bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy from the water cycle: a promising combination to operate climate neutral
Authors: van der Hoek J. P.
Published: May 2012

Waternet, the first water cycle company in the Netherlands, is responsible for drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and watersystem management and control in and around Amsterdam. Waternet has the ambition to operate climate neutral in 2020. To realise this ambition, measures are required to compensate for the emission of 53,000 ton CO2-eq/year. Energy recovery from the water cycle looks very promising. From wastewater, ground water, surface water and drinking water, all elements of the water cycle, renewable energy can be recoverd. This can be thermal energy and chemical energy. First calculations reveal that energy recovery from the water cycle in and around Amsterdam can contribute to a total reduction in green house gas emissions up to 148,000 ton CO2-eq/year. The challenge for the coming years is to choose robust combinations of all the possibilities to fulfil the energy demand at any time. Only then the use of fossil fuel can be abandoned and the target of operating climate neutral in 2020 can be reached.
Towards eco-effective sustainable sanitation for the city of Almere
Authors: Kerstens S. M. , De Ridder R. , Hof A. , Alberts J. , Mulhall D. , Dale D.
Published: May 2012

The city of Almere (The Netherlands) has a current population of 190.000 residents. Because of its attractive location (close to Amsterdam and Utrecht) Almere was designated by the national government to expand its population with 160.000 residents (60.000 houses) between 2010 and 2030, becoming one of the fastest growing European urban areas. Almere has formulated the “Almere Principles” containing ambitious goals to achieve this future development, aspiring to become a landmark in sustainable urban development. The “Almere Principles” are based on the Cradle to Cradle® philosophy in which improvement of public health and environment is emphasized, rather than limiting negative impacts of the future expansion of Almere. Thus, a distinction is made between the conventional interpretation of sustainability, focusing on eco-efficiency and the Cradle to Cradle® approach, focusing on eco-effectiveness. These principles are used by relevant stakeholders to formulate a vision of the future sanitation system. Following, design criteria based on sustainability pillars People, Planet and Profit are formulated, thus translating the vision into tangible scenarios, which are then mutually compared. In this paper the methodology and preliminary outcomes of the development of the sustainable sanitation system for Almere are presented.
Power generation and heat recovery Case study: a synergy project between a waste water treatment plant and a green waste composting platform
Authors: Jeuch-Trommsdorff C. , Benz A. , Moser R. , Ulli A.
Published: May 2012

A common valorization of digester gas and composting gas increases the efficiency of the co-generator installation by 10% to 15%. In this case study, a green waste fermentation and composting platform and its neighboring waste water treatment plant (WWTP) opted for a common co-generator: about 600,000 m3 of digester gas and 1,900,000 m3/year of fermentation gas (biogas) transformed into electricity and heat. The energy content of this combined gas source is about 13,800 MW/a, out of which about 38% is transformed into electricity, about 42% is converted into heat, and 20% is lost. The electrical energy produced (600 kW) is sold to the Swiss electrical grid (Swissgrid Program) as Ökostrom, or “green power,” at a higher price than that of normal power. The heat produced (660 kWh) is used to heat the composter (60 kWh), the digester (125 kWh), and the buildings (25 kW). The excess heat (450 kWh) could also be used for a future low-temperature biosolids drying project, whose life-cycle costs would be counterbalanced by the reduction in disposal costs. This project allows for an optimal use of the energy content of biogas and digester gas. Once drying is implemented, the environmental impact will be even more beneficial with a reduction in transport and the facilitation of phosphorous recovery from dried biosolids. In this case study, the large amount of biogas produced would enable the implementation of low-temperature biosolids drying using the excess heat of the co-gen facilities. The ratio of the biogas to the digester gas production has to be at least 2.5 to 3.0 in order to produce sufficient excess heat for a low-temperature dryer. Low-temperature drying is the most ecological and sensible way of using locally produced waste-heat all year long.
WaSH Safety Plans: a risk-based approach to protecting public health
Authors: Sanderson R. , McKenzie N.
Published: May 2012

WaSH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Safety Plans have been developed to provide a holistic approach to protecting public health through the assessment and management of risks from insufficient or unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices. A successful trial of a WaSH Safety Plan was conducted in an urban community in Kathmandu, Nepal. The trial demonstrated that WaSH Safety Plans are a powerful tool which quantifies the risks posed to the community and strengthens the decision making process in order to justify that interventions are targeted towards specific needs.
DAUMEN-Energy “Design for Augmented Methanisation” a contribution to sustainable biomethanation
Authors: Stopp P. , Weichgrebe D. , Rosenwinkel K.-H. , Breves G. , Strecker M.
Published: May 2012

