bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Algorithms and language concepts in coded art
Authors: Zannos Ioannis
Published: July 2012

The present article reports several applied experiments in the generation of aesthetic forms from algorithms and data. In these experiments algorithms and data are the driving morphogenetic force to such an extent that the role of the human creator must be reexamined case-by-case. Artists
that program the graphics or sound generating algorithms may in turn be said to be programmed perceptually by the resulting artworks, in the sense that they must adapt their perception in a conscious or involuntary effort to detect or project meaning in their form. While forms generated by
algorithms or data are to a large extent unpredictable, an intimate relationship between programmer, performer/listener/viewer and the piece is created through instinctive, empirical familiarity with the tools and the creative process, which is afforded by the immediate and highly interactive
nature of the frameworks employed. A simple iterative algorithm that produces a novel kind of chaotic geometric shapes is presented. Examples of an application of Paul Klee’s principles of visual form in programming interactive audio-visual dance performance are given. These principles
are directly derived from the language-based metaphor of active, medial and passive voice. Finally, ongoing experiments in letting language structures emerge from data derived from a sound database are presented.
The synthetic experience as an exoskeleton of the mind
Authors: Aguilera Julieta
Published: July 2012

The synthetic experience can be understood as the natural experience extended through technological means. These means are usually designed to immerse a person or people into a representation of reality, being that reality is one of being immersed in a task, a state of mind or an imagined
space, or a combination of them. To represent reality, technology is built around the human perceptual system that connects with the focus of its attention towards the outside world. In handling reality, the human perceptual system also extends inwards, to patterns of reasoning where the structure
of the body, that is, the perceptual system itself, models the organization of ideas and interaction. Therefore, a synthetic experience has unique potential to allow for interaction with structures of the mind.
An introduction to Neopoetics
Authors: Raikes Heather
Published: July 2012

Neopoetics is a matrix for dynamic perceptual convergences between material and immaterial systems. The deep foundational ground for Neopoetics is the Poetics of Aristotle and its relation to the ancient Greek theatre as a practical systemic ideology for the mythic Greek drama. As Aristotle’s
Poetics posits six basic components for the construction of drama (plot, character, thought, diction, song and spectacle) the neopoetic system has six constituent aspects: expanded embodiment, experiential metaphor, matrix architecture, perceptual resonance, the rheomode and neopoetic mythos.
Expanded embodiment describes an expansion of the corporeal body into fluid, dematerialized dimensions of experience, expression and exchange. Experiential metaphor is a sensate interface between the expanded body and the dematerialized field that contextualizes it in a neopoetic framework.
It is what Roy Ascott terms an interspace: ‘found between the virtual and actual, where reality is renegotiated and the new consciousness is embodied’. The next three neopoetic aspects describe the language structures through which a new mythos is articulated. Matrix architecture
is a framework for activation and alignment of the senses. It is a multisensory perceptual membrane that ignites the prism of the expanded body’s sensorium within the fluid interface of experiential metaphor. Matrix architecture articulates both a new sensorium and its interface with
an integrated material/immaterial perceptual field. Perceptual resonance is the cathartic awakening of ‘the space between the senses’, evoked by the alignment of perceptual dimensions through matrix architecture. From this prismatic aperture emerges the mythic, transformative rheomode
– the experiential language of the quantum wave. The rheomode is an expression of language. The term was coined by the quantum physicist David Bohm as an experiment in pursuit of a linguistic dimension of the wave. Yet in a neopoetic context, the rheomode becomes an evolutionary system.
As Roy Ascott states,Language is not merely a device for communicating ideas about the world but rather a tool for bringing the world into existence. Art is a form of world building, of mind construction, of self-creation, whether through digital programming, genetic code, articulation
of the body, imaging, simulation, or visual construction. Art is the search for new language, new metaphors, new ways of constructing reality, and for the means of redefining ourselves.Neopoetics mythos unfurls through the rheomode. It is an expression of an emerging ecology, an experiential
awakening of the wave within the particle. Neopoetic myths are fluid evolutionary pulsations. They are transformation in the liquid convergences between material and immaterial dimensions. They are streams of lava birthing bedrock for an emerging paradigm.
Love-in-idleness: Quantum entanglement dreamscapes
Authors: Ribeiro Clarissa , Szafir Milena
Published: July 2012

Despite the entangled universe cannot be considered merely as an enormously complex system, as it is reactive to actions and observations, references on quantum entanglement in living systems may help find ways in which quantum effects can move from the microscopic to the macroscopic,
in realms where the mind/brain behave as a quantum object and is sensitive to the dynamic state of the entire universe. Taking up vision from a synaesthetic perspective as a perfusion of senses, and putting together a myriad of references around this perception phenomenon, the idea is to work
in the building of artistic experiences where vision takes up a tactile function, emerging from a tension between the movements governed by the interaction of the attractors.
What do we really measure and what relevance has the data to us personally? Are measurements and their interpretations biased by our subjective views?
Authors: Cetkovic Alexander
Published: July 2012

