bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of attitudes and awareness in the agricultural industry to diffuse pollution issues
Authors: Merrilees D. , Duncan A.
Published: May 2018

The Scottish Executive considers ‘Diffuse Pollution from Agricultural Enterprises’ as a priority issue over the next 5-10 years and recognises the need to improve knowledge transfer, advice and training amongst farmers, crofters, contractors and advisers. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency commissioned SAC to survey advisory staff on diffuse pollution issues, mitigation measures and delivery of environmental advice to the farming industry. This showed that the impact of agricultural diffuse pollution on the environment is considered a serious problem as is the future impact of legislation on farm business. There is an urgent requirement to raise advisers' awareness of environmental legislation and of mitigation measures. Advisers consider that farmers have limited awareness of diffuse pollution problems but those that do would consider the impact on the environment to be serious. There is a lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of pollution mitigation measures. Better technical information, supported by research, is required. This information is best conveyed to advisers via the internet, technical notes and directly by environmental specialists and delivered on to farmers by farm visits. Lack of funds prevents most farmers adopting best management practices and more than 80% of advisers consider that environmental advice should be free.
A study of SS size distribution during runoff and fractionation of phosphates depending on soil size in agricultural watershed
Authors: Sa S.-H. , Masuda T. , Hosoi Y.
Published: May 2018

Characterization of the differences and algal-available fractions of P in soils, suspended solids, and bottom sediments have been the main topics of research during the past decade. However, the size distribution and properties of particulate matter in runoff have not been much studied in Japan. Here we study particle size distribution during runoff and the chemical characteristics of P in each soil size fraction and relate them to land use. The temporal variation of particulate sizes during rain events is different in each watershed. Most particles have the size in the range of 10∼100 μm. Also, the percentage of BAP in TP as well as percentage of PCOD in SS also varies temporally and spatially during runoff. To investigate how soil particles characteristics depend on land use, soil samples from two watersheds are examined. For particle size distribution and specific gravity, no significant difference among watersheds is found. However, C, N, and P content are indirectly proportional to the particle size, which means smaller particle size results in larger. H2O-extracted P, NH4Cl-extracted P, NAI-P, Apatite-P, Organic-P, and TP contents in each soil particle sample vary depending on particle size, land use, and watershed.
A novel application of an anaerobic membrane process in wastewater treatment
Authors: You H.S. , Tseng C.C. , Peng M.J. , Chang S.H. , Chen Y.C. , Peng S.H.
Published: May 2018

The applications of membrane processes in anaerobic biological wastewater treatment still have some limitations due to severe membrane scaling and fouling, although they have been proven to achieve superior COD removal and biomass retention. An innovative anaerobic membrane process for wastewater treatment was conducted to control the membrane scaling problems. The process comprises an anaerobic reactor, an aerobic reactor, and a membrane separation tank. Anaerobic sludge from a full-scale UASB reactor treating food wastewater was inoculated to anaerobic and aerobic reactor to purify synthetic wastewater consisting of glucose and sodium acetate. The anaerobic reactor was operated in a sludge bed type without three-phase separator. The aerobic reactor can eliminate residual organics from the anaerobic reactor effluent using facultative microorganisms. To provide solid-liquid separation, hollow fiber ultrafiltration module was submerged in the separation tank. The results clearly show that the anaerobic membrane process combined methanogenic and aerobic COD reduction is a stable system. No fatal scaling was found after two months of operation even without chemical cleaning for the membrane. It was also found that inorganic precipitates formed in the aerobic reactor were reduced due to CO2 stripping in aerobic reactor. Another important finding was that the inorganic precipitates were entrapped into facultative aerobes floc. The ash/SS ratio of aerobes floc increased from 0.17 to 0.55 after 50 days of operation, which confirms this phenomenon. Based on our investigation, the new process can control scaling effectively to extend the membrane application in anaerobic treatment.
Performances of a hybrid adsorption/submerged membrane biological process for toxic waste removal
Authors: Lesage N. , Spérandio M. , Cabassud C.
Published: May 2018

This study focuses on a hybrid process, which combines adsorption on powdered activated carbon (PAC), membrane separation using immersed hollow fibers and biological activity. The first part shows that PAC addition in a complex system (containing dissolved molecules and biological particles) can reduce membrane fouling. In that system, DMP removal is function of the activated carbon concentration. Then, respirometric experiments allowed comparison of toxic sensitivity and biological degradation of different bioreactors (membrane bioreactor (MBR), adsorptive membrane bioreactor (PAC-MBR) and classical activated sludge bioreactor (AS)). Results point out that MBR sludge is less sensitive to the toxic than the AS. For high toxic concentration, PAC addition in the MBR decreases rapidly the toxic concentration under the EC50 in the bioreactor, which allows a better biodegradation of the toxic compound. DMP assimilation is completed more rapidly with the PAC-MBR than the MBR.
Transport of target anions, chromate (Cr (VI)), arsenate (As (V)), and perchlorate (ClO4−), through RO, NF, and UF membranes
Authors: Yoon J. , Amy G. , Yoon Y.
Published: May 2018

