bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic coupling of near field and far field models for simulating effluent discharges
Authors: Morelissen Robin , van der Kaaij Theo , Bleninger Tobias
Published: May 2013

In many cases, (processed) wastewater or thermal effluents are discharged into the marine environment, rivers or lakes. To accurately determine the dispersion, recirculation and environmental impacts of outfall plumes, it is important to be able to model the different characteristics of the outfall plume in detail – from the near field (metres around the outfall) to the far field (up to kilometres away). The solution for engineering practice is to combine different types of models (near and far field models) that each focus on specific scales, with corresponding optimised resolutions and processes. However, to adequately describe the hydrodynamic processes on these different scales, it is essential to couple these models in a dynamic and comprehensive way. To achieve this, a dynamic coupling between the open-source Delft3D-FLOW far field model and the CORMIX near field expert system is proposed. This coupled modelling system is able to use the computed far field ambient conditions in the near field computations and, conversely, to use the initial near field dilution and mixing behaviour in the far field model. Preliminary results are presented to provide a first indication of the potential of the method for modelling the complete trajectory of effluent outfall plumes, allowing an accurate assessment of the environmental effects and the design of possible mitigating measures.
Adaptive optimal control for a wastewater treatment plant based on a data-driven method
Authors: Qiao Jun-Fei , Bo Ying-Chun , Chai Wei , Han Hong-Gui
Published: May 2013

In order to optimize the operating points of the dissolved oxygen concentration and the nitrate level in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) benchmark, a data-driven adaptive optimal controller (DDAOC) based on adaptive dynamical programming is proposed. This DDAOC consists of an evaluation module and an optimization module. When a certain group of operating points is given, first the evaluation module estimates the energy consumption and the effluent quality in the future under this policy, and then the optimization module adjusts the operating points according to the evaluation result generated by the evaluation module. The optimal operating points will be found gradually as this process continues repeatedly. During the optimization, only the input–output data measured from the plant are needed, while a mechanistic model is unnecessary. The DDAOC is tested and evaluated on BSM1 (Benchmark Simulation Model No.1), and its performance is compared to the performance of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with fixed operating points under the full range of operating conditions. The results show that DDAOC can reduce the energy consumption significantly.
Electrochemical degradation of 2,5-dichloro-1,4-phenylenediamine by anodic oxidation
Authors: Liu Weijing , Chen Yong , Li Hongyi , Zhong Qin
Published: May 2013

Electrochemical degradation of 2,5-dichloro-1,4-phenylenediamine (DP) in aqueous solution by anodic oxidation was investigated. Linear sweep voltammograms and cyclic voltammograms were studied. The influence of operating parameters on electrochemical oxidation of DP was studied as a function of the current density, initial pH, and initial concentration of DP. The degradation kinetics analysis indicated that the electrochemical degradation of DP followed a first-order reaction. The degradation intermediates during electrochemical oxidation were analyzed by UV–vis spectrophotometer, ionic chromatograph (IC), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The combustion efficiency of DP at the anode was also estimated. The electrochemical oxidation of DP resulted in the release of NH4+ and Cl−. Based on these results, a degradation mechanism for electrochemical degradation of DP by anodic oxidation was proposed.
Distribution and characterization of anammox in a swine wastewater activated sludge facility
Authors: Yamagishi Takao , Takeuchi Mio , Wakiya Yuichiro , Waki Miyoko
Published: May 2013

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is a novel biological nitrogen removal process that oxidizes NH4+ to N2 with NO2− as an electron acceptor. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential activity and characteristics of anammox in a conventional swine wastewater treatment facility, which uses an activated sludge system consisting of three cascade aeration tanks equipped with ceramic support material. Anammox activity was estimated by a 15N tracer assay method and was detected in all the sludge and biofilm samples in each aeration tank. Biofilm taken from the third aeration tank, in which the dissolved oxygen concentration was 7.5 mg/L and the wastewater included a high concentration of NO3−, showed by far the highest anammox activity. A clone library analysis showed the existence of anammox bacteria closely related to ‘Candidatus Jettenia asiatica’ and ‘Ca. Brocadia caroliniensis’. The optimum conditions for anammox activity were a pH of 6.7–7.2, a temperature of 35 °C, a NO2− concentration of 10 mmol/L or less, and an NH4+ concentration of 32 mmol/L or less.
The dye or humic acid water treatment and membrane fouling by polyaluminum chloride composited with sodium alginate in coagulation–ultrafiltration process
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhang Feng , Chu Yongbao , Gao Baoyu , Yue Qinyan
Published: May 2013

