bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Avaliação dos serviços de transporte aéreo brasileiro: análise da imagem e da atitude como antecedentes da intenção de uso
Authors: Grohmann Márcia Zampieri , Battistella Luciana Flores , Lütz Carolina
Published: February 2014

O setor de transporte aéreo de passageiros, no Brasil, apresenta um grande crescimento de demanda e sofre de problemas estruturais. Dessa forma, tornam-se necessários estudos que busquem avaliar os serviços do setor, pela perspectiva dos usuários. Portanto, os objetivos do estudo são: validar um modelo de avaliação dos serviços de transporte aéreo e identificar se a imagem das empresas do setor e a atitude dos usuários são antecedentes da intenção de uso do transporte aéreo. O modelo teórico foi baseado em Vila e Gimeno-Martinez (2010), com a adaptação do setor de transporte ferroviário para o transporte aéreo. Realizou-se uma pesquisa com 231 usuários do transporte aéreo e comprovou-se a robustez do modelo (χ²/gL = 2,14; RMSEA = 0,052; RMR = 0,101; GFI = 0,899; NFI = 0,895; RFI = 0,889; IFI = 0,946; TLI = 0,933 e CFI= 0,945). As três hipóteses testadas foram confirmadas e, assim, identificou-se que: a imagem é um antecedente da atitude (β=0,635); a imagem é um antecedente da intenção de uso (β=0,379); e a atitude é um antecedente da intenção de uso (β=0,275). Assim, comprovou-se a importância de uma boa imagem para o desenvolvimento deste setor estratégico para o País.
Qualidade e segurança de vegetais minimamente processados: proposta de estruturas de governança entre os agentes da cadeia e os sinais da qualidade
Authors: Alvarenga André Luis Bonnet , Toledo José Carlos de , Paulillo Luiz Fernando de Oriani e
Published: February 2014

A adequada gestão da qualidade e da segurança dos alimentos é essencial para o alcance de vantagens competitivas para as empresas de processamento mínimo de vegetais. Para essa gestão, são necessários controles preventivos, específicos e sistemáticos durante as etapas de produção dos alimentos para que os produtos atinjam os atributos desejados de qualidade. A cadeia de vegetais minimamente processados (VMP) é composta de produtores rurais, empresa processadora, transportadores de produtos finais e empresas varejistas e mercado institucional. Nesta cadeia, as transações entre seus agentes, apesar da alta frequência, são caracterizadas por grande assimetria de informações e diferenças nas especificidades dos ativos destes agentes, promovendo a possibilidade de ações oportunistas entre eles, principalmente nas relações entre produtores rurais e empresa processadora. Isto gera impactos negativos para a qualidade e a segurança do produto final e, como consequência, pode promover a seleção adversa pelo mercado consumidor e risco moral para as empresas processadoras. O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir e propor as estruturas de governança, entre os agentes desta cadeia, que minimizem os impactos negativos para a qualidade e segurança dos VMP, a partir da análise das especificidades do ativo entre estes agentes e dos atributos das transações. Adotou-se como método de pesquisa o estudo de casos múltiplos compreendendo 18 unidades de análise em duas cadeias de VMP localizadas nos estados de São Paulo e do Rio de Janeiro. Verificou-se que a empresa processadora lidera as transações entre os agentes em função da alta especificidade do seu ativo, em detrimento dos demais agentes. Propõem-se as estruturas de governança híbrida e hierárquica entre esses agentes, cujas formas de contratação dependem do agente e do tipo de matéria-prima transacionado.
Biografia como história social: o clã Ferreira Gomes e os mundos da escravização no Atlântico Sul
Authors: Ferreira Roquinaldo
Published: February 2014

Este artigo analisa as conexões econômicas e sociais engendradas pelo tráfico de escravos entre Angola e Brasil, assim como o abolicionismo português na primeira metade do século XIX. Neste sentido, o artigo usa como ponto de partida a trajetória pessoal de José Ferreira Gomes, um homem negro, nascido em Benguela, cuja mãe, Florinda José Gaspar, era filha de um chefe africano da Catumbela e cujo pai, Francisco Ferreira Gomes, foi um homem negro nascido no Brasil que tinha sido um dos traficantes de escravos mais ativos em Benguela. Tendo como base a biografia de Gomes Júnior, o artigo discute os laços sociais e culturais que os traficantes de escravos angolanos mantinham com o Brasil e com as populações africanas, a transição do tráfico de escravos para o comércio lícito, e as mudanças na políticas portuguesas em relação ao tráfico de escravos na década de 1840. Para entender o recrudescimento do colonialismo em Angola, o artigo examina acusações de que membros da família Ferreira Gomes teriam participado de sedições raciais e anti-coloniais contra os portugueses.
Processos cognitivos na leitura inicial: relação entre estratégias de reconhecimento de palavras e alfabetização
Authors: Monteiro Sara Mourão , Soares Magda
Published: February 2014