The competition for cultivable acreage between energy and food crops increases in Germany. One part of the problem are the currently installed biogas plants for energy crops, which use mainly the fruit parts of the plants. To mitigate this problem, cellulose may well be used as a main substrate. For the disintegration of cellulosic indigenous plants the principle of the gastrooesophageal vestibule system of ruminant animals - which nature has honed in millions of years of evolution as the most efficient system of cellulose disintegration - could be used. The implementation of the cellulose digestion of ruminants to a technical concept and the comparison with conventional process technology is the central point for the research project DAUMEN Energy. The objectives are to increase the efficiency of biogas technology and the prevention of food crops being used as energy crops. Laboratory tests showed, that the specific methane yield from wheat straw and spent grains could be increased through the application of rumen microorganisms to a value that was ca. 30% respectively 45% higher than that of the microorganisms of digested sludge. Also test-plants on a pilot-scale, with augmented hydrolysis and methanogenesis are described in this paper.
Emergency water treatment using hydrocyclones
Authors: Reed R. A. , Moore M.
Published: May 2012

Post disaster, emergency water treatment in low and middle income countries is an ongoing dilemma. Systems must be effective and quick to install whilst being robust and simple to operate and maintain. A test bench was constructed to assess the effectiveness of a one inch (25mm) hydrocyclone as part of an emergency water treatment process. Natural and artificial water samples ranging in turbidity between 105 and 2489 NTU were passed through the hydrocyclone using various configurations of inlet pressure, vortex finder and spigot size. Turbidity removal varied between zero and 30.18% with the best results being achieved from samples with the highest turbidity and the hydrocylone fitted with the smallest vortex finder and largest spigot. None of the effluent samples achieved a turbidity of less than 20NTU concluding that, in the format tested, the hydrocyclone is not a suitable emergency water treatment option.
Nitrogen removal by an irrigated wooded buffer area
Authors: Gumiero Bruna , Cornelio Paolo , Boz Bruno
Published: May 2012

To demonstrate the efficiency of the wooded riparian soil in removing the exceeding nitrogen from the river water, a pilot-scale experimental system (0,8 ha) was planned and built on an area previously used to grow arable crops. It was constructed to allow the precise management of the system hydrology, because the water is electrically pumped from the adjacent Zero River into the irrigation ditches (ridges). The particular structure, characterized by ridges and furrows, facilitates sub-surface water flow through the woodland area and the creation of a suspended artificial aquifer seldom in contact with the groundwater.

A grid of 36 piezometers was used to collect water samples. The results indicated that the nitrates retention capacity increased strongly from about 40 to 85% from the first to the third year. Ammonia nitrogen showed the highest annual variability, with the outputs in some cases exceeding the inputs. Organic nitrogen outputs were always higher than the inputs, but with a progressive reduction from the first to the third year. Overall, total nitrogen retention increased from 26% in the first year, to 62% in the third year. A monitoring campaign conducted after 8 year confirmed the long term efficiency of the site in nitrate removal with an increase also in organic nitrogen reduction.
Construction and maintenance cost analyzing of constructed wetland systems
Authors: Gunes K. , Tuncsiper B. , Masi F. , Ayaz S. , Leszczynska D. , Findik Hecan N. , Ahmad H.
Published: May 2012

Nowadays, use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment especially in rural areas has become increasingly preferable. The most important reason behind this fact is its relatively low investment cost over other treatment options depending on economical conditions of the country. Nonetheless, due to lower operational costs of constructed wetlands than other conventional wastewater treatment systems, investment costs could be regarded secondary as of importance. Investment costs could show differences even at regional scale in a country. Choosing a constructed wetland system among “Subsurface Horizontal Flow”, “Subsurface Vertical Flow” or “Free Water Surface Flow”; or designing a hybrid system using concurrent systems plays important role when defining costs of the constructed wetland systems. Due to increasing interest for constructed wetlands since 2003, so many constructed wetland systems have been built in rural parts of Turkey and most of these systems have been designed as horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland system. As a fact, the cost of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands is comparatively higher than other wetland systems. When different applications in the world are examined, it is observed that mostly horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland systems are preferred in rural areas. According to the studies within the extent of this work, different constructed wetland types which are built in different regions of Turkey and their expected and realized costs are analyzed and compared with other countries. Moreover, operational costs have been calculated. Consequently, a work to be taken as reference for further scientific studies has been prepared with presented wetland analyses which could be used by especially decision makers and researchers.
Fratta-Gorzone Guide Lines: Rehabilitation and renaturalization of a river in the Veneto region
Authors: Trevisiol E. R. , Odolini C.
Published: May 2012

The Fratta-Gorzone River is classified in the recent PTA plan as one of the most polluted rivers in the Veneto region. Its Basin -about 1.500 sqKm- includes all the main landscape ambits catalogued by the PTRC plan (from the pre-Alpes in Vicenza Province to the dune landscape of the Venice Lagoon southern part). The Fratta waterway is 93 km long and is known as the Rio Acquetta-Togna-Fratta Gorzone/Agno-Guà-Frassine-Santa Caterina-Gorzone River System.

