting; and corresponding C and N losses. To increase its accuracy in simulating the different processes occurring during composting, the compost windrow model was also designed to predict environmental conditions within windrows, which include moisture content, temperature, and oxygen availability, and changes in windrow material physical properties, such as bulk and particle densities. Modeling routines and relationships of the compost windrow model are described. Evaluation of its performance in predicting windrow environmental conditions, physical and chemical properties, and gaseous emissions is documented in an accompanying article. Keywords: Cattle manure, Composting, Emissions, IFSM, Process-based modeling..

A model was developed and incorporated into the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM, v.4.3) that simulates important processes occurring during windrow composting of manure. The model, documented in an accompanying article, predicts changes in windrow properties and conditions and the resulting emissions of C and N. Our objective in this article was to evaluate the performance of the compost windrow model. Model predictions were compared to published data from an independent cattle manure composting study that characterized static (no turning) and turned windrows composted over a 188-day period. The model did very well in simulating C and N losses for the turned windrow treatment, with predicted and measured cumulative C losses of 78% and 77%, respectively, and cumulative N losses of 55% and 57%, respectively, by day 99 of composting. By day 188 of composting, predicted cumulative N loss (56%) differed from measured (58%) by 2 percentage points only, whereas predicted cumulative C loss matched the corresponding measured value (80%). For the static windrow treatment, the model also did well in simulating cumulative C loss by day 99, with a difference of 5 percentage points between predicted (50%) and measured (45%) values. On the other hand, there was a difference of 12 percentage points between predicted (31%) and measured (19%) cumulative N losses for the static windrow by day 99. This discrepancy in simulating N loss for the static windrow treatment was not surprising, as the NH3 biofiltration effect of the finished compost cover on the actual static windrow was not modeled. After simulating the turning of the static windrow treatment on day 99, predicted and measured cumulative N losses by day 188 were equal at 44%. With the compost windrow model as a component, IFSM can be used to evaluate gaseous emissions from composted manure as influenced by windrow management practices and environmental conditions, along with other aspects of performance, environmental impact, and economics of cattle feeding operations. Simulating different composting strategies showed that addition of dry material to the cattle manure at the start of composting and turning of the manure windrow during composting produced a more stable organic soil amendment but caused greater carbon and nitrogen losses. Keywords: Cattle manure, Composting, Emissions, IFSM, Process-based modeling.

Large commercial cattle feedlots are significant sources of particulate matter (PM) emissions. This research compared WindTrax and the flux-gradient technique in estimating emissions of PM with aerodynamic diameter 10) from cattle feedlots. Meteorological conditions were measured and PM10 concentrations were profiled vertically (i.e., 2.0 to 7.62 m) at a large commercial beef cattle feedlot in Kansas from May through September 2011. Results show that between the two methods evaluated, WindTrax was least sensitive to changes in heights and number of heights used in the emission estimation, with calculated PM10 emission rates varying by up to 18% only. On the other hand, PM10 emission rates produced by the flux-gradient technique varied by almost 56% when changing either heights and/or number of heights in emission calculation. Both methods were sensitive to height settings, with their respective PM10 emission rates higher when the lowest height setting (2.0 m) was included. Calculating PM10 emission rates with the 7.62-m height led to lower estimates for the flux-gradient technique but no significant change in estimates was observed for WindTrax. As demonstrated in this study, for the flux-gradient technique, settings for the lowest and highest heights were the most critical in emission estimation; exclusion of other heights in between showed only to 2% to 6% change in calculated PM10 emission rates. In general, the higher PM10 emission rates were obtained with the flux-gradient technique. However, eliminating the lowest height (2.0 m) in the calculation and, at the same time, using a specific set of formulations for the flux-gradient technique made its calculated PM10 emission rates slightly lower (but not significantly different) than those from WindTrax.