In a world that is increasingly subdued to digital quantification, the human becomes more and more the focal point of measurements. The question arises as to whether the interpretation of such readings should be left to experts or whether each of us should become an expert. Should we
know what is really measured and how to interpret the numbers? Is understanding such measurements an advantage or are we simply deluged with numbers?
The myth of symbiosis, psychotropy and transparency within the built environment
Authors: Didakis Stavros
Published: July 2012

Based on earlier studies of J. C. R. Licklider, this article translocates the context of symbiosis between man and the machine into the built environment, and more specifically into contemporary methods for the design of domestic/residential spaces. According to this, a discussion is
made concerning the implementation of media and sensor technologies within the architectural DNA that initiate the emergence of psychotropic spaces of Ballardian Architecture; structures that are capable of becoming extensions of the inhabitant’s mood, emotion and psyche. Furthermore,
this article presents Plinthos Pavilion, a collaborative artwork that confronts issues of transparency, ubiquity and invisibility; an example of synergy between the primary notions of architectural and media design, which blend with the use of electronic and digital technology, transforming
a physical structure to an organism that breathes, reacts and communicates.
Multimedia spatial organization: Towards a different type of cultural economy
Authors: Papakonstantinou Giorgos A.
Published: July 2012

This article attempts to establish analogies between the recent introduction into architectural thought of notions such as the human body movement, events and scenarios, and the development of navigation and interaction principles and conventions in the computer world. The study of
the human–computer interface contributes to an understanding of the major role of the computer screen as a point of convergence of different representational forms, and the emergence of new ones belonging to the digital culture. The compositional structure of interactive multimedia works
is on the one hand a visual, spatial composition and on the other a narrative and navigational structure.
The myth of ASCOT and its rival ASCO2.T: Tech-noetic vs. techno-logic, round 1
Authors: Ljubec Živa
Published: July 2012

The following article is a report on inevitable intervention in the current state of affairs in well-intended and well-funded projects based on obsolete categorization of art and science. After unsatisfactory outcomes, on the disappointment of project directors themselves, a productive
collaboration between artists and scientists is still desperately sought after, without considering with subtlety a re-categorization that is already happening. This intervention is an ‘in advance reminder’ for foreseeable recognition of the current state of affairs, a reminder
of the sensibility necessary to recognize, as soon as possible, the accelerating rate at which concepts are continuously becoming obsolete, and the increasing fluidity of our intellectual and intuitive production.
So mote it be …
Authors: Phillips Mike
Published: July 2012

'So mote it be …' describes a trinity of artworks by Mike Phillips that explore the delicate relationship we have with the extremes of our perception. These data-driven sonifications and visualizations play with the atomic forces that bind the material world as measured through
the atomic force microscope (AFM). The works try and locate the trauma of seeing things that are invisible and beyond the resolution of the human eye to a history of cultural experience that similarly tries to see things that might ordinarily have been perceived as occult or at the very least
the product of Hollywood.
Numerical simulation of undular jumps on graveled bed using volume of fluid method
Authors: Rostami Fatemeh , Yazdi Saeed Reza Sabbagh , Said Md Azlin Md , Shahrokhi Mahdi
Published: July 2012

Undular hydraulic jumps are characterized by a smooth rise of the free surface, followed by a train of stationary waves. These jumps sometimes occur in natural waterways and rivers. Numerical difficulties are especially distinct when the flow condition is close to the critical value because of the high sensitivity of the near-critical flow field to flow and channel conditions. Furthermore, the free surface has a wavy shape, which may indicate the occurrence of several transitions from supercritical to subcritical states and vice versa (i.e., undular hydraulic jumps). In this study, a flow model is used to predict an undular hydraulic jump in a rectangular open channel. The model is based on the general two-dimensional, Reynolds-averaged, Navier–Stokes flow equations. The resulting set of partial differential equations is solved using the FLOW-3D solver. The results are compared with the experimental data to validate the model. The comparative analysis shows that the proposed model yields good results. Several types of undular hydraulic jumps occurring in different situations are then simulated to prove the potential application of the model.
Distribution, sources and ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an urban landscape river
Authors: Ao Jing , Ruan Xiaohong , Yan Yixing , Cai Mei
Published: July 2012