Composite flocculants have been extensively studied and applied in recent years in order to improve the water treatment efficiency. In this study, a new composite flocculant prepared by polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and sodium alginate (SA) was used to treat dye and humic acid water in the coagulation–ultrafiltration process. The subsequent effects of PAC/SA on ultrafiltration membrane fouling were investigated by calculating the Modified Fouling Index (MFI). The results showed that the application of PAC/SA could not only restrict the membrane fouling but also improve the removal efficiency of the coagulation–ultrafiltration process. MFI of PAC/SA was the lowest, followed by PAC and the raw water for coagulated effluents filtered by ultrafiltration membrane. For example, MFI of PAC/SA was 0.40 s mL−2 for reactive blue KGL (denoted as RB-KGL) treatment, while that of PAC was 2.26 s mL−2. The removal efficiencies were improved as coagulation was used as pretreatment of ultrafiltration membrane. And PAC/SA could form the higher removal efficiency than PAC, especially for RB-KGL. The color removal efficiency of PAC/SA was 96.36% for RB-KGL treated by coagulation–ultrafiltration process, which was higher than that of PAC (85.62%).
Distribution of sterols and the sources of pollution in surface sediments of Ulungur lake, Xinjiang
Authors: Yao Xiaorui , Lu Jianjiang , Liu Zilong , Ran Dan , Huang Yating
Published: May 2013

Domestic sewage discharged into lakes brings great pressure to the ecological environment. This study selected sediment from an inland lake as a research object to evaluate pollution of the environment. Eight sterols were used to evaluate the content of pollutants, while the ratios of sterols were used as the index to analyze the sources of pollution. The correlations were analyzed between sterols and total organic carbon (TOC), salinity and particle size. The distribution and composition of sterol compounds were determined in 12 surface sediment samples collected from Ulungur lake. The total concentrations of detected sterols in the sediments ranged from 1.3 to 36.3 μg/g.dw. The most abundant sterol detected was β-sitosterol (STI) with average concentrations of 2.6 μg/g.dw, followed by cholesterol (CHOE), stigmasterol (STIG) and stigmastanol (STAN). The concentration of coprostanol (COP) was between 0.03 and 1.66 μg/g.dw. Through correlation analysis, it was found that there was a significant correlation between fecal sterols and plant sterols. So the plant sterols shall not be neglected in evaluating the sources of pollution for their impact to identify the fecal sources. The study suggests that the composition and distribution of sterols in surface sediment provide useful information for environmental contamination monitoring and assessment in the inland lake.
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from municipal wastewater treatment – results from a long-term study
Authors: Daelman M. R. J. , van Voorthuizen E. M. , van Dongen L. G. J. M. , Volcke E. I. P. , van Loosdrecht M. C. M.
Published: May 2013

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a fully covered municipal wastewater treatment plant were measured on-line during 16 months. At the plant under study, nitrous oxide contributed three-quarters to the plant's carbon footprint, while the methane emission was slightly larger than the indirect carbon dioxide emission related to the plant's electricity and natural gas consumption. This contrasted with two other wastewater treatment plants, where more than 80% of the carbon footprint came from the indirect carbon dioxide emission. The nitrous oxide emission exhibited a seasonal dynamic, of which the cause remains unclear. Three types of air filter were investigated with regard to their effectiveness to remove methane from the off-gas.
Influence of temperature and pH on nitrogen removal in a series of maturation ponds treating anaerobic effluent
Authors: de Assunção Fernando Augusto Lopes , von Sperling Marcos
Published: May 2013

This paper presents an evaluation of the influence of pH and temperature on nitrogen removal in a series of three shallow maturation ponds serving as post-treatment of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor effluent (approximately 200 population equivalent). Monitoring was from January 2007 to May 2009. Throughout this period, the ponds maintained relatively stable operational conditions in terms of depth and hydraulic retention time, thus enabling the evaluation of the influence of variations in temperature and pH on the performance in terms of nitrogen removal. In general, as expected, the removal of nitrogen was more effective when the temperature and pH of the ponds were higher, implying that these variables are relevant in the removal of nitrogen. Due to the fact that these parameters are included in the prediction equations for effluent ammonia and total nitrogen found in traditional models from the literature, fitting of the models to the experimental data was investigated. The models gave acceptable fittings in the estimation of effluent concentrations of ammonia and total nitrogen from maturation ponds treating UASB reactor effluent.
Ecotoxicity comparison of organic contaminants and heavy metals using Vibrio-qinghaiensis sp.-Q67
Authors: Ma X. Y. , Wang X. C.
Published: May 2013

By using the Vibrio-qinghaiensis sp.-Q67 test, the concentration-inhibition relationships were established for comparing the ecotoxicity of selected organic compounds and heavy metals. The toxicity indices for the four organic compounds were 11–628 mg/L in terms of EC50,TOC (EC: effective concentration, TOC: total organic carbon), with the toxicity in an order of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate > ciprofloxacin > phenol > acetaminophene, while that for the six heavy metals were 0.40–2.74 mg/L in terms of EC50,metal with the toxicity in an order of Cd > Hg > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu. Through extracting organic matter from the raw sewage and secondary effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), their EC50,TOC was measured as 94.5 and 125.2 mg/L, respectively, indicating that WWTP reduced not only the organic concentration but also the ecotoxicity of the wastewater. By analyzing the organic and heavy metal contents and the ecotoxicity of five typical industrial wastewaters, it was identified that the coking wastewater had the highest ecotoxicity (toxicity index as EC50,% = 0.18%), which might be mainly caused by organic contaminants, while the ecotoxicity of the electroplating wastewater (EC50,% = 6.08%) would be mainly caused by heavy metals. The ecotoxicity on Q67 could provide a comprehensive evaluation of the wastewater without knowing exactly the contaminants composition.
Aeration tank settling and real time control as a tool to improve the hydraulic capacity and treatment efficiency during wet weather: results from 7 years' full-scale operational data
Authors: Sharma A. K. , Guildal T. , Thomsen H. A. R. , Mikkelsen P. S. , Jacobsen B. N.
Published: May 2013