Rejection and transport of chromate (Cr (VI)), arsenate (As (V)), and perchlorate (ClO4−) by and through reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and ultrafiltration were found to be affected by solution pH and ionic strength. In this study, the rejection of these target ionic contaminants increased with increasing pH at the same conductivity (ionic strength) for the tested membranes, regardless of salt type. General trends showed that the rejection followed the order: CaCl2 < KCl ≤ K2SO4, at the same pH and conductivity condition. The rejection also significantly decreased as conductivity was increased regardless of the salt type. These results support the notion that a more negative surface charge due to increasing pH and/or decreasing ionic strength (conductivity) enhances rejection; lower molecular weight cut-off also enhances rejection. Measured values of hindered diffusion coefficient through the membrane pores (Dp) for the target contaminants significantly decreased as pH was increased, regardless of salt type at the same conductivity. At the same pH and conductivity, the Dp of the target contaminants follows the order: CaCl2 > KCl > K2SO4, in the presence of different types of salts. The Dp of the target contaminants significantly increased as conductivity was increased regardless of the salt type. The rejection data were modeled by application of a non-equilibrium thermodynamic model. The rejection model has five transport parameters: the molecular transport coefficient (ω), osmotic pressure gradient (ΔΠ), molecular reflection coefficient (σ), the average bulk fluid interfacial concentration between the feed and permeate side (Cavg), and the solvent flux (Jv). The transport parameters were determined by independent measurements (and calculation with minimum assumptions.) Measurements and predictions of the target contaminant transport were in good agreement.
Removal of humic acid foulant from ultrafiltration membrane surface using photocatalytic oxidation process
Authors: Fang H. , Sun D.D. , Wu M. , Phay W. , Tay J.H.
Published: May 2018

The experimental results indicated that without the TiO2 particles and PCO treatment, the permeate flux of ultrafiltration (UF) membrane declined to 40% of the initial permeate flux after 8 hours filtration. Feeding the humic acid solution with TiO2 particles dosage of 1 g/L with calcium ions into UF membrane, after the same filtration time and PCO reaction at 120 minutes, the permeate flux was increased to about 90% of the initial permeate flux. At longer PCO reaction times, a better water quality of UF permeate was observed. It has been found that with the coexistence of calcium ions in humic acid solution, the smaller molecular fragments of humic acid (HA) generated by PCO reaction may be transferred to the surface of TiO2 by means of adsorption. The humic acid adsorption by TiO2 in the presence of Ca2+ is also pH dependent. The adsorption rates were 21.0, 14.9 and 10.8 ppmTOC/gTiO2 for pH value of 4, 7 and 10 respectively. The combination of effects of PCO mineralization of humic acid into CO2 and adsorption of humic acid by TiO2 through the forming of HA-Ca2+-TiO2 aggregate particles were responsible for the removal of humic acid foulant from UF membrane surface.
Short circuiting in a denitrifying activated sludge tank
Authors: Kjellstrand R. , Mattsson A. , Niklasson C. , Taherzadeh M.J.
Published: May 2018

The presence of a short circuit flow in a denitrifying activated sludge tank was identified and modelled. Tracer tests with pulse addition of lithium salt were used to investigate the hydraulics of the tank. The lithium concentration in the effluent was detected and residence time distribution (RTD) curves were generated. Hydraulic models based on completely stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) in series were generated from the RTD curves and the models were compared. The short circuit problem was successfully described using the Martin model, where the inflow is divided into two strands. Each strand was modelled as a number of CSTRs in series. At a normal flow the results of the model show that the tank has 12.8% dead volume, 85.8% main volume and 1.3% short circuiting volume. The inflow was divided into 91.9% entering the main volume and 8.1% entering the short circuiting volume. The mean velocity of the short circuiting stream was estimated to 0.4m/s. At maximum flow the short circuiting stream was even larger and handled 24.3% of the flow. The short circuiting stream was identified in the upper part of the tank due to the position of the inlet and the outlet. The configuration of a tank including the use of baffles, the geometry of the inlet and mixer configuration should be considered carefully if short circuiting is to be avoided.
The influence of heavy metals on the production of extracellular polymer substances in the processes of heavy metal ions elimination
Authors: Mikes J. , Siglova M. , Cejkova A. , Masak J. , Jirku V.
Published: May 2018

