The purpose of the study was to evaluate Lactobacillus reuteri for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in hospitalized adults. AAD is a problem in hospitalized adults, contributing to increased length of stay, cost, and mortality. Probiotics have been proposed as a way to prevent AAD. L. reuteri decreases acute infectious diarrhea in children; however, L. reuteri has never been evaluated for the prevention of AAD. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, in-patients receiving antibiotics were given L. reuteri 1×108 colony-forming units twice daily or an identical placebo for 4 weeks. Stool frequency, consistency, and gastrointestinal symptoms were monitored during the 4-week treatment period and during a 2-week follow-up period. A total of 31 patients were enrolled. Eight patients were excluded in the data analysis because of length of study participation less than 14 days. Mean age was 51±18 years; 63% were female and 37% male. Most frequent primary diagnosis was pneumonia (20%), followed by abscess (10%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6.7%), and bronchitis (6.7%). Thirteen patients received L. reuteri and 10 received placebo. Patients treated with L. reuteri had a significantly lower frequency of diarrhea compared with placebo (50% in the placebo group vs. 7.7% in the probiotic group, P=0.02). There were no differences in the frequency or severity of gastrointestinal symptoms. In this placebo-controlled, pilot study, L. reuteri twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased AAD among hospitalized adults. L. reuteri was safe and well tolerated.

Longleaf pine (LLP) (Pinus palustris Mill.) is well known for its role in supporting healthy ecosystems in the southeastern (SE) United States (US). The decline of LLP forest ecosystems has led to a consensus among stakeholders that restoration efforts are needed. However, there is still a lack of robust understanding of the utilization of nonmarket ecosystem services of LLP forests. These challenges have presented major barriers to landowner acceptance of subsidized LLP restoration programs. Understanding the tradeoffs between forest ecosystem services is critical to restoring LLP in the SE US. This study employs the best-worst choice (BWC) method to assess public preferences toward hypothetical LLP restoration programs that consider ecosystem services such as recreation, timber production, carbon sequestration, water yield, and wildlife diversity. We surveyed a representative sample of n = 953 respondents from Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida, and results showed that residents in all four states are willing to pay for LLP restoration, with the highest average willingness to pay (WTP) for forest recreation ($20.39), followed by red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) conservation ($13.37) and carbon sequestration ($13.32). This research provides important public preference information on ecosystem services that is critical in forming sustainable LLP restoration programs.

As offshore wind gains momentum within US (United States) renewable energy goals, New Jersey's ambitious targets for offshore wind development represent a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and transition towards cleaner energy sources. This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a planned offshore wind farm off of New Jersey's coast, emphasizing the implications of a domestic supply chain. Key findings suggest that the offshore wind farm is projected to produce 0.013 kg CO₂ kWh⁻¹ of electricity generated, reflecting a 98 % decrease in carbon emissions compared to natural-gas-derived electricity. Further, when compared to carbon emissions from other renewable energy technologies, offshore wind outperforms both solar and onshore wind by 79 % and 43 %, respectively. This finding highlights offshore wind's role in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction through decarbonizing the electricity generation sector. This role is reinforced through the case of a domestic supply chain, a necessary factor in the mitigation of transportation-related impacts, like fuel combustion, to decrease emissions. Beyond GHG emissions, results indicate that the steel-intensive materials used in turbines and infrastructure contribute heavily to toxicity-related impacts, highlighting a need to seek alternative, lower-impact materials. This research underscores the potential of offshore wind to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offers insight into the environmental dynamics and improved environmental-impact-based decision making to improve offshore wind deployment in the US.

Co-firing wood pellets with coal is an attractive alternative energy generation method with economic, social, and environmental benefits for the US energy generation sector. One way to sustainably use wood pellets for co-firing is to create consumer-supported green pricing programs (GPPs). Our study surveyed residents of five states (Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) to investigate preferences for the attributes of a hypothetical GPP. The study applied the Best Worst Choice method, which employs the Best Worst Scaling (BWS) and binary choice (BC) task. The BWS analysis showed that residents of all five states most value the flexibility of contracts, the location of energy generation, and the reduction of carbon emissions as attributes of GPPs. The BC analysis, however, showed that residents are willing to pay a premium for length of contract, followed by reduction of carbon emissions and variability of payments. This study shows that the adoption of optimal GPP attributes can create real customer value. The success of GPPs will depend on increasing enrollment and public support; hence, the next step will be to increase awareness levels and green consciousness through sensitization in the form of public education exercises and media campaigns. Such measures will serve to inform and educate residents on the benefits of GPPs and lessen the gap between intrinsic value and willingness to pay for select attributes.