O conhecimento das correspondências grafema-fonema fornece um sistema mnemônico que contribui para a formação dos leitores iniciantes, favorecendo o desenvolvimento da fluência e da compreensão na leitura. Entretanto, muitas crianças apresentam dificuldade no processo de mapeamento automático da escrita das palavras e de sua pronúncia e podem necessitar de muito mais treino para atingir um nível normal de aprendizagem da leitura. Esta pesquisa examinou as estratégias de reconhecimento de palavras escritas manifestadas por crianças que enfrentam dificuldades no processo de alfabetização, em um teste de leitura controlado por critérios linguísticos relacionados às propriedades das palavras, tais como a estrutura interna da sílaba e os valores de grafemas independentes e dependentes de contexto na composição das palavras. A partir da caracterização das estratégias usadas pelas crianças, buscou-se saber em que medida elas impedem a identificação da pronúncia e do significado da palavra escrita. Concluiu-se que as dificuldades das crianças estão relacionadas a estratégias de leitura de palavras que evidenciam uma dissociação entre conhecimento das letras e desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica. Constatou-se, ainda, que o atraso no processo de aprendizagem dos alunos pode ter relação com o pouco conhecimento das regras de correspondências letra-som e com a dificuldade do mecanismo de decodificação na análise de estruturas silábicas não canônicas.
Autonomia, cooperativismo e autogestão em Freinet: fundamentos de uma pedagogia solidária internacional
Authors: Kanamaru Antonio Takao
Published: February 2014

A moderna educação pública, a partir de fins do século XX, passou a sofrer novas influências de políticas hegemônicas de vieses tecnocrático, mercadológico e financeiro. Diante desse quadro, um de seus principais fundamentos, a autonomia pedagógica, encontra-se sob pressão e condicionamento no mundo. Assim, defendemos que o estudo da autonomia na educação moderna pode auxiliar a esclarecer criticamente as condições e seu desenvolvimento na história. Nessa perspectiva, uma das reconhecidas obras pedagógicas reside na chamada Pedagogia do trabalho ou escola moderna, de Célestin Freinet (1896-1966), a qual procuramos analisar a partir de revisão da literatura. Neste trabalho, portanto, enfocamos seus meios e fundamentos teórico-metodológicos como a livre expressão, o livre trabalho, a livre cooperação, as técnicas de trabalho, a livre pesquisa, a comunicação interescolar. Na análise, observamos a presença teórica de um quadro marxiano heterodoxo implícito na metodologia freinetiana, particularmente relacionada à teoria das relações materiais de produção, à teoria da alienação e à doutrina internacionalista. Tais fundamentos, somados à originalidade de Freinet, permitiram a criação de meios técnicos e a cooperação internacional, que subjazem à autonomia radical de sua pedagogia. Como resultados, observamos e descrevemos fundamentos pouco analisados em Freinet, devido ao caráter embrionário em seu tempo e espaço: o cooperativismo internacional e a autogestão da escola moderna, os quais revelam a relevância e atualidade do autor para o resgate e o desenvolvimento da autonomia pedagógica, bem como a ampliação da dimensão da obra freinetiana como uma pedagogia solidária internacional, frente ao difícil contexto histórico presente.
The fossil record and macroevolutionary history of North American ungulate mammals: standardizing variation in intensity and geography of sampling
Authors: Marcot Jonathan D.
Published: February 2014

The record of the taxonomic evolution of North American ungulates is critical to our understanding of mammalian evolution and environmental change throughout the Cenozoic. The distribution of sampling in the ungulate fossil record over time and geographic space and the degree to which this biases the observed patterns of taxonomic evolution is poorly understood. To address these issues, I placed fossil collections and occurrences drawn from the Paleobiology Database into 2-Myr time intervals between 55 and 1 Ma. I determined the variation in numbers of fossil collections and occurrences, using three metrics to measure geographic variation: first, the area of the convex hull containing all collections in an interval, to determine the areal coverage of sampling; second, the mean pairwise geographic distance among collections as a measurement of the dispersion of collections within that area; and third, the interval-to-interval migration of the geographic centroid of all collections, to calculate changes in the geographic location of sampling. Each of these showed considerable variation over the Cenozoic, and both the area of the convex hull (ACH) encompassing all collections in an interval, and mean pairwise distance (MPWD) among them showed increasing trends over time.

To minimize the effect of variation in numbers of fossil samples over time, I used standard sample-standardization procedures. To minimize the effect of geographic variation in sampling over time, I standardized the area of sampling among intervals. I also employed both standardizations sequentially. Each standardization procedure had surprisingly little effect on observed patterns of taxonomic richness and rates. This indicates that, for North American ungulates, neither variation in number nor geographic distribution of fossil samples exerts an overwhelming influence on perceived macroevolutionary patterns. These results confirm the ungulate fossil record as a critical and faithful record for our understanding of Cenozoic environmental change and the mammalian evolutionary response.
Coping with stormwater in a Johannesburg, South Africa informal settlement
Authors: Adegun Olumuyiwa Bayode
Published: February 2014