Wastewaters from a chemical industry polluted by heavy metal ions represent a hazard for all living organisms. It can mean danger for ecosystems and human health. New methods are sought alternative to traditional chemical and physical processes. Active elimination process of heavy metals ions provided by living cells, their components and extracellular products represents a potential way of separating toxic heavy metals from industrial wastewaters. While the abilities of bacteria to remove metal ions in solution are extensively used, fungi have been recognized as a promising kind of low-cost adsorbents for removal of heavy-metal ions from aqueous waste sources. Yeasts and fungi differ from each other in their constitution and in their abilities to produce variety of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) with different mechanisms of metal interactions. The accumulation of Cd(2+), Cr(6+), Pb(2+), Ni(2+) and Zn(2+) by yeasts and their EPS was screened at twelve different yeast species in microcultivation system Bioscreen C and in the shaking Erlenmayer's flasks. This results were compared with the production of yeast EPS and the composition of yeast cell walls. The EPS production was measured during the yeast growth and cell wall composition was studied during the cultivations in the shaking flasks. At the end of the process extracellular polymers and their chemical composition were isolated and amount of bound heavy metals was characterized. The variable composition and the amount of the EPS were found at various yeast strains. It was influenced by various compositions of growth medium and also by various concentrations of heavy metals. It is evident, that the amount of bound heavy metals was different. The work reviews the possibilities of usage of various yeast EPS and components of cell walls in the elimination processes of heavy metal ions. Further the structure and properties of yeasts cell wall and EPS were discussed. The finding of mechanisms mentioned above is necessary to identify the functional groups entered in the metals elimination processes.
Incorporation of hydrophobized mineral particles in activated sludge flocs: a way to assess ballasting efficiency
Authors: Defontaine G. , Thormann J. , Lartiges B.S. , Samrani A.G. El , Barrès O.
Published: May 2018

The role of mineral surface hydrophobicity in attachment to activated sludge flocs was investigated. Fluorite and quartz particles of similar granulometry were hydrophobized by adsorbing sodium oleate and dodecylamine chloride, respectively. Mineral hydrophobicity was assessed by flotation expriments. The attachment of particles to microbial flocs was determined by optical microscopy. The results indicate that hydrophobized particles are always better incorporated within activated sludge flocs than non-coated particles. A comparison with Aquatal particles used as sludge ballast reveals that hydrophobized minerals are associated with microbial flocs to the same extent.
A pilot study on accelerated sludge degradation by a high-concentration membrane bioreactor coupled with sludge pretreatment
Authors: Yeom I.T. , Lee K.R. , Choi Y.G. , Kim H.S. , Kwon J.H. , Lee U.J. , Lee Y.H.
Published: May 2018

A new sludge treatment process combining a high MLSS membrane bioreactor with sludge pretreatment techniques was studied in pilot-scale experiments. The membrane bioreactor (MBR) was adopted for high efficiency aerobic digestion. The combination of alkaline-ozone treatment of the mixed liquor in the MBR reactor accelerated the biodegradation process by enhancing biodegradability of the sludge. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the reactor was set as 3.1 days and the DO level was 1mg/L on average. After 5 months of operation, the accumulative total solids reduction was more than 70%. Removal efficiency of volatile solids and non-volatile solids were 76% and 54%, respectively. It was found that a considerable portion of the non-volatile solids was dissolved into ions and then flushed out with the effluent. Also, about 41% and 28% of T-N and T-P in the raw sludge were removed although no biological nutrient removal process was adopted. The experiment was run smoothly without significant membrane fouling, even at the relatively high levels of MLSS concentration (11,000–25,000mg/L). It is concluded that the newly proposed process can significantly increase the sludge reduction efficiency with much shorter retention times.
Treatment of packaging board whitewater in anaerobic/aerobic biokidney
Authors: Alexandersson T. , Malmqvist Å.
Published: May 2018