Airborne emissions, such as ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O), vary considerably among open-lot beef and dairy operations as influenced by climate and manure pack conditions. Because of the challenges with direct measurement, process-based modeling is a recommended approach for estimating airborne emissions from animal feeding operations, such as open lots. The Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM), a whole-farm simulation model for crop, dairy, and beef operations, was previously used (ver. 4.0) to simulate NH3 emissions from open lots and performed well in representing emissions for two beef cattle feedyards in Texas. However, the previous model was found to perform poorly in predicting NH3 emissions measured at two open-lot dairies in Idaho, so further work was done to better represent the effects of climate on lot and manure pack conditions and to integrate better models for nitrification and denitrification processes. The revised model (ver. 4.1) appropriately predicted NH3 emissions for the two Texas beef cattle feedyards, with model predictions having 59% and 81% agreement with measured daily emissions at each lot. Compared to the previous version, the revised model performed better in simulating NH3 emissions for the Idaho open-lot dairies, with 56% to 74% agreement between predicted and measured daily NH3 emissions. For an Idaho dairy with a freestall barn and open lot, the revised model simulated NH3 emissions with 92% agreement between predicted and measured values. Based on measurements obtained at two of the Idaho dairies, IFSM also predicted daily N2O emissions with good agreement (64% to 80%) to measured values. Hence, IFSM can be used to estimate open-lot emissions of NH3 and N2O along with other aspects of performance, environmental impact, and economics of cattle feeding operations in different climatic regions. The model provides a tool for evaluating management strategies to mitigate emissions and improve the sustainability of beef and dairy production systems.

A comprehensive national assessment of the sustainability of beef is being conducted by the U.S. beef industry. The first of 7 regions to be analyzed is Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. A survey and visits conducted throughout the region provided data on common production practices. From these data, representative ranch and feedyard operations were defined and simulated for the varying climate and soil conditions throughout the region using the Integrated Farm System Model. These simulations predicted environmental impacts of each operation including cradle-to-farm gate footprints for greenhouse gas emissions, fossil-based energy use, nonprecipitation water use, and reactive N loss. Individual ranch and feedyard operations were linked to form 28 representative production systems. A weighted average of the production systems was used to determine the environmental footprints for the region where weighting factors were developed based on animal numbers reported in the survey and agricultural statistics data. Along with the traditional beef production systems, Holstein steer and cull cow production from the dairy industry in the region were also modeled and included. The carbon footprint of all beef produced was 18.3 ± 1.7 kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e)/kg carcass weight (CW) with the range in individual production systems being 13 to 25 kg CO2e/kg CW. Energy use, water use, and reactive N loss were 51 ± 4.8 MJ/kg CW, 2,470 ± 455 L/kg CW, and 138 ± 12 g N/kg CW, respectively. The major portion of each footprint except water use was associated with the cow-calf phase; most of the nonprecipitation water use was attributed to producing feed for the finishing phase. These data provide a baseline for comparison as new technologies and strategies are developed and implemented to improve the sustainability of cattle production. Production information also will be combined with processing, marketing, and consumer data to complete a comprehensive life cycle assessment of beef.

Emissions data on air pollutants from large open-lot beef cattle feedlots are limited. This research was conducted to determine emissions of total suspended particulates (TSP) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from a commercial beef cattle feedlot in Kansas (USA). Vertical particulate concentration profiles at the feedlot were measured using gravimetric samplers, and micrometeorological parameters were monitored with eddy covariance instrumentation during the nine 4- to 5-day intensive sampling campaigns from May 2010 through September 2011. Emission fluxes were determined from the measured concentration gradients and meteorological parameters using the flux-gradient technique. PM ratios based on calculated emission fluxes were 0.28 for PM2.5/PM10, 0.12 for PM2.5/TSP, and 0.24 for PM10/TSP, indicating that a large fraction of the PM emitted at the studied feedlot was in the coarse range of aerodynamic diameter, >10 μm. Median daily emission factors were 57, 21, and 11 kg 1000-head (hd)−1 d−1 for TSP (n = 20 days), PM10 (n = 19 days), and PM2.5 (n = 11 days), respectively. Cattle pen surface moisture contents of at least 20–30% significantly reduced both TSP and PM10 emissions, but moisture's effect on PM2.5 emissions was not established due to difficulty in measuring PM2.5 concentrations under low-PM conditions.