Stormwater management, as part of urban infrastructure, is generally lacking or inadequate in informal settlements. Residents and community groups in informal settlements often take local initiatives, with or without external assistance, aimed at supplying the lack in infrastructure. Utilising a qualitative research strategy, this study considers self-help and community-based initiatives to cope with and manage stormwater in informal settlements, through the case of Slovo Park settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study shows that household/stand-based strategies are minimally effective technically. Community-based initiatives forming part of the drive to catalyse in situ upgrading, although challenged by limitations, are imbued with potential. Enabling environment and appropriate buy-in from the state and relevant non-state agencies are necessary to exploit the potential inherent in the community-based approach.
Intra‐annual rainfall regime shifts competitive interactions between coastal sage scrub and invasive grasses
Authors: Goldstein Leah J. , Suding Katharine N.
Published: February 2014

Changes in rainfall distribution, generally predicted by many climate models, can affect resource dynamics and ecosystem function. While little studied, intra‐annual rainfall distribution may have particularly strong effects on competitive interactions. Here, we test whether increased rainfall event size and decreased frequency within a growing season can influence competitive dynamics related to the invasion of exotic annual grasses in California coastal sage scrub (CSS). We hypothesized that larger rainfall events and decreased frequency will increase the competitive ability of native CSS species: a deeper root system will permit greater water use during dry periods between pulses and enhance their resource depletion effect on more shallow‐rooted grasses. We planted grass and CSS seedlings in an additive competition design under three rainfall treatments: frequent small events, infrequent large events, and infrequent small events. The first two treatments had the same total rainfall but different frequency, while the second and third treatments had the same frequency but different total rainfall. Rainfall treatment altered the competitive interactions between CSS and grasses. In the first year, the competitive effect of annual grasses on shrub seedlings was strongest under the frequent small rainfall regime where they reduced deep soil moisture and light. In year two, the established shrubs began to exert strong competitive effects on grasses, and these effects were strongest under the infrequent small rainfall regime (low total rain) where they reduced shallow soil moisture and decreased grass stomatal conductance. Results suggest that reductions in both rainfall frequency and total rainfall may be important to competitive interactions, and can alter plant community composition and invasion when species have different rooting depths and different responses to soil moisture.
Turf wars: experimental tests for alternative stable states in a two‐phase coastal ecosystem
Authors: Brownstein Gretchen , Lee William G. , Pritchard Daniel W. , Wilson J. Bastow
Published: February 2014

Alternative stable states have long been thought to exist in natural communities, but direct evidence for their presence and for the environmental switches that cause them has been scarce. Using a combination of greenhouse and field experiments, we investigated the environmental drivers associated with two distinctive herbaceous communities in coastal ecosystems in New Zealand.

In a mosaic unrelated to micro‐topography, a community dominated largely by native turf species (notably Leptinella dioica, Samolus repens, and Selliera radicans) alternates with vegetation comprising exotic (i.e., nonnative) pasture species (notably Agrostis stolonifera, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens). The species of these two communities differ in functional characters related to leaf longevity and growth rate, and occupy soils of differing nitrogen levels.

Both spatial and environmental factors influenced the species composition locally. Reciprocal transplants of soil, with and without associated vegetation, showed that a native turf community developed when sward or soil from either community was bounded by turf, and a pasture community developed when sward or soil from either community was surrounded by pasture. In artificial mixed communities in the greenhouse, turf was able to invade the pasture community where the vegetation was clipped to simulate grazing, and also where Trifolium was removed and/or salt spray was applied. The pasture community invaded the turf where Trifolium was present or nitrogen was added. These results were supported by trends in experimentally manipulated field plots, where the amount of turf cover increased when nitrogen was kept low and when salt spray was applied, whereas pasture cover increased in the absence of salt spray.

Thus, persistence of the native turf community is dependent on grazing, both directly and via its effect on keeping nitrogen levels low by excluding the exotic, nitrogen‐fixing Trifolium, and by exposing the vegetation to salt spray. If any of these factors change, there could be a state change to pasture dominance that might be resistant to reversion to turf. Managing such coastal herbaceous communities therefore requires an understanding of the environmental and species characteristics that maintain alternative states.
Patch definition in metapopulation analysis: a graph theory approach to solve the mega‐patch problem
Authors: Cavanaugh Kyle C. , Siegel David A. , Raimondi Peter T. , Alberto Filipe
Published: February 2014