The contents of 16 priority water-borne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water, potential external pollution sources and sediment from the famous landscape of the Qinghuai River were measured by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The distribution, composition, source and ecological risk of PAHs were analyzed. The following results were obtained: (1) Benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[ghi] perylene were not detected in all samples. The total contents of 16 priority PAHs (PAH16) varied from 52.5 to 745.3 ng l−1 with the average of 174.0 ng l−1 in water, from 96.0 to 1,064.6 ng l−1 with the average of 329.2 ng l−1 in potential sources, from 931.7 to 15,295.5 ng g−1 with the average of 7,133.6 ng g−1 in sediments. (2) The concentration of PAH16 in water is lower than in sediment and higher rings are more easily detected in sediment. The percentage of higher ring (four- to six-rings) PAHs accounted for more than 55.6% of PAHs in sediment. (3) The value of FLA/(FLA+Pyr) was higher than 0.5 at most sampling points which illustrated the source was related with petrogenic such as liquid fossil fuel combustion. (4) The potential ecosystem risk of low ring PAH for upstream conflux of external Qinhuai River was less than 10%, while it was 10–50% for other sampling points; The four rings PAH shows lower potential ecosystem risk than other ring PAH in this study area; Dibenzo [ah] anthracene (DahA) shows high potential ecosystem risk at all sampling points.
Suspended sediment estimation and analysis in river basins with rice paddy fields
Authors: Lapong E. , Fujihara M. , Izumi T. , Hamagami K. , Kakihara T. , Kobayashi N.
Published: July 2012

Suspended sediment, which is an important water quality characteristic concerning effluents from agricultural areas, was studied in relatively small rivers that drain agricultural watersheds with considerable rice paddy areas. Suspended sediment load (SL) was observed daily for thirty three months and analysed – applying data stratification. Suspended sediment prediction models were established and the effect of rice transplanting activities on the rivers' SL was estimated. Results showed that data stratification improved the discharge–SL correlation and reduced regression and curve-fitting errors, thereby improving the efficiency of the derived model equations. Clustering the months into the rice- and non-rice transplanting seasons also improved the resulting regression equations, although not statistically significantly. Suspended SL was found to be higher during the rice transplanting season and the activities contributed a considerable amount of suspended sediment during the period, supporting the conjecture that sediments come from sources other than natural soil erosion.
Evaluation of relative water use efficiency (RWUE) at a regional scale: a case study of Tuhai-Majia Basin, China
Authors: Huang Yao-Huan , Jiang Dong , Zhuang Da-Fang , Wang Jian-Hua , Yang Hai-Jun , Ren Hong-Yan
Published: July 2012

Enhancing water use efficiency (WUE) is the key approach to maintain sustainable water resource supply. Due to the complexity of the water cycle, accurate estimation of WUE at the regional scale is a challenging task. Here we presented a framework of relative water use efficiency (RWUE). According to the linkage between RWUE and land use types, assessment of WUE at a regional scale could be performed operationally. This approach was evaluated in a study area, Tuhai-Majia Basin, North China. Based on remote sensing-derived evapotranspiration (ET) and land use data, regional WUE were assessed accordingly. The mean RWUE of agriculture, ecosystem and total basin in 2005 was 60.12, 30.07 and 62.5%, respectively. Spatial analysis showed that the agricultural WUE played the dominant role in water-saving of the study area; water management of unused land (RWUE of 2005 was 5.46%), especially wetland protection and other unused land development, will contribute significantly to ecological RWUE improvement. Temporal analysis indicated that there was considerable inter-annual variability in RWUE time series profiles. The agricultural interlude period might be important for enhancing WUE in the Tuhai-Majia Basin. In general, the results indicated that the RWUE-based method was an efficient and simple method to evaluate WUE at regional scale.
Development of a kinetic model for the removal of zinc using the aquatic macrophyte, Lemna gibba L.
Authors: Khellaf N. , Zerdaoui M.
Published: July 2012

This work was conducted to develop a suitable kinetic model for the removal of zinc (Zn) using the duckweed Lemna gibba L. as a phytoremediation agent at laboratory scale. The 7-day treatments of 6.0–18.0 mg Zn/L were performed under controlled conditions: 12 h photoperiod, temperature of 21±1 °C, pH of 6.0±0.1 and a quarter Coïc and Lesaint solution as a culture medium. The results revealed a Zn removal efficiency of 60–70% and an accumulation capacity of plants ranging from 4.23 to 25.88 mg/g DM. Two simplified kinetic models namely pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order were used to study the mechanism that controls the biological process. The kinetic study proved that the removal rate of Zn by L. gibba was proportional to the Zn concentration present in water. Therefore, the pseudo-first-order model was considered to be more suitable to describe the disappearance of Zn from water in the presence of fronds of L. gibba L. These results may serve as a basis in mathematical modelling for large-scale application.
How does the adsorption of microcystins and anatoxin-a on nanofiltration membranes depend on their co-existence and on the water background matrix
Authors: Teixeira Margarida Ribau , Rosa Maria João
Published: July 2012