This paper investigates the aeration tank settling (ATS) operation in combination with real time control (RTC) as a tool for increasing the hydraulic capacity and improving the treatment efficiency of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) during wet weather flows. Results from 7 years' full-scale operational data at the Avedøre WWTP, Denmark, show that ATS operation in combination with RTC increases the hydraulic capacity of the treatment plant with up to 150 and 67% of the design capacity during winter and summer respectively. Compared to the conventional wet weather operation, the ATS in combination with RTC operation resulted in lower effluent concentrations for total phosphate (40–50%), suspended solids (30–60%) and chemical oxygen demand (30–50%), whereas no significant effect was observed on total nitrogen. Apart from the reduced effluent concentrations, the RTC resulted in economic savings in the form of reduced costs for electricity and green taxes. However, in very few cases the ATS operation in combination with RTC was not able to handle design capacity, and some overflows occurred at flows below the design capacity. The frequency of these overflows may increase in the future due to increased rain intensity resulting in shorter prediction time available for ATS.
The Horn theory of Boole's partial algebras
Authors: Burris Stanley N. , Sankappanavar H. P.
Published: May 2013

This paper augments Hailperin's substantial efforts (1976/1986) to place Boole's algebra of logic on a solid footing. Namely Horn sentences are used to give a modern formulation of the principle that Boole adopted in 1854 as the foundation for his algebra of logic—we call this principle The Rule of 0 and 1.
Addictive behavior in relation to the Happy Farm Facebook application
Authors: Wu Pi-Chu
Published: May 2013

In this study I investigated the influence of materialism on online game addiction. A questionnaire survey was completed by university students in Taiwan who were users of the popular Facebook application Happy Farm. Results showed that (a) the materialism of individual users
who had been playing Happy Farm for less than 6 months had a positive impact on their Internet addiction, but those who had been playing Happy Farm for more than 6 months were not influenced by individual materialism; and (b) interpersonal relationships moderated the effect of
users' materialism on online game addiction. I also found that materialism had a greater positive influence on novice players of Happy Farm than on experienced players, and that interpersonal relationships moderated this influence.
Gender differences in buyer-seller negotiations: Emotion regulation strategies
Authors: Yurtsever Gulcimen , Ozyurt Berrin , Ben-Asher Zohar
Published: May 2013

In this paper we examined gender differences in face-to-face buyer-seller negotiations. We investigated the relationship between gender and negotiation outcomes, and the mediating effects of cognitive reappraisal and cognitive reappraisal suppression on this relationship. The data were
obtained from 176 middle and lower managers in Turkey. The negotiation simulation, developed by Kelley (1966), involved bargaining for the prices of 3 products. There were 2 phases in the research. In Phase 1, 1 woman and 1 man were paired randomly and assigned to play the role of either buyer
or seller in a negotiation simulation. In Phase 2, participants filled out questionnaires regarding their cognitive reappraisal and cognitive reappraisal suppression. The results indicated that gender had no effect on profit achievement when mediator variables were controlled.
Self-esteem and depression in a Taiwanese population: A meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Shu-Jiuan , Chiu Chia-Hui , Huang Chiungjung
Published: May 2013

In this study we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and depression, and the moderating effects on this relationship. The 50 studies included in the meta-analysis yielded 59 effect sizes with a total of 32,005 participants sampled in Taiwan.
The mean correlation between self-esteem and depression was large (γ = −.48). The effects of participants' gender, age, and birth cohort, and of the publication status on the relationship between self-esteem and depression were not significant. However, this relationship differed
significantly among the 4 evaluated sample types of students, students with special needs, the general population other than students, and physically ill people. Given the strong correlation between self-esteem and depression in children, parents and teachers should pay special attention to
self-esteem. Additionally, as self-esteem had a strong correlation with depression in physically ill people, their family members and medical care providers should be advised to monitor their self-esteem carefully.
Effects of trust and perceived risk on user acceptance of a new technology service
Authors: Lee Ji-Hwan , Song Chi-Hoon
Published: May 2013