The manner in which patches are delineated in spatially realistic metapopulation models will influence the size, connectivity, and extinction and recolonization dynamics of those patches. Most commonly used patch‐definition methods focus on identifying discrete, contiguous patches of habitat from a single temporal observation of species occurrence or from a model of habitat suitability. However, these approaches are not suitable for many metapopulation systems where entire patches may not be fully colonized at a given time. For these metapopulation systems, a single large patch of habitat may actually support multiple, interacting subpopulations. The interactions among these subpopulations will be ignored if the patch is treated as a single unit, a situation we term the “mega‐patch problem.” Mega‐patches are characterized by variable intra‐patch synchrony, artificially low inter‐patch connectivity, and low extinction rates. One way to detect this problem is by using time series data to calculate demographic synchrony within mega‐patches. We present a framework for identifying subpopulations in mega‐patches using a combination of spatial autocorrelation and graph theory analyses. We apply our approach to southern California giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests using a new, long‐term (27 years), satellite‐based data set of giant kelp canopy biomass. We define metapopulation patches using our method as well as several other commonly used patch delineation methodologies and examine the colonization and extinction dynamics of the metapopulation under each approach. We find that the relationships between patch characteristics such as area and connectivity and the demographic processes of colonizations and extinctions vary among the different patch‐definition methods. Our spatial‐analysis/graph‐theoretic framework produces results that match theoretical expectations better than the other methods. This approach can be used to identify subpopulations in metapopulations where the distributions of organisms do not always reflect the distribution of suitable habitat.
Soil invertebrates, chemistry, weather, human management, and edaphic food webs at 135 sites in The Netherlands: SIZEWEB
Authors: Cohen Joel E. , Mulder Christian
Published: February 2014

This paper provides data on the taxonomy, abundance, body size, and general feeding habits of soil invertebrates at 135 sites in the Netherlands, along with the edaphic chemical characteristics, air temperature, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, and human management practices of those sites. Sampling, monitoring, and modeling activities were performed in the framework of the Dutch Soil Quality Network. A total of 258 genera, families, and morpha of free‐living soil nematodes, mites, insects, myriapods, enchytraeids, and earthworms, ranging in dry body mass >7 orders of magnitude, were identified, counted, and measured for biomass estimates. Trophic links reflecting life history were estimated from existing literature and, when possible, compared with microarthropods' carbohydrase activity. Environmental variables were collected at each site, including soil chemistry (pH, carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, cadmium, chrome, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc), atmospheric nitrogen deposition, inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus from manure, rainfall, and temperature. Prior analyses of these data are cited, and the data are released here for the first time. These data describe how strongly different types of human‐induced disturbance influence the abundance–mass allometric relationships in soil biota.
Turonian bivalves from the Gabonese coastal basin: the Belle Vue 3 section, Libreville south region
Authors: Moussavou Benjamin Musavu , M’Voubou Makaya , Ondo Simplice Marin Ndong
Published: February 2014

A systematic study on bivalves has been carried out in the Turonian of the Gabonese coastal basin from the Belle Vue 3 section in the south of Libreville region. Three genera including seven species are distinguished: Granocardium (Granocardium) sp., Lima (Plagiostoma) grenieri (Coquand), Lima (Plagiostoma) pseudohörnesi Riedel, L. (Plagiostoma) cf. perplana (Koenen), L. (Plagiostroma) sp., Rastellum diluvianum (Linné) and R. sp. Rastellum is reported here for the first time in the Gabonese coastal basin. The species L. (Plagiostoma) cf. perplana (Koenen) and L. (Plagiostroma) sp. are found for the first time in the Gabonese coastal basin. The assemblage of bivalve faunas from Belle Vue 3 section is dominated by representative of the genus Lima and more precisely by representative of L. (Plagiostoma) sp. The bivalves associations are regarded as parautochthonous.
Le Cretace inferieur en Bulgarie
Authors: Nikolov Todor
Published: February 2014

Berriasian-Albian lithostratigraphic units, lithofacies, ammonite zones
Le Jurassique de Bum-e-Robat (Afghanistan central)
Authors: Lapparent Albert F. de , Termier Genevieve
Published: February 2014

Callovian beds overlying Triassic dolomites, extension of the Jurassic sea to central Afghanistan, ammonite and pelecypod species associated with the deposits
Perspectives on greenhouse gas emission estimates based on Australian wastewater treatment plant operating data
Authors: de Haas D. W. , Pepperell C. , Foley J.
Published: February 2014

Primary operating data were collected from forty-six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located across three states within Australia. The size range of plants was indicatively from 500 to 900,000 person equivalents. Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions were calculated using a mass balance approach and default emission factors, based on Australia's National Greenhouse Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme and IPCC guidelines. A Monte Carlo-type combined uncertainty analysis was applied to the some of the key emission factors in order to study sensitivity. The results suggest that Scope 2 (indirect emissions due to electrical power purchased from the grid) dominate the emissions profile for most of the plants (indicatively half to three quarters of the average estimated total emissions). This is only offset for the relatively small number of plants (in this study) that have significant on-site power generation from biogas, or where the water utility purchases grid electricity generated from renewable sources. For plants with anaerobic digestion, inventory data issues around theoretical biogas generation, capture and measurement were sometimes encountered that can skew reportable emissions using the NGER methodology. Typically, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions dominated the Scope 1 (direct) emissions. However, N2O still only accounted for approximately 10 to 37% of total emissions. This conservative estimate is based on the ‘default’ NGER steady-state emission factor, which amounts to 1% of nitrogen removed through biological nitrification-denitrification processing in the plant (or indicatively 0.7 to 0.8% of plant influent total nitrogen). Current research suggests that true N2O emissions may be much lower and certainly not steady-state. The results of this study help to place in context research work that is focused on direct emissions from WWTPs (including N2O, methane and carbon dioxide of non-biogenic origin). For example, whereas non-biogenic CO2 contributions are relatively minor, it appears that opportunities to reduce indirect emissions as a result of modest savings in power consumption are at least in the same order as those from reducing N2O emissions. To avoid potentially high reportable emissions under NGER guidelines, particularly for methane, the onus is placed on WWTP managers to ensure that accurate plant monitoring operating records are kept.
Small-bioreactor platform technology as a municipal wastewater additive treatment
Authors: Menashe Ofir , Kurzbaum Eyal
Published: February 2014