This Waterway System from one part has great elements of strenght as the rich riverine historical and landscape heritage, and from the other part has serious weaknesses due to the tanning district pollution and to the diffuse agricultural, urban and industrial pollution. Fratta is a medium-high hydraulic risk zone.

Until Know all the Planning Instruments and Practices deal with the northern part of Fratta. The more recent Plan too –the “Accordo di Programma Quadro 05/12/2005”- has as focal point the reduction of pollution (chrome and chloride mainly) and the use of traditional treatment systems (linked with some constructed wetland systems).

Our Paper present the last 2009 Scenario-Plan, promoted by an anusual Group: Water Consorzio LEB with the Regione Veneto supervision, AATO del Chiampo, Sentinella dei Fiumi Association, Coldiretti, IUAV University and two Private Industries.
The review of non-conventional technologies applied in the Czech Republic
Authors: Wanner F. , Mlejnská E.
Published: May 2012

Non-conventional technologies are commonly used in the Czech Republic for wastewater treatment, especially for small municipalities (up to 500 PE). Three main types of non-conventional technologies are applied: stabilization ponds, soil filters and constructed wetlands. Within the research project of Czech Ministry of the Environment, authors have observed 14 localities for two or more years. In this article all three types of non-conventional technologies will be described. At the same time detailed results of the monitoring will be presented with the accent to treatment efficiency comparison of these technologies in parameters COD, BOD5, SS, NTOT and PTOT. Operational experiences of non-conventional technologies will also be described, especially critical moments which can negatively influence the treatment efficiency.
Sustainable use of wetland soils in the eastern region of Uganda around Lake Victoria Basin
Authors: Zake J. , Kitungulu J. Y. Z. , Busurwa H. , Kyewaze F.
Published: May 2012

Wetlands are not wastelands but wealth lands, which are widely distributed throughout Uganda currently covering 11% of the total land area. They are accessible to a large proportion of the population. As the country's population grows, people increasingly convert wetlands for other land uses such as farming, settlement among others thus making it difficult to enforce legislation for their protection, sustainable management and utilization. Their profound importance to both humans and wildlife calls for a concerted effort to ensure their sustainable utilization and attempts should be made to promote sustainable development of such wetlands with adequate considerations being given to human and environmental requirements. This study was therefore carried out to determine the effect of drainage on organic matter levels and on soil chemical changes in wetland soils in eastern Uganda around the Lake Victoria basin. Secondly, to assess potential lime requirements for drained wetland soils in eastern Uganda around the Lake Victoria basin, this would reflect on wetland soil buffering capacity. In green house studies it was found that drainage of wetland soils led to a reduction of organic matter relative to soil structure and where sulfur and iron were present in large amounts, drainage caused decrease in soil pH to moderately acidic levels; but in cases where exchangeable bases were present in large amounts there was an increase in soil pH. Lime requirements were greater where the amount of clay, organic matter and cation exchange capacity were high. Consequently, such wetland soils had a high buffering capacity. It was concluded that wetland soils should be characterized in terms of potential of acidification, level of organic matter, nutrient content, cation exchange capacity, soil texture and levels of trace elements. Decisions to drain or not to drain should depend on these parameters and other socio-economic considerations for the area.
Operational Tools for Decision Support in Leakage Control
Authors: Mutikanga H. E. , Vairavamoorthy K. , Sharma S. K. , Akita C. S.
Published: May 2012

Water utilities particularly in the developing countries are still grappling with challenges of high water losses due to leakage. District Meter Areas, pressure management and network hydraulic modeling have proven to be powerful engineering tools for reducing leakage in many developed countries notably in the UK. Despite their apparent success, these tools have not had wide application in the developing countries partly due to inadequate information on cost-benefit analyses to support management decision making in implementation of pressure management policies. To address this constraint, this paper develops a decision support tool for predicting the associated benefits to make a sound financial case for investment in pressure management strategies. The predicted benefits by the tool are compared with those derived using network hydraulic modeling to give users confidence in the tool results. The predicted benefits are illustrated on a real-developing world case study in Kampala city, Uganda. Predictions by the tool and the network hydraulic model indicate that reducing average pressure in the DMA by 7.5 m could result into annual net benefits of Euro 56,190 and Euro 66,910 respectively without compromising the customer level of service. The results obtained indicate that the predicted net financial benefits compare fairly well.
How the energy market will change water services
Authors: Jacobs Eilard
Published: May 2012

In the 20th century energy and water services are provided by large centralized systems. The development of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, however generates a transition towards more decentralized services in the 21st century. The development of green buildings and other off the grid solutions facilitates a growing demand for these decentralized solutions, not only for energy but also for water services. It is the challenge for water utilities to be a player this development.
Selecting SUDS in the Valencia Region of Spain
Authors: Casal-Campos A. , Jefferies C. , Perales Momparler S.
Published: May 2012