Data on air emissions from open-lot beef cattle () feedlots are limited. This research was conducted to determine fluxes of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM) from a commercial beef cattle feedlot in Kansas using the flux-gradient technique, a widely used micrometeorological method for air emissions from open sources. Vertical PM concentration profiles and micrometeorological parameters were measured at the feedlot using tapered element oscillating microbalance PM samplers and eddy covariance instrumentations (i.e., sonic anemometer and infrared hygrometer), respectively, from May 2010 through September 2011, representing feedlot conditions with air temperatures ranging from -24 to 39°C. Calculated hourly PM fluxes varied diurnally and seasonally, ranging up to 272 mg m h, with an overall median of 36 mg m h. For warm conditions (air temperature of 21 ± 10°C), the highest hourly PM fluxes (range 116-146 mg m h) were observed during the early evening period, from 2000 to 2100 h. For cold conditions (air temperature of -2 ± 8°C), the highest PM fluxes (range 14-27 mg m h) were observed in the afternoon, from 1100 to 1500 h. Changes in the hourly trend of PM fluxes coincided with changes in friction velocity, air temperature, sensible heat flux, and surface roughness. The PM emission was also affected by the pen surface water content, where a water content of at least 20% (wet basis) would be sufficient to effectively reduce PM emissions from pens by as much as 60%.

Silage on dairy farms can emit large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a precursor in the formation of tropospheric ozone. Because of the challenges associated with direct measurements, process-based modeling is another approach for estimating emissions of air pollutants from sources such as those from dairy farms. A process-based model for predicting VOC emissions from silage was developed and incorporated into the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM, v. 4.3), a whole-farm simulation of crop, dairy, and beef production systems. The performance of the IFSM silage VOC emission model was evaluated using ethanol and methanol emissions measured from conventional silage piles (CSP), silage bags (SB), total mixed rations (TMR), and loose corn silage (LCS) at a commercial dairy farm in central California. With transport coefficients for ethanol refined using experimental data from our previous studies, the model performed well in simulating ethanol emission from CSP, TMR, and LCS; its lower performance for SB could be attributed to possible changes in face conditions of SB after silage removal that are not represented in the current model. For methanol emission, lack of experimental data for refinement likely caused the underprediction for CSP and SB whereas the overprediction observed for TMR can be explained as uncertainty in measurements. Despite these limitations, the model is a valuable tool for comparing silage management options and evaluating their relative effects on the overall performance, economics, and environmental impacts of farm production. As a component of IFSM, the silage VOC emission model was used to simulate a representative dairy farm in central California. The simulation showed most silage VOC emissions were from feed lying in feed lanes and not from the exposed face of silage storages. This suggests that mitigation efforts, particularly in areas prone to ozone non-attainment status, should focus on reducing emissions during feeding. For the simulated dairy farm, a reduction of around 30% was found if cows were housed and fed in a barn rather than in an open lot, and 23% if feeds were delivered as four feedings per day rather than as one. Reducing the exposed face of storage can also be useful. Simulated use of silage bags resulted in 90% and 18% reductions in emissions from the storage face and whole farm, respectively.