The bioaugmentation treatment approach presents both an economical and environmentally friendly solution for wastewater treatment. However, the use of exogenous bacterial cultures presents several limitations: negative interaction between microorganisms and adaptation to new physical and chemical composite environment. These selective forces create a significant challenge for the introduced culture to achieving the required biomass in order to conduct the target biological treatment. Small-bioreactor platform (SBP) technology is aimed at introducing exogenous bacterial culture with some protection to reduce some of the natural selection process. The current study was aimed at validating the use of SBP technology to improve biological treatment, especially during a stress period, by using macro-encapsulated bioaugmentation treatment. The study results indicate that the use of SBP technology elevates the stability of biological treatment, improving operational factors such as the reduction of foaming phenomena and sludge accumulation. Still, a significant study needs to be conducted to understand the potential of this technology; especially the impact on biological treatment by using different types of microorganisms for different types of wastewaters and the relationship between the biomass within the SBP capsules and the natural microorganisms.
Recovery of volatile fatty acids (VFA) from complex waste effluents using membranes
Authors: Zacharof M.-P. , Lovitt R. W.
Published: February 2014

Waste effluents from anaerobic digesters of agricultural waste were treated with a range of membranes, including microfiltration and nanofiltration (NF), to concentrate volatile fatty acids (VFA). Microfiltration was applied successfully to produce sterile, particle-free solutions with a VFA concentration of 21.08 mM of acetic acid and 15.81 mM of butyric acid. These were further treated using a variety of NF membranes: NF270 (Dow Chemicals, USA), HL, DL, DK (Osmonics, USA) and LF10 (Nitto Denko, Japan), achieving retention ratios of up to 75%, and giving retentates of up to 53.94 mM of acetate and 28.38 mM of butyrate. DK and NF270 membranes were identified as the best candidates for VFA separation and concentration from these multicomponent effluents, both in terms of retention and permeate flux. When the effluents are adjusted to alkali conditions, the highest productivity, retention and flux were achieved at pH 7. At higher pH there was a significant reduction in flux.
Stabilisation and mineralisation of sludge in reed bed systems after 10–20 years of operation
Authors: Nielsen Steen , Peruzzi Eleonora , Macci Cristina , Doni Serena , Masciandaro Grazia
Published: February 2014

Sludge stabilisation and mineralisation during periods of operation between 10 and 21 years were investigated in three different systems receiving sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants situated in Denmark. Samples were taken along the entire profiles, in order to compare the effectiveness of the sludge stabilisation process. Particular attention was given to the stabilisation process occurring within the reed beds; in fact, parameters correlated to biochemical properties of organic sludge matter were determined. Statistical procedures were used to evaluate how the biochemical processes influence the quality of sludge organic matter. The level of total organic carbon and total nitrogen had a similar trend along the profile: their concentration decreased with increasing depth, reaching very low levels at the deepest layers. The same trend was also observed for the water-soluble carbon, N-NH3, β-glucosidase and urease activities, and hydrolytic enzymes linked to C and N cycles: their values decreased dramatically with increasing depth, meaning that the level of mineralisation of the organic matter was higher in the deepest layers. The determination of extracellular enzymes bound to humic substances and humic carbon permitted evaluation of the stabilisation of organic sludge matter, and also allowed individuation of the ways in which the sludge was stabilised, in terms of mineralisation and humification of the organic matter.
The use of response surface methodology for modelling and analysis of water and wastewater treatment processes: a review
Authors: Nair Abhilash T. , Makwana Abhipsa R. , Ahammed M. Mansoor
Published: February 2014

In recent years, response surface methodology (RSM) has been used for modelling and optimising a variety of water and wastewater treatment processes. RSM is a collection of mathematical and statistical techniques for building models, evaluating the effects of several variables, and obtaining the values of process variables that produce desirable values of the response. This paper reviews the recent information on the use of RSM in different water and wastewater treatment processes. The theoretical principles and steps for its application are first described. The recent investigations on its application in coagulation–flocculation, adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, electro-chemical processes and disinfection are reviewed. The limitations of the methodology are highlighted. Attempts made to improve the RSM by combining it with other modelling techniques are also described.
Low temperature microwave and conventional heating pre-treatments to improve sludge anaerobic biodegradability
Authors: Vergine P. , Zábranská J. , Canziani R.
Published: February 2014