This work intends to study the adsorption of the cyanotoxins microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and anatoxin-a (ATX-a) on a nanofiltration membrane (150 Da molar mass cut-off and an isoelectric point of 5–6 in the presence of calcium ions), in particular, to understand the toxins' adsorption behaviour with the solution chemistry, namely with the background natural organic matter (NOM), the water pH and the co-existence of MC-LR and ATX-a. The results demonstrate that MC-LR adsorption increases with the water recovery due to MC-LR feed concentration increase. MC-LR adsorption is governed by hydrophobic interactions established between the membrane and the negatively charged MC-LR molecules, and between the MC-LR molecules. The increase of hydrophilic, positively charged low molar mass NOM and of hydrophobic, negatively charged high molar mass NOM does not impact MC-LR adsorption at pH 8. ATX-a adsorption onto the membrane is governed by electrostatic attractions with the membrane and NOM molecules. Background NOM minimises the ATX-a adsorption at pH 7 and enhances it at pH 4, i.e. NOM seems to act as a carrier for ATX-a adsorption onto the membrane. When ATX-a and MC-LR co-exist, adsorption is higher for ATX-a than for MC-LR at pH 4 and 7, and is higher at pH 4 for both cyanotoxins, consistent with the NOM interference.
Polyphenols and fatty acids responsible for anti-cyanobacterial allelopathic effects of submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum
Authors: Nakai S. , Zou G. , Okuda T. , Nishijima W. , Hosomi M. , Okada M.
Published: July 2012

Myriophyllum spicatum is known to inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria such as Microcystis aeruginosa by releasing anti-cyanobacterial allelochemicals. The allelochemicals possibly responsible for the inhibition include five polyphenols and three fatty acids, but the extent to which these are indeed responsible for the anti-cyanobacterial effects is unclear. The goal of this research was to determine the contribution of these compounds to the allelopathic effect of M. spicatum on M. aeruginosa. We first collected information on the release rates of these compounds and then added the compounds to a cyanobacterial medium on the basis of their release rates so as to simulate their excretion by M. spicatum. Addition of the polyphenols and fatty acids inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa, and the interaction of the polyphenols and fatty acids was additive. The EC50 of a polyphenol and fatty acid mixture was compared with that of M. spicatum itself as previously determined in a mixed culture system in which M. spicatum and M. aeruginosa were incubated. The former was about 1.9 times higher than that of the latter, the implication being that the inhibitory effect of the polyphenols and fatty acids contributed about 53% of the allelopathic effect of M. spicatum. This paper is the first to describe allelochemicals that account for a half of the anti-cyanobacterial allelopathic effect of a macrophyte.
Polyhydroxyalkanoate quantification in organic wastes and pure cultures using a single-step extraction and 1H NMR analysis
Authors: Linton Elisabeth , Rahman Asif , Viamajala Sridhar , Sims Ronald C. , Miller Charles D.
Published: July 2012

In this study, a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) method was developed to quantitatively analyze polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) content in Cupriavidus necator H16, Azotobacter vinelandii AvOP, and mixed microbial cultures from the effluent of an agricultural waste treatment anaerobic digester. In contrast to previous methods, a single-step PHA extractive method using deuterated chloroform was established, thereby facilitating direct 1H NMR analysis. The accuracy of the method was verified through comparison with well-established gas chromatography (GC) methanolysis techniques. Nile blue fluorescence staining was also carried out to serve as an independent and qualitative indicator of intracellular PHA content. The results indicate that the 1H NMR method is appropriate for rapid and non-destructive quantification of overall PHA content and determination of PHA copolymer composition in a variety of cultures. Notably, this technique was effective in measuring PHA content in full-strength waste samples where high concentrations of background impurities and organic compounds are present. The straightforward procedures minimize error-introducing steps, require less time and materials, and result in an accurate method suitable for routine analyses.
Prioritization of rehabilitation interventions for urban water assets using multiple criteria decision-aid methods
Authors: Carriço N. , Covas D. I. C. , Almeida M. Céu , Leitão J. P. , Alegre H.
Published: July 2012

The aim of this paper is to compare sorting and ranking methods for prioritization of rehabilitation interventions of sewers, taking into account risk, performance and cost. For that purpose multiple criteria decision-aid (MCDA) methods such as ELECTRE TRI for sorting and ELECTRE III for ranking are applied in a real case-study and the results obtained are compared. The case study is a small sanitary sewer system from a Portuguese utility located in the metropolitan area of Lisbon. The problem to investigate is the prioritization of the sewer candidates for rehabilitation. The decision maker (a panel group of specialists) has chosen five assessment measures: water level and maximum flow velocity (hydraulic performance indices), sewer importance and failure repair cost (collapse-related consequences of failure) and the risk of collapse. The results show that the outcomes from ELECTRE III are easier to understand than those from ELECTRE TRI method. Two different sets of weights were used, and the sorting and ranking results from both methods were found to be sensitive to them. ELECTRE TRI method is not straightforward as it involves technical parameters that are difficult to define, such as reference profiles and cut levels.
Runoff load estimation of particulate and dissolved nitrogen in Lake Inba watershed using continuous monitoring data on turbidity and electric conductivity
Authors: Kim J. , Nagano Y. , Furumai H.
Published: July 2012

