Waterborne pathogens present a significant threat to people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). This study presents a randomized, controlled trial that evaluates whether a household-level ceramic water filter (CWF) intervention can improve drinking water quality and decrease days of diarrhea in PLWH in rural South Africa. Seventy-four participants were randomized in an intervention group with CWFs and a control group without filters. Participants in the CWF arm received CWFs impregnated with silver nanoparticles and associated safe-storage containers. Water and stool samples were collected at baseline and 12 months. Diarrhea incidence was self-reported weekly for 12 months. The average diarrhea rate in the control group was 0.064 days/week compared to 0.015 days/week in the intervention group (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney). Median reduction of total coliform bacteria was 100% at enrollment and final collection. CWFs are an acceptable technology that can significantly improve the quality of household water and decrease days of diarrhea for PLWH in rural South Africa.

Erosion is a significant problem on highway embankments in Rhode Island. At present, a mixture of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is planted to stabilize the soil. However, only the red fescue survives long term on slopes. Red fescue is shallow-rooted, leading to sod sloughing after heavy rains. The objective of this study was to compare the rooting depth, plant height, and adaptation to roadside conditions of 16 native grasses and five amenity grasses with red fescue to identify species that could be used to reduce sod sloughing. Research was conducted from May 2006 through Aug. 2009 in the greenhouse at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston and on the shoulder of state Route 4 in North Kingstown, RI. The cool-season grasses smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss. ssp. inermis), Pumpelly's brome [Bromus inermis Leyss. ssp. pumpellianus (Scribn.) Wagnon], Canadian wildrye (Elymus canadensis L.), Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.), silky wildrye (Elymus villosus Muhl. ex Wild.), eastern bottlebrush (Elymus hystrix L.), perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) and the warm-season grasses little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash] and purple lovegrass [Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh.) Steud.] were similar in height to red fescue while rooting significantly more deeply. Of these 10 species, little bluestem, purple lovegrass, and tall fescue showed the best survival on the roadside.

9In this paper, we present a systematic evaluation of the effects of local clays and the 10 manufacturing process on the performance of ceramic water filters (CWFs) impregnated with 11 silver compounds, which are used for point-of-use water treatment in developing countries. 12Mineral composition, silver sorption/desorption, and strength are the important characteristics the ceramic materials that were tested. Thus, this model can be used to optimize the 20 manufacturing process and the application of silver. Silver nanoparticles were desorbed more 21 slowly than ionic silver, so they last longer in the ceramic material. Water that contains a high 22 concentration of divalent ions is not recommended for preparing solutions of silver nanoparticles 23 due to aggregation of the particles, which limits their sorption by the ceramic materials. In this 24 study, the mineralogy of the source materials was found to have the most significant influence on 25 the strength of ceramic filters.

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