This paper presents the results of lab-scale experiments on low temperature thermal pre-treatment (less than 100 °C) prior to anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Two heating ways, microwave heating (MH) and conventional heating (CH), and two types of sludge, primary and waste activated sludge, were compared under the same experimental conditions. The degree of solubilisation produced by MH and CH up to 72, 82 and 93 °C was firstly estimated. For both types of heating, increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) caused by the pre-treatment was about 14% on waste activated sludge and only 3% on primary sludge. The final temperature of 72 °C resulted as the most cost-effective in terms of additional soluble COD per unit of energy required. Subsequently, five series of biochemical methane potential mesophilic assays were run in 120 mL serum bottles on sludge samples pre-treated at 72 °C. When compared with control reaction vessels, no significant differences were noticed in net methane production of pre-treated primary sludge, whereas a relevant increase occurred regarding the pre-treated waste activated sludge. It was also observed that the trend of methane content in biogas during the batch tests can be described by a second order polynomial.
Increasing the sludge energy potential of wastewater treatment plants by introducing fine mesh sieves for primary treatment
Authors: Paulsrud Bjarne , Rusten Bjørn , Aas Bjørn
Published: February 2014

The objective of this study was to compare some basic characteristics of sludge from fine mesh sieves (sieve sludge) with sludge from primary clarifiers (primary sludge) regarding their energy potential with a focus on anaerobic digestion and/or incineration. Nineteen samples of sludge from fine mesh sieve plants (most of them without fine screens and grit chambers as pre-treatment) and 10 samples of primary sludge were analysed for the content of dry solids (DS), volatile solids (VS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), calorific value and methane potential. The results demonstrated that the sieve sludges have significantly higher VS content and higher methane potential than primary sludges, clearly indicating an increased sludge energy potential if fine mesh sieves are used for primary treatment instead of primary clarifiers at wastewater treatment plants with anaerobic digesters. If the sludges from primary treatment are to be incinerated or used as fuel in cement kilns, there is no significant difference in energy potential (given as calorific values) for the two types of primary treatment.
Anaerobic biodegradability of mixtures of pesticides in an expanded granular sludge bed reactor
Authors: Monsalvo V. M. , Garcia-Mancha N. , Puyol D. , Mohedano A. F. , Rodriguez J. J.
Published: February 2014

The biodegradability and toxicity of three commercial pesticides containing 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), imidacloprid and dimethoate were evaluated individually, and a complex mixture of these pesticides was treated in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor. MCPA was partially biodegraded, while imidacloprid and dimethoate remained almost unaltered during the individual biodegradability tests. Cyclohexanone was identified as the major solvent in the dimethoate-bearing insecticide, which was completely removed regardless of the presence of other pesticides. The analysis of the inhibition over the acetoclastic methanogenesis showed IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) values of 474 and 367 mg/L for imidacloprid and dimethoate, respectively. The effect on the methanogenesis was negligible in the case of MCPA and cyclohexanone. Pesticides caused a dramatic decrease of the EGSB reactor performance. After 30 d acclimation, the EGSB reactor achieved a stable chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and methane production of around 85% and 0.9 g CH4-COD/g COD, respectively, for MCPA, imidacloprid, dimethoate and cyclohexanone feed concentrations of 57, 20, 25 and 27 mg/L, respectively. The presence of complex pesticide mixtures led to synergistic/antagonistic responses, reducing the MCPA biodegradation and improving the removal of the insecticides' active ingredients, which were completely removed in the EGSB reactor.
Simultaneous activation/sulfurization method for production of sulfurized activated carbons: characterization and Hg(II) adsorption capacity
Authors: ShamsiJazeyi Hadi , Kaghazchi Tahereh
Published: February 2014

As an inexpensive method for modification of activated carbons (ACs), sulfurization has attracted significant attention. However, the resulting sulfurized activated carbons (SACs) often are less porous than the original ACs. In this work, we propose a new method for concurrent sulfurization/activation that can lead to preparation of SACs with more porosity than the corresponding non-sulfurized ACs. By using scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, and iodine number experiments, the porous structure of the SACs has been compared with that of non-sulfurized ACs. The specific surface areas of SACs are higher than the corresponding ACs, regardless of the type of activation agents used. For instance, the specific surface area of SAC and AC activated with phosphoric acid is 1,637 and 1,338 m2/g, respectively. Additionally, sulfur contents and surface charges (pHpzc) of the SACs and non-sulfurized ACs are compared. In fact, the SACs have higher sulfur contents and more acidic surfaces. Furthermore, the Hg(II) adsorption capacity of SACs has been compared with the corresponding non-sulfurized ACs. The Hg(II) adsorption isotherms on a selected SAC is measured at different pH values and temperatures. Hg(II) adsorptions as high as 293 mg/g are observed by using SACs prepared by the method proposed in this study.
Environmental isotopic and hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater from the Sandspruit Catchment, Berg River Basin, South Africa
Authors: Naicker S. , Demlie M.
Published: February 2014