Easy-to-measure surrogate parameters for water quality indicators are needed for real time monitoring as well as for generating data for model calibration and validation. In this study, a novel linear regression model for estimating total nitrogen (TN) based on two surrogate parameters is proposed based on evaluation of pollutant loads flowing into a eutrophic lake. Based on their runoff characteristics during wet weather, electric conductivity (EC) and turbidity were selected as surrogates for particulate nitrogen (PN) and dissolved nitrogen (DN), respectively. Strong linear relationships were established between PN and turbidity and DN and EC, and both models subsequently combined for estimation of TN. This model was evaluated by comparison of estimated and observed TN runoff loads during rainfall events. This analysis showed that turbidity and EC are viable surrogates for PN and DN, respectively, and that the linear regression model for TN concentration was successful in estimating TN runoff loads during rainfall events and also under dry weather conditions.
Enhanced P, N and C removal from domestic wastewater using constructed wetland employing construction solid waste (CSW) as main substrate
Authors: Yang Y. , Wang Z. M. , Liu C. , Guo X. C.
Published: July 2012

Construction solid waste (CSW), an inescapable by-product of the construction and demolition process, was used as main substrate in a four-stage vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland system to improve phosphorus P removal from domestic wastewater. A ‘tidal flow’ operation was also employed in the treatment system. Under a hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 0.76 m3/m2 d for 1st and 3rd stage and HLR of 0.04 m3/m2 d for 2nd and 4th stage of the constructed wetland system respectively and tidal flow operation strategy, average removal efficiencies of 99.4% for P, 95.4% for ammoniacal-nitrogen, 56.5% for total nitrogen and 84.5% for total chemical oxygen demand were achieved during the operation period. The CSW-based constructed wetland system presents excellent P removal performance. The adoption of tidal flow strategy creates the aerobic/anoxic condition intermittently in the treatment system. This can achieve better oxygen transfer and hence lead to more complete nitrification and organic matter removal and enhanced denitrification. Overall, the CSW-based tidal flow constructed wetland system holds great promise for enabling high rate removal of P, ammoniacal-nitrogen and organic matter from domestic wastewater, and transforms CSW from a waste into a useful material.
Removal of hexavalent chromium from wastewater by Fe0-nanoparticles-chitosan composite beads: characterization, kinetics and thermodynamics
Authors: Liu T. Y. , Zhao L. , Wang Z. L.
Published: July 2012

Fe0-nanoparticles-chitosan composite beads (CS-NZVI beads) were prepared and used to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) from wastewater. Characterization with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that with the increase of the concentration of CS from 5.0 to 20.0 g/L and NaOH from 0.5 to 2.0 mol/L, the average aperture size of the CS-NZVI beads decreased from 26.8 to 10.6 μm and 42.6 to 0.8 μm, respectively. Batch experiments revealed that the removal of Cr (VI) using CS-NZVI beads was consistent with pseudo first-order reaction kinetics. The rate constant increased with increasing NZVI dosage but decreased with the increase in pH values. The Freundlich isotherm described the adsorption process better, suggesting that the CS-NZVI beads were heterogeneous in the surface properties. At equilibrium qmax was 35.97 mg/g. The thermodynamics study suggested that Cr (VI) removal by CS-NZVI beads was an endothermic and spontaneous process, reflecting good affinity of the sorbent for Cr (VI) ions and increasing randomness at the solid–solution interface during the adsorption process. This result will be very useful to understand the effects of NZVI on heavy metal Cr (VI) removal from wastewater in the successful application.
Influence of characteristics on combined sewer performance
Authors: Möderl M. , Kleidorfer M. , Rauch W.
Published: July 2012

Elements of combined sewer systems are among others sub-catchments, junctions, conduits and weirs with or without storage units. The spatial distribution and attributes of all these elements influence both system characteristics and sewer performance. Until today, little work has been done to analyse the influence of such characteristics in a case unspecific approach. In this study, 250 virtual combined sewer systems are analysed by defining groups of systems, which are representative for their different characteristics. The set was created with a further development of the case study generator (CSG), a tool for automatic generation of branched sewer systems. Combined sewer overflow and flooding is evaluated using performance indicators based on hydrodynamic simulations. The analysis of system characteristics, like those presented in this paper, helps researchers to understand coherences and aids practitioners in designing combined sewers. For instance, it was found that characteristics that have a positive influence on emission reduction frequently have a negative influence on flooding avoidance and vice versa.
Assessing fecal coliform fate and transport in a coastal watershed using HSPF
Authors: Rolle Kenya , Gitau Margaret W. , Chen Gang , Chauhan Ashvini
Published: July 2012