We explored the precise impacts of trust and perceived risk on the core constructs of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). We applied the UTAUT model to the novel context of the Certified e-Document Authority (CeDA) service used in the Republic of Korea. Our
results from structural equation modeling largely supported our hypotheses. Trust and perceived risk were shown to be direct antecedents of intention to use, and trust functioned as an indirect antecedent. Performance expectancy and social influence were shown to positively affect behavioral
intention. Effort expectancy was also shown to influence performance expectancy. The combination of trust, perceived risk, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence accounted for 55.3% of the variance observed in users' intention to use CeDA services.
Personality traits and the role of gender in swimmers at the leisure level
Authors: Cavallera Guido M. , Passerini Andrea , Pepe Alessandro
Published: May 2013

We used the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ; Caprara, Barbaranelli, & Borgogni, 1993) with swimmers engaged in indoor practice at the leisure level (50 male, 50 female) to measure whether personality traits are associated with swimming. We also examined the concept that scores on some
personality traits can have a reciprocal closely intermingled influence on other personality traits, and that gender can play a role in modulating personality. We found that the swimmers were characterized by evidence of personality traits distributed within moderate middle scores in personality
factors, contributing to well-being and satisfaction with life. We also found correlations within factors and subfactors, showing a close relationship among personality traits. Gender also plays a role in the measurement of personality traits as gender has a statistically significant effect
on extraversion.
Using Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Noninsulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cypress Marjorie , Tomky Donna
Published: May 2013

In Brief

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is considered an essential component of diabetes self-management. However, research has yielded mixed results regarding the value of SMBG for people with type 2 diabetes who are not treated with insulin. Some studies have shown no benefit, whereas others have demonstrated improved A1C and behavior change linked to SMBG in a diabetes self-management education program that teaches how to use SMBG data. When used appropriately in these patients, SMBG can help to identify factors associated with hyper- and hypoglycemia, facilitate learning, and empower patients to make changes to improve their glycemic control. SMBG can also be useful to health care providers, who can teach patients to monitor glucose at specific times to assess the effectiveness of medications and guide medication management. All people with type 2 diabetes should be given the opportunity to learn about the value of and skills required to monitor blood glucose as appropriate to their specific needs.
The Two Skill Sets of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Education: The Operational and the Interpretive
Authors: Austin Mary M.
Published: May 2013

In Brief

The usefulness of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) requires patients with diabetes to be competent and confident in their ability to carry out glucose testing and interpret its results to guide lifestyle choices and improve outcomes. SMBG instruction can be offered in a variety of settings by a wide array of health care professionals. However, patients too often receive no formal SMBG training. The two skills sets required to successfully perform SMBG include 1) operating a glucose meter and 2) appropriately interpreting SMBG data. Whenever diabetes education is provided, both skill sets, as well as potential barriers, should be assessed for all patients.
Effects of PVP and CTAB surfactants on the morphology of cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized via co-precipitation method
Authors: Chitsaz Ata , Jalilpour Marzieh , Fathalilou Mohammad
Published: May 2013

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of CeO2 nanoparticles via a simple and cost-effective co-precipitation method using cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate, ammonium carbonate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the starting chemicals. The precursor was calcined at 600 °C for 2 h to obtain CeO2 nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis results indicated that the calcined CeO2 sample has the fluorite structure of CeO2 and adding surfactant increases the obtained CeO2 amount. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the CeO2 samples consist of crystalline particles of 5–8 nm which are weakly aggregated and using the surfactants further decreases the agglomeration. The effects of PVP in decreasing the crystallite size and agglomeration, as well as, increasing the obtained CeO2 amount have been greater than for CTAB.
Densification and microwave properties of low-temperature co-fired CaO–B2O3–SiO2 glass-ceramic with La–B–Si additions
Authors: Zhou Xiaohua , Li Enzhu , Yang Shilin , Li Bo , Tang Bin , Yuan Ying , Zhang Shuren
Published: May 2013

Densification behavior, microwave and mechanical properties of the low temperature co-fired CaO–B2O3–SiO2 glass-ceramic with additions of La2O3–B2O3 and SiO2 were investigated. The results showed that the La2O3–B2O3 addition promotes the crystallization of the CaSiO3 and clearly enhances the flexural strength of the CaO–B2O3–SiO2 glass-ceramics. Si was added to adjust the shrinkage rate of the glass-ceramics to meet the actual use and the dielectric and mechanical properties were not significantly affected. The CaO–B2O3–SiO2-6 wt.%La2O3–B2O3-7 wt.%Si sample showed a flexural strength of 160 MPa, ∊
r of 6.13 and loss of 12.34 × 10–4 (10 GHz), shrinkage rate of 14.9 %.
The interrelated effect of activation energy and grain boundary energy on grain growth in nanocrystalline materials
Authors: Chen Z. , Liu F. , Yang X. Q. , Chen Y. Z. , Yang C. I. , Yang G. C. , Zhou Y. H.
Published: May 2013