This paper reports on a study of the implementation of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) in two Spanish towns (Xàtiva and Benaguasil) as part of the EU LIFE+ Project AQUAVAL, which has been conceived to introduce examples of sustainable drainage to the Valencia Region of Spain. Six sites in a range of common urban spaces and land uses are selected and appropriate SUDS techniques proposed by means of a decision-support process. This primarily consisted of the systematic application of key selection criteria through matrices and scores, followed by a brief sustainability analysis. Stakeholders' preferences and opinions as well as educational and social opportunities are highly considered throughout the process. General monitoring requirements and major limitations in using the methodology are outlined, stressing the need for improvement of four main aspects: local data regarding SUDS performance, detail of the sustainability analysis, support through comprehensive modelling tools, and level of stakeholder engagement. The importance of creating showcases for SUDS in Mediterranean Regions, thus adapting key selection criteria as to foster sustainable drainage understanding and expertise is highlighted.
An update on San Francisco's wastewater master planning process and implementation
Authors: Loiacono Jon , Ho Chu-Fei H. , Jolis Domènec , Jones Bonnie , Kubick Karen
Published: May 2012

The City and County of San Francisco embarked on a 30 year master planning process in part prompted by public concerns over environmental justice related to the neighborhood impacts of the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant. The Sewer System Master Plan, as it is called, developed a long term Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the City's treatment plants and collection system. This paper will focus on the planning framework and public input to the process and how the master plan of 2009 evolved into the current implementation plan, the Sewer System Improvement Program. The paper describes the public process and public concerns; and compares the master plan project recommendations with the implementation projects.
Demonstration and evaluation of an innovative water main rehabilitation technology: spray-on polymeric lining
Authors: Matthews John C. , Selvakumar Ariamalar , Condit Wendy , Sterling Raymond L.
Published: May 2012

Many utilities are seeking innovative rehabilitation technologies to extend the life and fix larger portions of their water distribution systems with current funding levels. The information on the capabilities and applicability of new technologies is not always readily available or easy to obtain from an independent source. To meet these needs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed an innovative technology demonstration program to evaluate rehabilitation technologies that have the potential to reduce costs and increase the effectiveness of the operation, maintenance, and renewal of aging water distribution and wastewater conveyance systems. This paper provides an impartial assessment of the effectiveness and cost of a spray-on polymeric lining technology for water main rehabilitation. The spray-on lining technology ultimately resulted in a liner failure, which was discovered during the post-rehabilitation flow test, which was part of the demonstration protocol QA/QC activities. The failure discovery was important in helping to identify material formulation issues and subsequent analysis of the potential causes of the failure indicated that moisture conditions (previously not experienced in product development and use) prevented a proper chemical reaction from occurring, which greatly reduced the material properties, resulting in a lining collapse. Recommendations for the study of important issues such as the effect of ambient conditions on the resin curing process, cleaning requirements for surface preparation, and other key issues in order to help to better understand the technology are made to help avoid the occurrence of future failures with this technology.
Design of aeration systems in activated sludge plants at different wastewater temperatures
Authors: Guenkel T. , Wagner M.
Published: May 2012

The standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) is the decisive factor in the dimensioning of activated sludge plants. It depends on the required oxygen uptake rate (OUR) by microorganisms. The dependencies of the SOTR and OUR on the wastewater temperature (range 5–30 °C) are discussed. It is shown that the absolute values of the SOTR depend only slightly on the wastewater temperature, while the specific values, in relation to the aerated tank volume, increase considerably as a function of the wastewater temperature. Within this context, the decisive dimensioning temperature is discussed. In addition, two design approaches for determining the SOTR, temperature-dependant and temperature-independent, are presented and compared, showing the impact of the water dependency. Finally, the sensitivity of the decisive factors for determining the SOTR is discussed, particularly addressing the influence of the α-value.
The impact of precipitation and external carbon source addition on biological nutrient removal in activated sludge systems – experimental investigation and mathematical modeling
Authors: Makinia J. , Drewnowski J. , Swinarski M. , Czerwionka K. , Kaszubowska M. , Majtacz J.
Published: May 2012

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of chemical precipitation and addition of external carbon sources on the denitrification capability and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) interactions at the ‘Wschod’ WWTP (600,000 PE) in Gdansk (northern Poland). For this purpose, different kinds of batch experiments were carried out with the settled wastewater (without pretreatment and after coagulation-flocculation) and external carbon sources (ethanol and fusel oil). Precipitation of colloidal and particulate organic fractions has a significant effect on denitrification and EBPR. The removal of these two fractions by coagulation-flocculation resulted in the reduced process rates (30–70%). The experimental investigations were supported by both lab-scale and full-scale simulations using a newly developed model as an expansion of the Activated Sludge Model No. 2d (ASM2d). The new model accurately predicted the effects of precipitation and external carbon addition in batch experiments. Full-scale simulations revealed that addition of external carbon source can compensate the effects of precipitation resulting in a similar NO3-N behavior compared to the reference case (without precipitation and external carbon addition). The combined effects of precipitation and addition of external carbon source resulted in a significantly different PO4-P behavior compared to the reference case.
Cloudbreak mine water conveyance infrastructure
Authors: Windsor Simon , Rouhiainen Carl , Willis-Jones Bobak
Published: May 2012

Cloudbreak is an iron ore mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The mine extends 40 km east-west, 5 km north-south and has excavations up to 70 m depth. It is home to one of Australia's largest and most complex Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) operations. It also adjoins the new Christmas Creek mine, currently under development to the east, of similar scale and characteristics. The two mines form a single water managed entity.