There is increasing concern regarding spread and proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in watersheds and their impacts on water quality. In agricultural and rural watersheds fecal coliform occurrence, an indicator of pathogenic contamination, is often thought to be a result of land applications of animal waste. This study used the Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) along with the Bacterial Indicator Tool to model fecal coliform transport in a coastal watershed with a view to identifying contaminant sources and key contributing areas. Results indicated that the highest levels of fecal coliform contamination (often exceeding the 400 counts/100 ml standard for the area) emanated from areas with and without livestock operations, and from largely forested areas, indicating that livestock operations were not the determining source of fecal coliform as suggested in previous studies. This study found HSPF to be an effective tool for identifying key coliform contributing areas in coastal watersheds.
Replacing dichromate with hydrogen peroxide in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test
Authors: Carbajal-Palacios Patricia , Balderas-Hernández Patricia , Ibanez Jorge G. , Roa-Morales Gabriela
Published: July 2012

The widely used standard method for chemical oxygen demand (COD) involves hazardous chromium species, and its two-hour heating protocol entails a substantial amount of energy expenditure. In the present work we report a proof of concept for a major modification of this method in the range 10–800 mgCOD/L, whereby H2O2 is proposed as a replacement oxidizer. This modification not only reduces the use of unsafe chromium species but also allows for the use of milder conditions that decrease the total energy outlay. The results are comparable with those obtained either with the standard method or with a commercial Hach® kit.
Nutrient recovery from biomass cultivated as catch crop for removing accumulated fertilizer in farm soil
Authors: Nagare H. , Fujiwara T. , Inoue T. , Akao S. , Inoue K. , Maeda M. , Yamane S. , Takaoka M. , Oshita K. , Sun X.
Published: July 2012

As a result of long-term continuous use of fertilizers in farm land, a large amount of nutrients accumulate in the soil, increasing the risk of eutrophication or nitrate pollution of groundwater. For rehabilitating the farm soil and recovering nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, a new system has been developed by our research group. This paper discusses the methodology of extracting nutrients from biomass in order to recover phosphorus and other nutrients in crystal form. Around 80% or higher extraction rates were achieved for phosphorus and potassium by soaking the powdered tissue in distilled water or 1% NaOH solution for 24 h. The extracted phosphorus and potassium act as a potential resource for recycled fertilizer or other industrial materials.
Comparison of the sensitivities of fish, Microtox and Daphnia-magna bioassays to amoxycillin in anaerobic/aerobic sequential reactor systems
Authors: Çelebi H. , Sponza D. T.
Published: July 2012

In this study the anaerobic treatability of amoxycillin (AMX) was investigated in a laboratory-scale anaerobic multi-chamber bed reactor (AMCBR)/aerobic continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and AMX removal efficiencies were around 94% in the AMCBR reactor at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) between 2.25 and 5.5 days. Decreasing the HRT appeared not to have a significant effect on the performance of the AMCBR up to a HRT of 1.13 days. The maximum methane production rate and methane percentage were around 1,100–1,200 mL/day and 55%, respectively, at HRTs between 2.25 and 5.5 days. The decrease in HRT to 1.5 days decreased slightly the gas productions (1,000 mL/day and 500 mL for total and methane gases) and methane percentage (45%). The AMCBR recovered back to its baseline performance within a couple of days. The acute toxicity of 150 mg/L AMX was monitored with Daphnia magna, Lepistes sp., and Vibrio fischeri acute toxicity tests. The acute toxicity removals were 98, 96 and 96% for V. fischeri, D. magna and Lepistes sp. in the effluent of the sequential system treating 150 mg/L AMX at HRTs of 2.25–5.5 days. Among the trophic organisms used in the acute toxicity tests the most sensitive organism was found to be bacteria (V. fischeri) while the most resistant organism was found to be fish (Lepistes sp.).
Experimental investigation on water quality standard of Yangtze River water source heat pump
Authors: Qin Zenghu , Tong Mingwei , Kun Lin
Published: July 2012

Due to the surface water in the upper reaches of Yangtze River in China containing large amounts of silt and algae, high content of microorganisms and suspended solids, the water in Yangtze River cannot be used for cooling a heat pump directly. In this paper, the possibility of using Yangtze River, which goes through Chongqing, a city in southwest China, as a heat source–sink was investigated. Water temperature and quality of the Yangtze River in the Chongqing area were analyzed and the performance of water source heat pump units in different sediment concentrations, turbidity and algae material conditions were tested experimentally, and the water quality standards, in particular surface water conditions, in the Yangtze River region that adapt to energy-efficient heat pumps were also proposed. The experimental results show that the coefficient of performance heat pump falls by 3.73% to the greatest extent, and the fouling resistance of cooling water in the heat exchanger increases up to 25.6% in different water conditions. When the sediment concentration and the turbidity in the river water are no more than 100 g/m3 and 50 NTU respectively, the performance of the heat pump is better, which can be used as a suitable river water quality standard for river water source heat pumps.
Sorption Media for Stormwater Treatment—A Laboratory Evaluation of Five Low‐Cost Media for Their Ability to Remove Metals and Phosphorus from Artificial Stormwater
Authors: Wium‐Andersen Tove , Nielsen Asbjørn H. , Hvitved‐Jacobsen Thorkild , Kristensen Niels Krogh , Brix Hans , Arias Carlos , Vollertsen Jes
Published: July 2012