The interrelated effect of activation energy and grain boundary energy on grain growth and thermal stabilization in nanocrystalline materials was investigated. Departing from Borisov's equation and Kirchheim's grain boundary energy model, an activation energy model was derived incorporating solute segregation and grain growth. An integrated thermokinetic model for nanoscale grain growth was then developed by incorporating the coupled effects of activation energy and grain boundary energy. By application of the model to nanoscale grain growth of dense nanocrystalline gadolinia-doped ceria, a good agreement between the model predictions and the experimental results was obtained. It is shown that the interrelated effect of increased activation energy and decreased grain boundary energy induced thermal stability in the nanocrystalline materials.
The influence of AlCrN coating on the high-temperature corrosion resistance of Ti-46Al-7Nb alloy in an atmosphere containing 9%O2 + 0.2%HCl + 0.08%SO2 + N2
Authors: Małecka Joanna
Published: May 2013

The results of investigation of the isothermal oxidation wear mechanism of Ti-46Al-7Nb-0.7Cr-0.1Si-0.2Ni intermetallic alloy with AlCrN coating are presented. Tests in 9%O2 + 0.2%HCl + 0.08%SO2 + N2 atmosphere were performed at a temperature of 700°C. The structure of the specimen and chemical composition of the oxidation products were analysed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. In addition, mass changes were investigated.
Effect of epoxy resin properties on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composites
Authors: He Hong-wei , Gao Feng , Li Kai-xi
Published: May 2013

Three kinds of epoxy resins, i.e. tetraglycidyl diaminodiphenyl methane (AG80), difunctional diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (E51) and novolac type epoxy resin (F46) were selected as matrices for carbon fiber/epoxy composites. The objective of this work is to study the mechanical properties of fiber/epoxy composites by using these three kinds of epoxy resins with different physical and chemical performance. The results show that the composites fabricated with AG80 present the best stiffness and the composites prepared with E51 have the best toughness. The stiffness and toughness of the composites prepared with F46 are middle values located between those for AG80/epoxy and E51/epoxy composites. Thus, the mixed epoxy resin is a promising approach for industrial production.
Effect of milling duration on the evolution of shape memory properties in a powder processed Cu–Al–Ni–Ti alloy
Authors: Sharma Mohit , Gupta Gaurav K. , Shafeeq Muhamed M. , Modi Om P. , Prasad Braj K.
Published: May 2013

The present work describes the effect of milling duration on the properties of a powder metallurgy processed Cu–Al–Ni–Ti shape memory alloy employing mechanical alloying. Powder mixtures milled for different durations were sintered in order to investigate the formation of solid solution and evolution of martensitic structure. The idea was to optimize the duration of milling (mechanical alloying) to obtain chemical homogeneity as well as shape memory properties in the processed material without undergoing extensive post homogenization treatment. The martensitic structure was noted to evolve in the powder mix milled for at least 16 hrs, whereas complete transformation to martensite occurred after milling for 40 hrs. Interestingly, the dissolution of alloying elements (to form the β phase prior to the formation of martensite) was noted to complete partially only during mechanical alloying for 40 hrs and remaining during subsequent sintering for 1 hr. The hot pressed compacts of the powders milled for 40 hrs were chemically homogeneous and consisted of fully martensite phase, which is essential for the realization of shape memory properties. They also revealed almost 100% shape recovery at the applied pre-strain levels of 1 and 2%.
Enthalpies of mixing in liquid alloys of iron with the lanthanides
Authors: Ivanov Michael , Berezutski Vadim , Usenko Natalia , Kotova Natalia
Published: May 2013

The enthalpies of mixing in binary liquid alloys of iron with the lanthanides (Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy and Lu) were determined at 1550–1950 K by means of isoperibolic calorimetry. They show exothermic effects (in the Fe–Pr system partially endothermic) which increase across the lanthanides row from the Fe–Pr system (ΔH
min = −0.35 ± 0.10 kJ · mol−1 at x
Pr = 0.22; ΔH
max = 0.75 ± 0.24 kJ · mol−1 at x
Pr = 0.76; T = 1829 K) to the Fe–Lu system (ΔH
min = −11.58 ± 0.50 kJ · mol−1 at x
Lu = 0.35; T = 1950 K).
Fabrication of Electrospun Chitosan and Chitosan/Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanofiber Webs and Assessment of Their Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Doğan G. , Özyıldız F. , Başal G. , Uzel A.
Published: May 2013

In recent years, production of nano-sized wound dressing materials from biopolymers by electrospinning method has attracted great attention. In this study, chitosan that is an inherently antimicrobial polymer and chitosan (CS)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend solutions were electrospun to obtain nanofiber webs for wound-dressing applications. Although electrospinning of chitosan with PEO was previously studied, this study emphasized the effect of molecular weight of polymer used, total polymer concentration and electrical conductivity of polymer solution on fiber formation. Results show that selection of suitable solvent and determination of optimum process parameters were key factors for obtaining uniform nanofibers. Antimicrobial activities of these nanofiber webs against S.aureus, E.coli, and C.albicans were tested according to AATCC 100–2004. Over 99% reduction in the number of microorganisms with pure chitosan nanofibers and over 50% reduction with CS/PEO blend nanofibers were obtained.
Recent Research Progress on Polymer Grafted Carbon Black and Its Novel Applications
Authors: Ding W.-B. , Wang L. , Yang Q. , Xiang W.-D. , Gao J.-M. , Amer W. A.
Published: May 2013