The Sandspruit catchment (a tributary of the Berg River) represents a drainage system, whereby saline groundwater with total dissolved solids (TDS) up to 10,870 mg/l, and electrical conductivity (EC) up to 2,140 mS/m has been documented. The catchment belongs to the winter rainfall region with precipitation seldom exceeding 400 mm/yr, as such, groundwater recharge occurs predominantly from May to August. Recharge estimation using the catchment water-balance method, chloride mass balance method, and qualified guesses produced recharge rates between 8 and 70 mm/yr. To understand the origin, occurrence and dynamics of the saline groundwater, a coupled analysis of major ion hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes (δ18O, δ2H and 3H) data supported by conventional hydrogeological information has been undertaken. These spatial and multi-temporal hydrochemical and environmental isotope data provided insight into the origin, mechanisms and spatial evolution of the groundwater salinity. These data also illustrate that the saline groundwater within the catchment can be attributed to the combined effects of evaporation, salt dissolution, and groundwater mixing. The salinity of the groundwater tends to vary seasonally and evolves in the direction of groundwater flow. The stable isotope signatures further indicate two possible mechanisms of recharge; namely, (1) a slow diffuse type modern recharge through a relatively low permeability material as explained by heavy isotope signal and (2) a relatively quick recharge prior to evaporation from a distant high altitude source as explained by the relatively depleted isotopic signal and sub-modern to old tritium values.
Nitrogen and carbon dynamics beneath on-site wastewater treatment systems in Pitt County, North Carolina
Authors: Del Rosario Katie L. , Humphrey Charles P. , Mitra Siddhartha , O'Driscoll Michael A.
Published: February 2014

On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWS) are a potentially significant non-point source of nutrients to groundwater and surface waters, and are extensively used in coastal North Carolina. The goal of this study was to determine the treatment efficiency of four OWS in reducing total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations before discharge to groundwater and/or adjacent surface water. Piezometers were installed for groundwater sample collection and nutrient analysis at four separate residences that use OWS. Septic tank effluent, groundwater, and surface water samples (from an adjacent stream) were collected four times during 2012 for TDN and DOC analysis and pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen measurements. Treatment efficiencies from the tank to the groundwater beneath the drainfields ranged from 33 to 95% for TDN and 45 to 82% for DOC, although dilution accounted for most of the concentration reductions. There was a significant positive correlation between nitrate concentration and separation distance from trench bottom to water table and a significant negative correlation between DOC concentration and separation distance. The TDN and DOC transport (>15 m) from two OWS with groundwater saturated drainfield trenches was significant.
Effects of ECM Proteins and Cationic Polymers on the Adhesion and Proliferation of Rat Islet Cells
Authors: Chen Guoping , Kawazoe Naoki , Tateishi Tetsuya
Published: February 2014

The effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and cationic polymers on the adhesion and proliferation of
rat islet cells, RIN-5F cells, were investigated. ECM proteins of laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, type I collagen, type II
collagen, and type IV collagen, and cationic polyelectrolytes of poly(L-lysine) and poly(allylamine) were coated on the
wells of polystyrene cell culture plates. Their effects on the adhesion and proliferation of RIN-5F in serum-free and serum
mediums were compared. The cell number on the laminin-coated surface was the highest among the coated surfaces.
Laminin promoted cell adhesion more strongly than did the other ECM proteins and cationic polyelectrolytes. Vitronectin,
type IV collagen, and poly(L-lysine) showed moderate effects, but type I collagen and type II collagen did not have any
effects on adhesion and proliferation compared with the uncoated polystyrene cell culture plate. Fibronectin promoted cell
adhesion but not cell proliferation. Cationic poly(allylamine) had an inhibitory effect in serum-free medium and for longterm
culture in serum medium. The ECM proteins of laminin, vitronectin, and type IV collagen, and cationic poly(Llysine)
will be useful for the surface modification and construction of biomaterials and scaffolds for islet cell culture and
tissue engineering.
The gamma-ray irradiation sensitivity and dosimetric information instability of RADFET dosimeter
Authors: Pejovic Milic
Published: February 2014

The gamma-ray irradiation sensitivity to radiation dose range from 0.5 Gy to
5 Gy and post-irradiation annealing at room and elevated temperatures have
been studied for p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors
(also known as radiation sensitive field effect transistors or pMOS
dosimeters) with gate oxide thicknesses of 400 nm and 1 mm. The gate biases
during the irradiation were 0 and 5 V and 5 V during the annealing. The
radiation and the post-irradiation sensitivity were followed by measuring the
threshold voltage shift, which was determined by using transfer
characteristics in saturation and reader circuit characteristics. The
dependence of threshold voltage shift DVT on absorbed radiation dose D and
annealing time was assessed. The results show that there is a linear
dependence between DVT and D during irradiation, so that the sensitivity can
be defined as DVT/D for the investigated dose interval. The annealing of
irradiated metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors at different
temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 150?C was performed to
monitor the dosimetric information loss. The results indicated that the
dosimeters information is saved up to 600 hours at room temperature, whereas
the annealing at 150?C leads to the complete loss of dosimetric information
in the same period of time. The mechanisms responsible for the threshold
voltage shift during the irradiation and the later annealing have been
discussed also.
Earnings Targets and Annual Bonus Incentives
Authors: Indjejikian Raffi J. , Matějka Michal , Merchant Kenneth A. , Van der Stede Wim A.
Published: February 2014