Five sorption materials were studied with a focus on polishing pretreated stormwater: crushed limestone, shell‐sand, zeolite, and two granulates of olivine. These materials are commercially available at comparatively low cost and have been subjected to a minimum of modification from their natural states. The sorbents were tested for phosphorus, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc at concentration and conditions relevant for typical stormwater. The materials were tested for sorption capacity and kinetics. Desorption was tested under neutral and alkaline conditions and in the presence of chloride. For most sorbent/sorbate combinations, significant sorption occurred within the first minutes of contact between sorbent and sorbate. Treatment to the low microgram per liter range could be achieved by contact times of less than 1 hour. The study indicated that sorption filters can be designed for long life expectancy at comparatively low cost by applying the materials tested.
Effects of Nano‐Copper(II) Oxide and Nano‐Magnesium Oxide Particles on Activated Sludge
Authors: Liu Guoqiang , Wang Jianmin
Published: July 2012

Effects of nano‐copper(II) oxide (nano‐CuO) and nano‐magnesium oxide (nano‐MgO) particles on activated sludge endogenous respiration (aerobic digestion), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) biodegradation, and nitrification were investigated through respiration rate measurement. For comparison, the effects of Cu(II) and Mg(II) ions on activated sludge were also studied. Results indicated that soluble Cu(II) has half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 19, 5.5, 53, and 117 mg Cu/L for endogenous respiration, BOD biodegradation, ammonium oxidation, and nitrite oxidation, respectively. However, nano‐CuO only inhibited BOD biodegradation at 240 mg Cu/L or more, and its associated toxicity was primarily caused by soluble Cu(II). In contrast, soluble Mg(II) was not toxic to activated sludge in the experimental concentration range, but nano‐MgO inhibited BOD biodegradation and nitrification with IC50 values of 70 and 143 mg Mg/L, respectively. Further study indicated that the toxicity of nano‐MgO resulted primarily from increased pH following MgO hydrolysis.
Effect of pH and Coexisting Anions on Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solutions by Inorganic‐Based Mesostructures
Authors: Choi Jae‐Woo , Choi Yong‐Soo , Hong Seok‐Won , Kim Dong‐Ju , Lee Sang‐Hyup
Published: July 2012

This study investigated the effect of pH and the presence of coexisting (competitive) anions on the removal of phosphate by titanium mesostructures synthesized using do‐ or hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. To address these research objectives, experiments were conducted (1) under controlled initial pH values (2 to10); and (2) through injection of nitrate, fluoride, chloride, or sulfate anions into a phosphate solution. Based on the experimental results, an initial of pH of 2 was found to be optimal for use of titanium mesostructures. The presence of fluoride anions in solution significantly decreased the removal efficiency of phosphate removal (3.56% at 3.95 mg/g). However, the addition of nitrate, chloride, and sulfate anions did not affect phosphate removal.
Comparative Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Using Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket
Authors: Khemkhao Maneerat , Nuntakumjorn Boonyarit , Techkarnjanaruk Somkiet , Phalakornkule Chantaraporn
Published: July 2012

The effects of organic loading rate and operating temperature on the microbial diversity and performances of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors treating palm oil mill effluent (POME) were investigated. The following two UASB reactors were run in parallel for comparison: (1) under a mesophilic condition (37 °C) and (2) under a mesophilic condition in transition to a thermophilic condition (57 °C). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed that the microbial population profiles significantly changed with the organic loading rate (OLR) and the temperature transition from the mesophilic to the thermophilic condition. Significant biomass washout was observed for the mesophilic UASB when operating at a high organic loading rate (OLR) of 9.5 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L·d. In contrast, the thermophilic UASB can be operated at this OLR and at a temperature of 57 °C with satisfactory COD removal and biogas production. The PCR‐based DGGE analysis suggested that the thermophilic temperature of 57 °C was suitable for a number of hydrolytic, acidogenic, and acetogenic bacteria.
The Impact of “Tuition-Paying” Policy on Retention and Graduation Rates at the University of Ghana
Authors: Atuahene Francis
Published: July 2012