Polymer grafting of carbon black (CB) has been intensely researched as polymer modification is one of the effective means for improving the solubility and compatibility of carbon black. Recent advances in the polymer grafting methods allow the introduction of polymers with well controlled composition, structure and molecular weight onto the surface of CB. In addition, modification by functional polymers provides a powerful impetus to extend the applications of polymer-CB composites such as sensitive materials. This review focuses on the development of these grafting polymerization methods and some novel applications of polymer grafted CB.
Preparation and Characterization of Melamine Modified Urea-Formaldehyde Foam
Authors: Ma Y. , Zhang W. , Wang C. , Xu Y. , Li S. , Chu F.
Published: May 2013

Melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) foam was prepared using melamine modified urea formaldehyde resin. The effects of blowing agent, curing agent and surfactant on the properties of MUF foam such as apparent densities, compression strength, microstructure, fragility, limited oxygen index, thermal conductivity and formaldehyde emission were investigated. The best performance of MUF was obtained as the composition of blowing agent, curing agent and surfactant were 2.5%, 18% and 12% respectively. The water resistance of MUF foam, contents of foam's burning gas, curing mechanism and physical properties were also studied by Contact angle analyzer, TGA-FT-IR, FT-IR and 13C NMR.
An Overview of the Factors Influencing the Morphology and Thermal Properties of Avian Nests
Authors: Heenan Caragh B.
Published: May 2013

Incubation in birds is energetically demanding and the energy invested to maintain egg temperature can influence the outcome of a reproductive event and therefore the lifetime reproductive success of individuals. It is reasonable that heat loss can be minimised by optimising the physical structure and location of the nest. I assessed the structural and thermal properties of nests across 36 species of Australian passerines, assessing variables against parent mass, egg and clutch size, once accounting for phylogenetic relationships. The surface area and volume of the nest cup increases with the surface area and volume of the clutch, as well as the size of the incubating parent. Sexual size dimorphism influences the mass and density of nests, while structural support for the parent and clutch is the primary factor driving nest thickness. A change in nest thickness with the combined mass of the parent and clutch has a direct influence on the conductance of nests, such that structurally adequate nests achieve a lower thermal conductance (higher insulation) than expected, as they increase in size. When exposed to wind or rain, the rate of heat loss from the nest increases, which is likely to have direct consequences on the energetics of the incubating parent. However, birds breeding in warm and wet conditions select materials for nest construction that have a high thermal conductivity to facilitate the nest drying process through rapid evaporation and reduce the overall cost of incubation. This provides confirmation that selecting a sheltered nest site and constructing an appropriate nest to minimise heat loss is important for avian reproductive success.
The Effects of Nestbox Thermal Environment on Fledging Success and Haematocrit in Tree Swallows
Authors: Ardia Daniel R.
Published: May 2013

Nest microclimate, particularly temperature, can affect energy balance of both parents and offspring. Here I investigate patterns of correlation between internal temperatures of artificial nestboxes and fitness in Tree Swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor). Nests with cold overnight temperatures were less likely to fledge offspring. Conversely, nests with high daytime temperatures were also less likely to fledge offspring. In particular, nest success declined when internal nestbox temperatures exceeded 35°C. To investigate a potential physiological cause for reduced fitness, I tested whether haematocrit, a rough indicator of blood volume, was related to warmer nest temperatures. Whilst variable, nests with higher temperatures had higher average haematocrit of nestlings on day 13. This may indicate greater evaporative heat loss reflected in lower plasma volumes. These results as a whole indicate that temperatures outside the thermo-neutral zone may influence energy balance of both parents and offspring and may have an important effect on fitness.
The Evolutionary Ecology of Nest Construction: Insight from Recent Fish Studies
Authors: Barber Iain
Published: May 2013

Nests are built by a wide variety of animals as functional receptacles for developing eggs and offspring, and they play a critical role in the reproductive biology of many species. Traditionally, research on the ecology and evolution of nest building and construction behaviour has focused primarily on birds, and avian studies have dominated the literature. However, as researchers working on non-bird models have realised the importance of nest construction in evolutionary ecology, the number of studies published on the nesting behaviour of non-bird taxa has increased. An analysis of the literature reveals that fish have become major models for studying many aspects of nest building behaviour, but whereas studies of fish nest building behaviour frequently cite classical and contemporary bird studies, the findings of recent fish nesting research appears to be slower to be recognised by bird biologists. Further analysis reveals that this citation bias may arise because of the tendency of nest building studies to be published in taxon-specific, often local journals, and this may be especially the case for bird-focused studies. In this review, I summarise the recent literature on fish nesting behaviour, focusing on aspects that should be of mutual interest to fish and bird biologists. I hope that the review may be used by bird biologists to identify complementary and insightful nest-building research in fish, and that researchers with interests in the nest-building behaviour of animals across the taxonomic spectrum might use the review to focus on questions of mutual and general importance and interest.
Nest Site Preparation and Reproductive Output of the European Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris)
Authors: Mazgajski Tomasz D.
Published: May 2013