Ninety percent of the ore body is below the water table, the ore body itself containing the main aquifer of brackish water. The mine is bounded to the south by the Fortescue Marsh – an internally draining, periodically flooded wetland of national significance. The marsh and the ore body are underlain by hyper saline conditions in an irregular pattern trending more saline towards the marsh and with depth.

MAR is the chosen method of dewatering operation to preserve the fresh and brackish water source, manage the quality of the remaining unexcavated ore body, safeguard groundwater levels at the marsh, and maintain balance to local ecology by zero surface discharge.

Through an evolution of review and optimisation, a mix of infrastructure components have been installed and commissioned alongside ongoing mine expansion, within a very dynamic operational environment. The scheme currently includes 200 abstraction bores (60 operational at any time), ten in-pit sumps, 200 km of pipeline, six major transfer or settlement ponds, 100 brackish injection bores (50 operational, others for standby or future use) and 20 saline injection bores (currently operating five at a time on a trial basis). These numbers are due to be significantly augmented as dewatering license limits increase and the mine progressively develops. Hydraulic network modelling software is applied for system design and optimisation. The system is operated using a mix of manual and automatic controls, with regular monitoring for compliance and optimising system performance.

This paper focuses on how the self contained MAR system has been designed, developed and operated successfully, though many challenges remain.
Grassroots cultural policy for water management in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Amzad , Marinova Dora
Published: May 2012

Rural Bangladesh's livelihood depends on water and the existing grassroots policy framework for sustainable water management (conservation and consumption) reflects a cultural unity within a country which is culturally very diverse. Extra-abundance or shortage of water supply is generally viewed as natural; however, prolonged or human caused water deficiency is treated as the retaliation of nature against anthropogenic transgression, which is often attributed to an act of climate change. The mostly uneducated rural people of multi-cultural Bangladesh live a simple lifestyle promoted by the country's inspiring Baul tradition, including water management. The Bauls religiously promote water conservation and are devoted to enhancing public understanding of the role of water.

Spirituality can be the basis for sound water management as traditionally prevalent in rural Bangladesh's self-reliant lifestyle. Western culture and development treat water as an economic resource and commodity. Irreverence or ignorance of water related spirituality by modern societies is the fundamental reason for scarcity, pollution, over-extraction, mal-utilisation and aggressive politics of water. Values-driven water management is emphasised as the sustainability breakthrough and an essential requirement for proper development. Based on the Bangladeshi experience, the paper argues for a spirituality oriented educational policy to inform sustainable water management.
Impacts of meso-scale Watershed Development in Andhra Pradesh (India) and their implications for designing and implementing improved WSD policies and programs
Authors: Croke B. , Herron N. , Pavelic P. , Ahmed S. , Reddy V. R. , Ranjan R. , Syme G. , Samad M. , Rao K. V.
Published: May 2012

Watershed Development (WSD) programs in rainfed dryland agriculture in India have been introduced in an effort to promote more sustainable management of the surface and groundwater resources, and to improve the livelihoods of farmers. This paper outlines the planned research for a project exploring the impacts of WSD at the meso-scale (~100 km2). The aim of the project is to develop and apply integrated models to assess cost effectiveness and water-related equity outcomes of stakeholder defined WSD scenarios; and to integrate and apply, in collaboration with project partners, the knowledge arising from the project at local, state and national policy levels.
The Impact of Initial Information Ambiguity on the Accuracy of Analytical Review Judgments
Authors: Luippold Benjamin L. , Kida Thomas E.
Published: May 2012

Analytical procedures require that auditors develop and test hypotheses about possible fluctuations in a firm's financial data. Research in psychology suggests that the initial information ambiguity that exists prior to hypothesis generation may affect not only the initial hypothesis set, but also final judgment accuracy. We argue in this paper that information ambiguity can be caused by two primary variables, data sufficiency and data complexity, and examine how these variables affect judgment accuracy during analytical review. Ninety-four staff auditors completed analytical procedures for a company with an error seeded into its financial statements. Information ambiguity was varied across three levels by manipulating both the sufficiency and complexity of the data (insufficient/complex, sufficient/complex, and sufficient/not complex). Participants generated hypotheses that might explain the observed fluctuations in the data, then received a comprehensive financial data set (that was identical for all groups) and were asked to identify the cause of the fluctuations. The results indicate that when auditors are initially exposed to more ambiguous information (either due to its insufficiency or complexity), they are less likely to ultimately identify the error causing the fluctuations, even though they have access to the same unambiguous information set prior to making their final judgments. Implications of these results for audit research and practice are discussed.