African universities over the past decade have developed new modes of financial mobilization in search for fiscal solutions to the declining public support for higher education. The creation of the “tuition-paying” (“dual track” or “fee-paying”) admission track policy, a variant of cost sharing, is one of such strategic initiatives that has gained popularity in public universities in Ghana and other East African countries. Using official institutional data, this descriptive study examines and compares retention and graduation rates of students enrolled in the University of Ghana as “tuition-paying” and regular admits. The author discusses the factors accounting for students' attrition and persistence in the University of Ghana. The article concludes that, although the “fee-paying” scheme has had some potential successes in revenue generation and enrollment expansion, there exists graduation gap/disparity between tuition-paying and regular admits (non-tuition-free students).
Women's Perspectives on Retention in Higher Education in Jordan: Commute and Choice
Authors: Allaf Carine
Published: July 2012

Jordan is viewed as a country of social, political, and economic and advancement. It currently leads the region in literacy rates and is well on its way to achieving gender equity. However, some reports claim that Jordan maintains the widest gender gap in higher education completion in the region while others report that the percentage of females is higher than males. There is a body of literature on college student retention but no such work has taken place in the Middle East, and more specifically in Jordan, on the experiences of women in higher education and retention. This study explores the experiences of 18 women that, at the time of the data collection (2008–2009), were in their final year or semester of higher education and preparing to graduate (average age 22.3 years old) and 10 women, that were at one point formally enrolled but at the time of the study had departed from completing higher education (average age 22.8 years old). These women represented 13 different universities (7 public and 6 private) throughout Jordan. Interviews were conducted with each participant. In addition to interviews, visits with the women were conducted on the university campus and official university and ministry education records were collected to examine enrollment, graduation, and retention rates. These varied qualitative methods allowed for a holistic exploration of the patterns in the persistence of women in higher education. This study found that the main retention theories formed in the United States are not completely adequate in helping explain the situation of women in Jordan and this study alters and extends them, placing more weight on characteristics at the individual-level, rather than on the institutional-level, with more attention paid to the role of the commute and the inflexibility of the higher education admissions process, in order to make them more applicable to the context of women in Jordan.
Student Retention in Higher Education in Turkey: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Aypay Ahmet , Çekiç Osman , Boyaci Adnan
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this article is to investigate student perceptions of college departure in three state universities in Turkey. Since the beginning of the 1990s, higher Education System in Turkey went through a massification of higher education. The rapid growth brought enrollment and dropout issues in the system. A total of 58 participants were included in the qualitative study. Of the 58 participants, 35 students were later enrolled at various other programs. Twenty-three students did not drop out. Results indicated that student retention has been an uncharted territory in Turkey. High levels of dropouts lead to inefficiencies in the higher education system.
“Bearing Down” on Student Non-Completion: Implications and Consequences for English Higher Education
Authors: Longden Bernard
Published: July 2012

This article traces recent policy developments relating to full-time undergraduate student retention within the English higher education system. It focuses specifically on the changing government policies and strategies designed to influence institutional behavior to promote widening participation while attending to the student experience and through that to raising student retention rates. The article finally explores the potential impact of recent proposals to allow institutions to be free to raise tuition fees, placing the burden of cost on the student alongside an encouragement to open the market to more completion through “for profit” new private sector providers.
Evidence Supporting Radiation Hormesis in Atomic Bomb Survivor Cancer Mortality Data
Authors: Doss Mohan
Published: July 2012

A recent update on the atomic bomb survivor cancer mortality data has concluded that excess relative risk (ERR) for solid cancers increases linearly with dose and that zero dose is the best estimate for the threshold, apparently validating the present use of the linear no threshold (LNT) model for estimating the cancer risk from low dose radiation. A major flaw in the standard ERR formalism for estimating cancer risk from radiation (and other carcinogens) is that it ignores the potential for a large systematic bias in the measured baseline cancer mortality rate, which can have a major effect on the ERR values. Cancer rates are highly variable from year to year and between adjacent regions and so the likelihood of such a bias is high. Calculations show that a correction for such a bias can lower the ERRs in the atomic bomb survivor data to negative values for intermediate doses. This is consistent with the phenomenon of radiation hormesis, providing a rational explanation for the decreased risk of cancer observed at intermediate doses for which there is no explanation based on the LNT model. The recent atomic bomb survivor data provides additional evidence for radiation hormesis in humans.
The second order estimate for the solution to a singular elliptic boundary value problem
Authors: Mi Ling , Bin Liu
Published: July 2012

We study the second order estimate for the unique solution near the boundary
to the singular Dirichlet problem -?u = b(x)g(u); u > 0; x ? ?, u|?? = 0,
where ? is a bounded domain with smooth boundary in RN, g ? C1((0,?),(0?)),
g is decreasing on (0,?) with lim s?0+ g(s) = 1 and g is normalized regularly
varying at zero with index ? (? > 1), b ? C?(??) (0 < ? < 1), is positive in
?, may be vanishing on the boundary. Our analysis is based on Karamata
regular variation theory.