Hole-nesting birds are faced with the problem of dealing with the presence of nests from previous seasons. In a few species, specific nest site preparation behaviour has evolved, whereby birds remove part or all of old nest and only later build a new one. Such behaviour has not been studied in any great detail. European Starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris) were allowed to breed in nestboxes that were empty or contained old nests from a previous year. The material of old nests was marked so it was possible to evaluate the amount of material that was removed by the bird itself. Additional observations were carried out to study the temporal aspect of such nest site preparation. Birds started old nest removal soon after arrival at the breeding location, around one month before egg laying. Birds with the highest cleaning effort, i.e. removed a larger part of the old nest, began laying eggs later, laid fewer eggs and brought food to nestlings less frequently. Besides wing length, there was no relationship between cleaning efforts and fledgling body mass nor tarsus length. Nest site preparation did not decrease the load of fleas in nests. Time and energy invested in the removal of an old nest may negatively affect the entire reproductive cycle. Other hypotheses connected with nest site preparation and low reproductive output are discussed.
Eggshell Conspicuousness in Ground Nesting Birds: Do Conspicuous Eggshells Signal Nest Location to Conspecifics?
Authors: Hanley Daniel , Stoddard Mary Caswell , Cassey Phillip , Brennan Patricia L.R.
Published: May 2013

Predators can adversely impact nesting success and therefore the presence of seemingly conspicuous eggshells would appear maladaptive. The ratites, especially the tinamous, exhibit a diverse array of eggshell colours that appear to differ strikingly from their nesting substrate, while most ground-nesting species that do not build a nest lay camouflaged eggs. Surprisingly, there is little research on how these nest contents appear to ecologically-relevant viewers, including conspecifics and predators. Here we use visual modelling to compare eggshell conspicuousness in two distinct avian lineages differing in eggshell colour and breeding biology: ratites and galliformes. Ratites generally lay vibrant, unspeckled eggs directly on the ground, while galliformes tend to lay subtler, speckled eggs on nests built on the ground. We test the hypothesis that eggshell colours in ratites are more conspicuous, from the perspective of an avian conspecific, than those of galliformes. We found that the uniform colour covering the surface of the eggshell colour (hereafter, eggshell background colour) differs noticeably from the nesting substrate in both ratites and galliformes. However, the speckling pattern of galliform eggs often masks their conspicuous eggshell background colour, which contributes to a less conspicuous appearance overall. We tested the hypothesis that eggshell conspicuousness in ratites serves an intraspecific signalling function to advertise nest location to females in communally nesting species. We found no support for this hypothesis, suggesting that selection pressure for communal laying did not result in the diversity of conspicuousness found in avian eggs. Overall, we argue that future investigations of egg coloration should consider egg appearance (eggshell background colour and speckling) in the context of the natural nest substrate, all from the perspective of the relevant visual receiver.
Are Elaborate Bird Nests Built Using Simple Rules?
Authors: Walsh Patrick T. , Hansell Mike , Borello Wendy D. , Healy Susan D.
Published: May 2013

Determining how animals achieve seemingly complex behaviours is central to our understanding of the evolution of cognition. Complexity in behaviour is itself not sufficient for confirming a role for learning and memory. For example, although the nests some birds build appear structurally complex, they may, like the structures built by ants and termites, be achieved through relatively simple building processes. We attempted to use observations of nest building by male Southern Masked Weavers to determine whether one aspect of nest building, the completion of a nest, could be described usefully by either of two rule-based explanations that explain the construction of complex physical structures by invertebrates. The first possibility, stigmergy, is that birds use feedback from local nest cues to determine the building sequence and nest completion. The second possibility is that birds follow a stereotypical series of behaviours. We found that male Southern Masked Weavers returned to work on apparently complete nests even when they had begun to build a new nest. Neither stigmergy nor stereotypy explains our observations of nest building behaviour in Southern Masked Weavers. If weaverbirds do complete their nests using a set of rules, those rules are not the simple ones that have been used to describe building by invertebrates. This leaves open the possibility that learning and memory play a greater role in nest building than is currently thought to be the case.
A comparison of seismic and radar methods to establish the thickness and density of glacier snow cover
Authors: Booth Adam D. , Mercer Andrew , Clark Roger , Murray Tavi , Jansson Peter , Axtell Charlotte
Published: May 2013