Reverse dispersion modeling has been used to determine air emission fluxes from ground-level area sources, including open-lot beef cattle feedlots. This research compared Gaussian-based AERMOD, the preferred regulatory dispersion model of the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and WindTrax, a backward Lagrangian stochastic-based dispersion model, in determining PM10 emission rates for a large beef cattle feedlot in Kansas. The effect of the type of meteorological data was also evaluated. Meteorological conditions and PM10 concentrations at the feedlot were measured with micrometeorological/eddy covariance instrumentation and tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) PM10 monitors, respectively, from May 2010 through September 2011. Using the measured meteorological conditions and assuming a unit emission flux (i.e., 1 microg/m2-sec), each model was used to calculate PM10 concentrations (referred to as unit-flux concentrations). PM10 emission fluxes were then back-calculated using the measured and calculated unit-flux PM10 concentrations. For AERMOD, results showed that the PM10 emission fluxes determined using the two different meteorological data sets evaluated (eddy covariance-derived and AERMET-generated) were basically the same. For WindTrax, the two meteorological data sets (sonic anemometer data set, a three-variable data set composed of wind parameters, surface roughness, and atmospheric stability) also produced basically the same PM10 emission fluxes. Back-calculated emission fluxes from AERMOD were 32 to 69% higher than those from WindTrax.This work compared the PM10 emission rates determined from a large commercial cattle feedlot in Kansas by reverse dispersion modeling using AERMOD and WindTrax. Emission fluxes derived from AERMOD were greater than those from WindTrax by mean factors of 1.3 to 1.6. Based on the high linearity observed between the two models, emission fluxes derived from one dispersion model for the purpose of simulating dispersion could be applied to the other model using appropriate conversion factors.

Windrow composting of cattle manure is a significant source of gaseous emissions that include ammonia and the greenhouse gases of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. A process-based model was developed to simulate different carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) processes, such as mineralization, immobilization, volatilization, etc., occurring during composting, and their effects on and interactions with environmental conditions within the windrow. Comprehensive measurement data from a published independent cattle manure composting study were used in refining and assessing the model. Out of 15 measured parameters available for model evaluation, six were also used in refining model constants. Simulation results indicate that the model performed reasonably in predicting environmental conditions (e.g., moisture), C and N balance within, and gaseous emissions from static (i.e., no turning) and turned windrows. At the end of 99 days of composting, predicted C (50%) and N (31%) losses, mainly as gaseous emissions, for the static windrow compared well with measured losses (45% and 19%, respectively) – the discrepancy observed for N loss was likely due to non-simulation of the finished compost cover that was included on the experimental windrow. The model performed better in simulating the turned windrow, with predicted C (78%) and N (55%) losses very close to those measured (77% and 57%, respectively). The performance of the model was further assessed using another published independent study on a turned windrow, with predicted C (43%) and N (40%) losses comparable to measured losses (53% and 42%, respectively). The process-based compost model is incorporated in a version of the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM), a whole-farm simulation model used to evaluate the performance, environmental impact, and economics of crop, dairy, and beef production systems. The new component will enable whole-farm evaluation of the impacts of implementing manure composting strategies.

Open beef cattle feedlots emit various air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) with equivalent aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm or less (PM10); however limited research has quantified PM10 emission rates from feedlots. This research was conducted to determine emission rates of PM10 from large cattle feedlots in Kansas. Concentrations of PM10 at the downwind and upwind edges of two large cattle feedlots (KS1 and KS2) in Kansas were measured with tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) PM10 monitors from January 2007 to December 2008. Weather conditions at the feedlots were also monitored. From measured PM10 concentrations and weather conditions, PM10 emission rates were determined using reverse modeling with the American Meteorological Society/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD). The two feedlots differed significantly in median PM10 emission flux (1.60 g/m2-day for KS1 vs. 1.10 g/m2-day for KS2) but not in PM10 emission factor (27 kg/1000 head-day for KS1 and 30 kg/1000 head-day KS2). These emission factors were smaller than published U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission factor for cattle feedlots.

