Farm Service Agency

Passiflora foetida L. (rambusa) leaves contain bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial activity against acne-causing bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of ethanolic extracts of P. foetida L. leaves against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and to formulate and assess the physical properties of serum preparations containing the extract. Ethanolic extracts at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% were tested using the well diffusion method on Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA), with positive and negative controls. Serum formulations containing 0% (F0), 5% (FI), 10% (FII), and 15% (FIII) extract concentrations were prepared and evaluated for organoleptic characteristics, homogeneity, spreadability, adhesion, pH, and viscosity. The extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against both bacteria, producing inhibition zones at 15% concentration of 5.83 mm for P. acnes and 3.69 mm for S. epidermidis. The inhibition zone diameter increased with extract concentration. All formulations showed good homogeneity, stable pH (approximately 6.0), and acceptable organoleptic characteristics. Spreadability ranged from 9.0–10.0 cm, adhesion time from 8–17 seconds, and viscosity values were 300 mPa·s (F0), 165 mPa·s (FI), 189 mPa·s (FII), and 198 mPa·s (FIII). In conclusion, the 96% ethanolic extract of P. foetida L. leaves possesses antibacterial potential against acne-causing bacteria, while the formulated serum exhibits favorable physical characteristics for topical application and potential as a functional anti-acne cosmetic product.

Technologies and practices that reduce the environmental impacts of US agriculture are well documented. Less is known about how best to encourage their adoption. We report on the results of a large randomized controlled trial conducted with nearly 10,000 agricultural producers in the United States. The experiment was embedded in US Department of Agriculture outreach efforts to improve soil conservation practices. USDA varied the content of mailings to test two sets of competing theories about outreach to agricultural producers. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find no evidence that acknowledging the link between climate change and agricultural production discourages conservation action. Furthermore, we find that producers who were invited to a webinar were less likely to take any action to learn more about conservation practices than producers who were not told about the webinar, a result that runs counter to the popular wisdom that offering more options leads to more action.

Data obtained through a contingent-valuation survey were used to analyze preferences for wetland-loss prevention in coastal Louisiana. Results indicate a strong preference for a short-run program over a long-run program or no action. Respondents that had higher incomes, were white, had prior knowledge of ongoing restoration efforts, and had confidence in government were more likely to vote yes relative to no action, as were those citing hurricane, environmental, or climate-change protection as their primary concern. Turnbull Lower-Bound median willingness to pay (willingness to accept compensation) was estimated at $3,547 ($5,313) per household for the short-run program and $2,765 ($5,101) per household for the long-run program.

A wide variety of environmental stresses can cause density-independent mortality in species populations. One example is cooling-water withdrawals, which kill or injure many aquatic organisms near power plants and other industrial facilities. In the United States alone, hundreds of facilities withdraw trillions of gallons from inland and coastal waters every year to cool turbines and other manufacturing equipment. A number of detailed, site-specific studies of the effects of such cooling-water withdrawals have been conducted over the last 30 years, but only a few generalizations have been proposed in the peer-reviewed literature. In this paper we use a series of basic theoretical models to investigate the potential effects of density-independent mortality on species populations and ecosystems, with particular focus on the effects of cooling-water withdrawals on fish populations, fisheries, and aquatic communities. Among other results, we show that the effects of cooling-water withdrawals on a species will depend on the magnitude of other co-occurring stressors, environmental variability, the nature of the management regime in the associated fisheries, and the position of the species in the food web. The general models in this paper can provide a starting point for further empirical case studies and some preliminary conceptual guidance for decision makers who must choose between alternative policy options for controlling cooling-water withdrawals.

In addition to the emotional, physical, and economic issues that all abused women face, battered women from fundamentalist churches have religious issues that need to be addressed. While therapists usually leave discussion of such matters to the clergy, in the case of domestic violence, the fundamentalist clergy is likely to be unsupportive or to even unknowingly endanger battered women because of their legalistic attitudes about marriage and sex roles. It is, thus, imperative that the professional counselor understand these issues and be willing to discuss them.This article explains five teachings of fundamentalist churches, explores how they help perpetuate violent relationships, and offers suggestions to therapists on how to speak with clients about these issues.