We show that geophysical methods offer an effective means of quantifying snow thickness and density. Opportunistic (efficient but non-optimized) seismic refraction and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were performed on Storglaciären, Sweden, co-located with a snow pit that shows the snowpack to be 1.73 m thick, with density increasing from ∼120 to ∼500 kg m–3 (with a +50 kg m–3 anomaly between 0.73 and 0.83 m depth). Depths estimated for two detectable GPR reflectors, 0.76 ±0.02 and 1.71 ± 0.03 m, correlate extremely well with ground-truth observations. Refraction seismic predicts an interface at 1.90 ± 0.31 m depth, with a refraction velocity (3730 ± 190 ms–1) indicative of underlying glacier ice. For density estimates, several standard velocity-density relationships are trialled. In the best case, GPR delivers an excellent density estimate for the upper snow layer (observed = 321 ± 74 kg m–3, estimated = 319 ± 10 kgm–3) but overestimates the density of the lower layer by 20%. Refraction seismic delivers a bulk density of 404 ±22 kgm–3 compared with a ground-truth average of 356 ± 22 kg m–3. We suggest that geophysical surveys are an effective complement to mass-balance measurements (particularly for controlling estimates of snow thickness between pits) but should always be validated against ground-truth observations.
Internal structure and composition of a rock glacier in the Andes (upper Choapa valley, Chile) using borehole information and ground-penetrating radar
Authors: Monnier Sébastien , Kinnard Christophe
Published: May 2013

This study uses boreholes, ground temperature monitoring and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in order to understand the internal structure and composition of a rock glacier in the upper Choapa valley, northern Chile. The rock glacier is a small valley-side feature, 200 m long and ranging between 3710 and 3780 ma.s.l. Two boreholes were drilled down to depths of 20 and 25 m, respectively, using the diamond drillhole technique. An ice-rock mixture was encountered in the boreholes, with heterogeneous ice content averaging 15-30%. Data from common-midpoint (CMP) and constant-offset (CO) GPR surveys acquired, respectively, near the boreholes and across the whole rock glacier were processed to highlight the internal stratigraphy and variations in the radar-wave velocity. The GPR profiles depict a rock glacier constituted of stacked and generally concordant layers, with a thickness ranging from 10 m in its upper part to ∼30m towards its terminus. The CMP analysis highlights radar-wave velocities of 0.13-0.16 m ns–1 in the first 20 m of the structure. Larger vertical and lateral velocity variations are highlighted from CO data, reflecting the heterogeneous composition of the rock glacier and the likely presence of unfrozen water in the structure. Given the average air temperature registered at the site (+0.5°C), the near-melting-point temperature registered in the boreholes over more than a year and the presence of locally high water content inferred from GPR data, it is thought that the permafrost in the rock glacier is currently degrading.
Optical-televiewer-based logging of the uppermost 630 m of the NEEM deep ice borehole, Greenland
Authors: Hubbard Bryn , Malone Terry
Published: May 2013

We report on the application of optical televiewing (OPTV) to the uppermost 630 m of the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) deep ice borehole, Greenland. The resulting log reveals numerous natural and drilling-related properties, including the integrity of the borehole casing and its joints, the presence of drill-tooth scoring on the ice wall of the borehole and the presence of regularly repeated layering, interpreted to be annual, to a depth approaching 200 m. A second OPTV log was acquired from a nearby shallow borehole. With the exception of the uppermost ∼10 m, this log shows a gradual decrease in luminosity with depth, interpreted as a decrease in light scattering with firnification. This shallow log also clearly images annual layers, allowing the construction of an age-depth scale. Comparing this with an independent core-based scale reveals that the OPTV record yields an age of 1724 at the deepest common point of both scales (80 m), 13 years older than the core-based record at 1737. However, all of this deviation accrues in the uppermost ∼30 m of the OPTV record where highly reflective snow saturates the luminosity of the borehole image, an artefact that can be reduced by further adaptation of the OPTV system.
Modelling Farm Animal Welfare
Authors: Collins Lisa , Part Chérie
Published: May 2013

The use of models in the life sciences has greatly expanded in scope and advanced in technique in recent decades. However, the range, type and complexity of models used in farm animal welfare is comparatively poor, despite the great scope for use of modeling in this field of research. In this paper, we review the different modeling approaches used in farm animal welfare science to date, discussing the types of questions they have been used to answer, the merits and problems associated with the method, and possible future applications of each technique. We find that the most frequently published types of model used in farm animal welfare are conceptual and assessment models; two types of model that are frequently (though not exclusively) based on expert opinion. Simulation, optimization, scenario, and systems modeling approaches are rarer in animal welfare, despite being commonly used in other related fields. Finally, common issues such as a lack of quantitative data to parameterize models, and model selection and validation are discussed throughout the review, with possible solutions and alternative approaches suggested.
Methylated DNA and microRNA in Body Fluids as Biomarkers for Cancer Detection
Authors: Ma Yanning , Wang Xian , Jin Hongchuan
Published: May 2013

Epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation and microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the initiation and progression of human cancers. As the extensively studied epigenetic changes in tumors, DNA methylation and miRNAs are the most potential epigenetic biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. After the identification of circulating cell-free nuclear acids, increasing evidence demonstrated great potential of cell-free epigenetic biomarkers in the blood or other body fluids for cancer detection.