Data Availability: Contact the authors.
The Failure to Remediate Previously Disclosed Material Weaknesses in Internal Controls
Authors: Hammersley Jacqueline S. , Myers Linda A. , Zhou Jian
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we study a sample of companies that fail to remediate previously disclosed material weaknesses (MWs) in their internal control systems and, thus, disclose the same MWs in two consecutive annual reports. Their failure to remediate is surprising given that regulators, credit rating agencies, and academics contend that the remediation of MWs is important. We form a control sample of companies that initially disclosed MWs in their internal control systems, but subsequently remediated these weaknesses, and investigate the characteristics of the remediated and unremediated MWs, the characteristics of remediating versus non-remediating companies, and the consequences to non-remediating companies.

Regarding the characteristics of companies failing to remediate, we find that companies are less likely to remediate previously disclosed MWs when the weaknesses are more pervasive (i.e., when they are described as at the entity level, when there are more individual weaknesses) and when their operations are more complex (i.e., they have more segments and have foreign operations). In addition, companies with smaller audit committees are less likely to remediate.

Regarding the consequences, we find that companies failing to remediate MWs experience larger increases in audit fees and a higher likelihood of auditor resignation as the number of MWs increases. We also find that non-remediating companies are more likely to receive modified audit opinions and going-concern opinions. Finally, we find that companies failing to remediate are more likely to miss filing deadlines and experience increased cost of debt capital (i.e., they receive poorer credit ratings when entity level MWs are present, and are charged higher interest rates).

Data Availability: Data are publicly available from sources identified in the text.
Effects of Picture Amount on Preference, Balance, and Dynamic Feel of Web Pages
Authors: Chiang Shu-Ying , Chen Chien-Hsiung
Published: May 2012

This study investigates the effects of picture amount on subjective evaluation. The experiment herein adopted two variables to define picture amount: column ratio and picture size. Six column ratios were employed: 7:93, 15:85, 24:76, 33:67, 41:59, and 50:50. Five picture sizes were examined: 140 × 81, 220 × 127, 300 × 173, 380 × 219, and 460 × 266 pixels. The experiment implemented a within-subject design; 104 participants were asked to evaluate 30 web page layouts. Repeated measurements revealed that the column ratio and picture size have significant effects on preference, balance, and dynamic feel. The results indicated the most appropriate picture amount for display: column ratios of 15:85 and 24:76, and picture sizes of 220 × 127, 300 × 173, and 380 × 219. The research findings can serve as the basis for the application of design guidelines for future web page interface design.
Nighttime in Dreams
Authors: Schredl Michael , Knoth Inga Sophia
Published: May 2012

Based on the continuity hypothesis of dreaming, a study was designed to examine whether time of day within the dream was related to dream emotions. A sample of 1,612 dreams reported by 444 participants was analyzed. As predicted, dream scenarios set at nighttime were associated with less positive and more negative emotions compared to dream scenarios set at other times of the day. In order to pursue this line of research, it would be fruitful to study the dreams of persons with specific nighttime fears.
Performance as a Function of Shooting Style in Basketball Players under 11 Years of Age
Authors: Arias José L.
Published: May 2012

Shooting style in basketball refers to the height adopted by a player in holding the ball, specifically the height of the hand and the ball with regard to the line of sight before the final extension of the elbow during a shot. The literature differentiates between a high and a low style. This study analyzed shooting frequency in young boys as a function of style and which shooting style had the highest accuracy and success in real games. Participants were 81 boys from eight basketball teams, aged 9–11 years. The sample consisted of 5,740 standard shots in 56 games. The design was nomotethic, follow-up, and multidimensional. The results indicated that low style predominated over the high style, although overall accuracy and efficacy were better using the high style. Various strategies and practical considerations are suggested for teachers and coaches to focus on teaching the high style.
Evaluating the Approach Run of Class F11 Visually Impaired Athletes in Triple and Long Jumps
Authors: Theodorou Apostolos , Skordilis Emmanouil
Published: May 2012

The present study examined stride pattern characteristics of Class F11 visually impaired long jumpers and triple jumpers. Athletes demonstrated initial ascending footfall variability followed by descending variability, on the second (long jumpers) and third (triple jumpers) stride prior to take-off, at a mean distance of 6.26 m (long jumpers) and 7.36 m (triple jumpers) from the take-off board. Toe-board-distance variability reached a maximum value of 0.36 m and 0.38 m for the long and triple jump, respectively. Last stride toe-board-distance variability was 0.29 m (long jump) and 0.25 m (triple jump). Class F11 visually impaired athletes exhibit regulation of goal-directed gait analogous to that of non-visually impaired athletes.
Relative Age Effect in Olympic Taekwondo Athletes
Authors: Albuquerque Maicon R. , Lage Guilherme Menezes , Costa Varley Teoldo da , Ferreira Renato Melo , Penna Eduardo Macedo , Moraes Luiz Carlos Couto de Albuquerque , Malloy-Diniz Leandro Fernandes
Published: May 2012