We examine the extent to which firms use past performance as a basis for setting earnings targets in their bonus plans and assess the implications of such targets for managerial incentives. We find that high-profitability firms commonly decrease earnings targets when their managers fail to meet prior-year targets but rarely increase targets. Conversely, we find that low-profitability firms commonly increase earnings targets when their managers meet or exceed prior-year targets but rarely decrease targets. This target-revision process yields a serial correlation in target difficulty—targets remain relatively easy (or difficult) through time. We also find that firms are reluctant to revise earnings targets below zero, resulting in an unusually high frequency of zero earnings targets that are abnormally difficult to achieve. Collectively, our findings suggest that firms incorporate past performance information into targets, yet they do so only to a limited extent. This is consistent with theoretical arguments that highlight the benefits of contractual commitments.

Data Availability: Data used in this study cannot be made public due to the confidentiality agreement with the sponsoring organization.
Ratcheting and the Role of Relative Target Setting
Authors: Aranda Carmen , Arellano Javier , Davila Antonio
Published: February 2014

Managers use a variety of information to set performance targets. Using data from 376 branches of a large travel retailer over five years, this study documents supervisors considering the relative performance of comparable units in target setting, which we term relative target setting (RTS). We find evidence of RTS after controlling for individual past performance in the form of ratcheting. Our findings also indicate that RTS partially shapes the use of other information on past performance. Specifically, we find that the magnitude of ratcheting decreases (increases) with RTS for favorable (unfavorable) performance variances, and the asymmetry of ratcheting characterized by different ratcheting coefficients for unfavorable than for favorable variances is significant for large absolute magnitudes of RTS. Managers use the flexibility associated with the subjectivity of the target-setting process to weight peer and individual information differently across different units.

Data Availability: The data used in this study cannot be made publicly available due to confidentiality agreements with the participating organization.
Role of Vascular Oxidative Stress in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Youn Ji-Youn , Siu Kin Lung , Lob Heinrich E. , Itani Hana , Harrison David G. , Cai Hua
Published: February 2014

Obesity is associated with vascular diseases that are often attributed to vascular oxidative stress. We tested the hypothesis that vascular oxidative stress could induce obesity. We previously developed mice that overexpress p22phox in vascular smooth muscle, tgsm/p22phox, which have increased vascular ROS production. At baseline, tgsm/p22phox mice have a modest increase in body weight. With high-fat feeding, tgsm/p22phox mice developed exaggerated obesity and increased fat mass. Body weight increased from 32.16 ± 2.34 g to 43.03 ± 1.44 g in tgsm/p22phox mice (vs. 30.81 ± 0.71 g to 37.89 ± 1.16 g in the WT mice). This was associated with development of glucose intolerance, reduced HDL cholesterol, and increased levels of leptin and MCP-1. Tgsm/p22phox mice displayed impaired spontaneous activity and increased mitochondrial ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. In mice with vascular smooth muscle–targeted deletion of p22phox (p22phoxloxp/loxp/tgsmmhc/cre mice), high-fat feeding did not induce weight gain or leptin resistance. These mice also had reduced T-cell infiltration of perivascular fat. In conclusion, these data indicate that vascular oxidative stress induces obesity and metabolic syndrome, accompanied by and likely due to exercise intolerance, vascular inflammation, and augmented adipogenesis. These data indicate that vascular ROS may play a causal role in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Evidence for a Causal Relationship Between Early Exocrine Pancreatic Disease and Cystic Fibrosis–Related Diabetes: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Soave David , Miller Melissa R. , Keenan Katherine , Li Weili , Gong Jiafen , Ip Wan , Accurso Frank , Sun Lei , Rommens Johanna M. , Sontag Marci , Durie Peter R. , Strug Lisa J.
Published: February 2014

Circulating immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT), a biomarker of exocrine pancreatic disease in cystic fibrosis (CF), is elevated in most CF newborns. In those with severe CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) genotypes, IRT declines rapidly in the first years of life, reflecting progressive pancreatic damage. Consistent with this progression, a less elevated newborn IRT measure would reflect more severe pancreatic disease, including compromised islet compartments, and potentially increased risk of CF-related diabetes (CFRD). We show in two independent CF populations that a lower newborn IRT estimate is associated with higher CFRD risk among individuals with severe CFTR genotypes, and we provide evidence to support a causal relationship. Increased loge(IRT) at birth was associated with decreased CFRD risk in Canadian and Colorado samples (hazard ratio 0.30 [95% CI 0.15–0.61] and 0.39 [0.18–0.81], respectively). Using Mendelian randomization with the SLC26A9 rs7512462 genotype as an instrumental variable since it is known to be associated with IRT birth levels in the CF population, we provide evidence to support a causal contribution of exocrine pancreatic status on CFRD risk. Our findings suggest CFRD risk could be predicted in early life and that maintained ductal fluid flow in the exocrine pancreas could delay the onset of CFRD.