Water sprinkler systems are one method for controlling particulate matter (PM) emissions from cattle feedlots; however, limited data are available on the efficiency of these systems. This research was conducted to determine the PM control efficiency of a water sprinkler system in a cattle feedlot in Kansas. Downwind and upwind PM10 concentrations at the feedlot (KS1) were monitored with tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) PM10 monitors from January 2006 to July 2009. The feedlot was equipped with a sprinkler system with a maximum water application rate of 5.0 mm d-1 (5.0 L m-2 d-1). Control efficiency was determined by considering the PM10 data during sprinkler on/off events (i.e., the sprinkler system was operated for at least one day and was either followed or preceded by at least one day of no water sprinkling). Control efficiency equaled the percentage reduction in net PM10 concentration (i.e., downwind concentration - upwind concentration). PM10 control efficiency ranged from 32% to 80% with an overall mean of 53% (based on 24 h PM10 values). The effect of the sprinkler system in reducing net PM10 concentration lasted for one day or less. The PM10 concentration percentage reduction due to rainfall events was also determined at feedlot KS1 and at another feedlot (KS2). Feedlot KS2, located less than 40 km from KS1, was not equipped with a sprinkler system but practiced more frequent pen cleaning. Percentage reductions in net PM10 concentrations due to rainfall events were mostly in the range of 60% to almost 100% for both feedlots, with overall means of 77% for KS1 and 76% for KS2. The effects of rainfall events (with rainfall amounts >10 mm per event) lasted for 3 to 7 days depending on rainfall amount and intensity.

High-performance liquid chromatography was employed for the determination of the optical purity of diphosphine and diphosphine oxide ligands of transition metals used in stereoselective reactions. The separation of the enantiomers was accomplished, without any derivatization, on chiral columns containing, as chiral selectors, urea derivatives [Supelcosil LC-(R)-Phenyl Urea and (R)-Naphthyl Urea] and cellulose carbamate derivative (Chiralcel OG). The use of these three columns is complementary. The mobile phases were optimised to obtain enantiomeric resolution. The α and Rs values ranged from 1.12 to 1.83 and from 0.62 to 4.97 on Supelcosil LC-(R)-Phenyl and (R)-Naphthyl Urea based columns, whereas α and Rs values were between 1.11 and 1.38 and 0.24 and 2.00 on a cellulose carbamate based column. Poor α and Rs values were obtained with columns containing tetrahydronaphthyl [(R,R)-Whelk-01] and cellulose derivatives (Chiralcel OJ) as chiral selectors. The method is capable of determining a minimum limit of 2.5 ng of each enantiomer of compound 1.

A configuration of a slotted patch antenna is introduced, which allows two or more separate operating frequencies. Both of them are associated with a radiating mode almost identical to that of a standard patch. The two resonances are related to the patch width and the slot/patch length respectively.

The Institute of Health Sciences was established on the island of Leyte in the Philippines in 1976 for the specific purpose of training health personnel for work in the depressed and underserviced areas on the islands of Leyte and Samar. The Institute differs markedly from other medical institutions in terms of recruitment policies, training procedures, and goals. The key elements in the program include 1) the recruitment of students from the depressed areas ultimately to be served by the program; 2) a ladder type of training program which permits students to pogress through various levels of medical service certification from health worker to physician; and 3) the punctuation of academic training with periods of in-service work back in the student's community of origin. The Institute is designed to offer 5 progressive levels of training including 1) a health worker program; 2) a community health worker program; 3) a nursing program; 4) a bachelor of science program in community medicine; and 5) a doctor of medicine program. The 5th level of training has not been fully implemented as yet. The students at the Institute are recent high school graduates who have been nominated by their local communities to participate in the program. All the students begin the program at the 1st level and progress up the ladder as far as possible taking into account individual trainee desires and aptitudes, community needs, and evaluation by Institute personnel. Participants in the program are not legally bound to work in their communities of origin after the completion of their training. It is expected that most of these individuals will elect to return to the depressed areas because 1) the trainees grew up in low income, rural families unlike their counterparts at other institutions; 2) the trainee's ties with his village of origin are constantly reinforced by the in-service training built into the program; 3) the students are accorded high prestige in their communities; and 4) the Institute instills in the students a sense of social responsibility.