Relative age effects refer to the effects of age differences among individuals who have been grouped together for a performance activity. This study aimed to investigate the relative age effect on Olympic Taekwondo athletes, in several Olympic Games, and in both sexes. The study sample consisted of 291 athletes who had competed in Atlanta, Sydney, and Beijing Olympic Games. The relative age effect was examined for the general distribution of athletes by quartile, for each of the individuals, and for male and female athletes. There were no discernable effects of relative age on Olympic Taekwondo athletes.
Physical Activity and Determinants of Sedentary Behavior in Brazilian Adolescents from an Underdeveloped Region
Authors: Guedes Dartagnan P. , Souza Monica V. , Ferreirinha Jose E. , Silva Antonio Jose R. M.
Published: May 2012

The purpose of the study was to analyze the physical activity and the determinants of sedentary behavior in 1,268 Brazilian adolescents (638 girls, 630 boys) between the ages of 15 and 18 years, randomly selected from a relatively underdeveloped region. Data were collected from a community-based survey in the city of João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. Information related to physical activity was derived on the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The prevalence of sedentary behavior was 28.2% for girls and 19.1% for boys, whilst 28.9% of the girls and 36.7% of the boys showed high physical activity. The sedentary behavior varied by sociodemographic and environmental determinants studied. Parents' education, socioeconomic status, school's characteristics, transport to school, paid work, smoking, alcohol use, and BMI scores were significantly related to sedentary behavior for boys and girls.
Integrating Fundamental Movement Skills in Late Childhood
Authors: Gimenez Roberto , De Oliveira Dalton Lustosa , Manoel Edison De J. , Dantas Luiz , Marques Inara
Published: May 2012

The study examined how children of different ages integrate fundamental movement skills, such as running and throwing, and whether their developmental status was related to the combination of these skills. Thirty children were divided into three groups (Gl = 6-year-olds, G2 = 9-year-olds, and G3 = 12-year-olds) and filmed performing three tasks: running, overarm throwing, and the combined task. Patterns were identified and described, and the efficiency of integration was calculated (distance differences of the ball thrown in two tasks, overarm throwing and combined task). Differences in integration were related to age: the 6-year-olds were less efficient in combining the two skills than the 9- and 12-year-olds. These differences may be indicative of a phase of integrating fundamental movement skills in the developmental sequence. This developmental status, particularly throwing, seems to be related to the competence to integrate skills, which suggests that fundamental movement skills may be developmental modules.
Use of a Driving Simulator to Assess Performance under Adverse Weather Conditions in Adults with Albinism
Authors: Hofman Gwen M. , Ward Nicholas , Summers C. Gail , Bhargav Esha , Rakauskas Michael E. , Holleschau Ann M.
Published: May 2012

Participants with albinism have reduced vision and nystagmus with reduced foveation times. This prospective study evaluated driving in 12 participants with albinism and 12 matched controls. Participants drove a vehicle simulator through a virtual rural course in sunny and foggy conditions. Under sunny conditions, participants with albinism showed a narrower preferred minimum safety boundary during car-following tasks than did controls, but there was no difference under foggy conditions. Their driving did not differ significantly from that of controls when approaching a stop sign or when choosing gap size between oncoming vehicles when crossing an intersection. However, when compared to control drivers, participants with albinism had a decreased minimum safety boundary for car-following that should be included in counseling regarding driving safety.
Access to Environmental Stimulation via Eyelid Responses for Persons with Acquired Brain Injury and Multiple Disabilities: A New Microswitch Arrangement
Authors: Lancioni Giulio E. , O'Reilly Mark F. , Singh Nirbhay N. , Sigafoos Jeff , Ricci Irene , Buonocunto Francesca , Sacco Valentina
Published: May 2012

This study assessed a new microswitch arrangement for eyelid responses using an optic sensor placed above the cheekbone and a small sticker on the person's eyelid. This new arrangement, which was designed to avoid interference of the microswitch with the person's visual functioning, was tested on three adults with acquired brain injury and multiple (consciousness, communication, and motor) disabilities. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. Data showed the new microswitch arrangement was suitable for all three participants, who increased their responding during the intervention phase of the study when their responses allowed them to access preferred stimulation. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Visual Discrimination in an Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus): Measuring Visual Preference
Authors: Hanazuka Yuki , Shimizu Mika , Kurotori Hidetoshi , Midorikawa Akira
Published: May 2012

Although previous studies have confirmed that trained orangutans visually discriminate between mammals and artificial objects, whether orangutans without operant conditioning can discriminate remains unknown. The visual discrimination ability in an orangutan ( Pongo pygmaeus) with no experience in operant learning was examined using measures of visual preference. Sixteen color photographs of inanimate objects and of mammals with four legs were randomly presented to an orangutan. The results showed that the mean looking time at photographs of mammals with four legs was longer than that for inanimate objects, suggesting that the orangutan discriminated mammals with four legs from inanimate objects. The results implied that orangutans who have not experienced operant conditioning may possess the ability to discriminate visually.
Effect of Baseline Self-Efficacy on Physical Activity and Psychological Stress after a One-Week Pedometer Intervention
Authors: Tayama Jun , Yamasaki Hironori , Tamai Mami , Hayashida Masaki , Shirabe Susumu , Nishiura Kazuki , Tomiie Tadaaki , Hamaguchi Toyohiro , Nakaya Naoki
Published: May 2012

Physical activity and psychological stress were hypothesized to improve more in participants with high self-efficacy than in those with low and medium self-efficacy, after a one-week intervention. 39 female university students participated. The intervention had two steps: a lecture on self-monitoring and goal setting (160 min.) and a one-week pedometer intervention. Analyses were conducted on tertile groups according to self-efficacy at baseline. Pedometer step counts were higher in the high self-efficacy group than in the low self-efficacy group after intervention. Helplessness decreased time dependently after intervention only in the high-self-efficacy group. Because physical activity improved more in the high self-efficacy group after a one-week intervention, one hypothesis was supported.
Visual Assessment of Camouflaged Targets with Different Background Similarities
Authors: Chang Chi-Chan , Lee Yung-Hui , Lin Chiuhsiang Joe , Liu Bor-Shong , Shih Yuh-Chuan
Published: May 2012

The study investigated the effectiveness of different camouflage designs using a computational image quality index. Camouflaged human targets were presented on a natural landscape and the targets were designed to be similar to the landscape background with different levels of background similarity as estimated by the image index. The targets were presented in front of the observer (central 0°) or at different angles in the left (–7°, −14°, −21°) or right (+7°, +14°, +21°) visual fields. The observer had to detect the target using peripheral vision if the target appeared in the left and right visual fields. The camouflage effectiveness was assessed by detection hit rates, detection times, and subjective ratings on detection confidence and task difficulty. The study showed that the psychophysical measures correlated well with the image similarity index, suggesting a potentially more efficient camouflage effectiveness assessment tool if the relationship between the psychophysical results and the index can be quantified in the future.
Foliations of lightlike hypersurfaces and their physical interpretation
Authors: Duggal Krishan
Published: May 2012

This paper deals with a family of lightlike (null) hypersurfaces (H
u) of a Lorentzian manifold M such that each null normal vector ℓ of H
u is not entirely in H
u, but, is defined in some open subset of M around H
u. Although the family (H
u) is not unique, we show, subject to some reasonable condition(s), that the involved induced objects are independent of the choice of (H
u) once evaluated at u = constant. We use (n+1)-splitting Lorentzian manifold to obtain a normalization of ℓ and a well-defined projector onto H, needed for Gauss, Weingarten, Gauss-Codazzi equations and calculate induced metrics on proper totally umbilical and totally geodesic H
u. Finally, we establish a link between the geometry and physics of lightlike hypersurfaces and a variety of black hole horizons.
Description of Maritrema formicae sp. nov. (Digenea, Microphallidae) parasitic in the kelp gull, Larus dominicanus, from the Patagonian coast, Argentina
Authors: Diaz Julia , Gilardoni Carmen , Cremonte Florencia
Published: May 2012

Maritrema formicae sp. nov. is described from the Patagonian coast, Argentina, based on adults obtained from the kelp gull, Larus dominicanus. The new species fits with the “eroliae complex” and can be distinguished from other related species mainly in shape and size of body, shape, size, and pattern of distribution of cirrus spines, uterus extension, number and size of eggs, vitellarium in a complete ring in all specimens, and its Neotropical distribution. The new species is sympatric with another species of the genus, Maritrema madrynense, which was recorded in the same host and locality.
Catoessa boscii (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae) parasitic on Carangoides malabaricus (Pisces, Carangidae) from India. Taxonomy and host-parasite relationships
Authors: Trilles Jean-Paul , Ravichandran Samuthirapandian , Rameshkumar Ganapathy
Published: May 2012

Catoessa boscii (Bleeker, 1857) (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae), is redescribed according to the type specimen observed by Schioedte and Meinert (1884) extant in the Rijksmuseum von Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden (RMNH) and from many additional specimens recently collected in India from Carangoides malabaricus (Pisces, Carangidae). This study allows an updating of the diagnosis of the genus Catoessa and of the species Catoessa boscii. Some parasite-host relationships were studied during the year. Prevalence and sex ratio of parasites varied according to the month, and the sex and size of hosts.