Whitewater from production of packaging board was treated in a combined anaerobic/aerobic biokidney, both in laboratory scale and pilot plant experiments. Both the laboratory experiments and the pilot plant trial demonstrate that a combined anaerobic/aerobic process is suitable for treating whitewater from a packaging mill. It is also possible to operate the process at the prevailing whitewater temperature. In the laboratory under mesophilic conditions the maximal organic load was 12kg COD/m3*d on the anaerobic reactor and 6.7kg COD/m3*d on the aerobic reactor. This gave a hydraulic retention time, HRT, in the anaerobic reactor of 10 hours and 2 hours in the aerobic reactor. The reduction of COD was between 85 and 90% after the first stage and the total reduction was between 88 to 93%. Under thermophilic conditions in the laboratory the organic load was slightly lower than 9.6COD/m3*d and between 10 and 16COD/m3*d, respectively. The HRT was 16.5 and 3.4 hours and the removal was around 75% after the anaerobic reactor and 87% after the total process. For the pilot plant experiment at a mill the HRT in the anaerobic step varied between 3 and 17 hours and the corresponding organic load between 4 and 44kgCOD/m3*d. The HRT in the aerobic step varied between 1 and 6 hours and the organic load between 1.5 and 26kgCOD/m3*d. The removal of soluble organic matter was 78% in the anaerobic step and 86% after the combined treatment at the lowest loading level. The removal efficiency at the highest loading level was about 65% in the anaerobic step and 77% after the aerobic step. In the pilot plant trial the removal efficiency was not markedly affected by the variations in whitewater composition that were caused by change of production. The variations, however, made the manual control of the nutrient dosage inadequate and resulted in large variations in effluent nutrient concentration. This demonstrates the need for an automatic nutrient dosage system. The first step towards such a system was to evaluate two different on-line instruments. Both had severe stability problems, which made them unsuitable as parts in a system for control of the nutrient dosage.
Aerobic granulation in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for industrial wastewater treatment
Authors: Inizan M. , Freval A. , Cigana J. , Meinhold J.
Published: May 2018

Aerobic granulation seems to be an a attractive process for COD removal from industrial wastewater, characterised by a high content of soluble organic compounds. In order to evaluate the practical aspects of the process, comparative experimental tests are performed on synthetic and on industrial wastewater, originating from pharmaceutical industry. Two pilot plants are operated as sequencing batch bubble columns. Focus was put on the feasibility of the process for high COD removal and on its operational procedure. For both wastewaters, a rapid formation of aerobic granules is observed along with a high COD removal rate. Granule characteristics are quite similar with respect to the two types of wastewater. It seems that filamentous bacteria are part of the granule structure and that phosphorus precipitation can play an important role in granule formation. For both wastewaters similar removal performances for dissolved biodegradable COD are observed (> 95%). However, a relatively high concentration of suspended solids in the outlet deteriorates the performance with regard to total COD removal. Biomass detachment seems to play a non-negligible role in the current set-up. After a stable operational phase the variation of the pharmaceutical wastewater caused a destabilisation and loss of the granules, despite the control for balanced nutrient supply. The first results with real industrial wastewater demonstrate the feasibility of this innovative process. However, special attention has to be paid to the critical aspects such as granule stability as well as the economic competitiveness, which both will need further investigation and evaluation.
Reduction of wastewaters and valorisation of by-products from “Serpa” cheese manufacture using nanofiltration
Authors: Magueijo V. , Minhalma M. , Queiroz D. , Geraldes V. , Macedo A. , Pinho M.N. de
Published: May 2018

Second cheese whey (SCW) is a by-product of cheese and curd cheese production that is usually not recovered and therefore contributes substantially to the negative environmental impact of the cheese manufacture plants. Membrane technology, namely nanofiltration (NF), is used in this work for the recovery of SCW organic nutrients, resulting from “Serpa” cheese and curd production. The SCW is processed by NF to recover a rich lactose fraction in the concentrate and a process water with a high salt content in the permeate. The permeation experiments were carried out in a plate and frame NF unit, where two NF membranes (NFT50 and HR-95-PP) were characterized and tested. The NF permeation experiments were performed accordingly with two different operation modes: total recirculation and concentration. In order to select the best membrane and operating pressure for the SCW fractionation, total recirculation experiments were carried out. After the membrane selection, the concentration experiments showed that the selected membrane (NFT50) at 30 bar allows a water recovery of approximately 80%, concentrating the second cheese whey nutrients approximately 5 times. Therefore, the NF operation can successfully reduce the wastewater organic load and simultaneously contribute to the valorisation of the cheese and curd cheese manufacture by-products.
As campanhas da fraternidade da igreja católica: um contributo para a formação de um pensamento ecológico integral no Brasil
Authors: Bastos Ana Cristina de Almeida Cavalcante , Bastos Layanna de Almeida Gomes
Published: May 2018

Diante da constatação da crescente degradação ambiental ocorrida no Brasil, surge a necessidade premente da efetivação de uma consciência ecológica da população no sentido de preservar e cuidar do meio ambiente como principio de preservação da própria espécie humana. Considerando a necessidade de união de forças de todos os brasileiros para a reversão da situação atual a fim de não se sofrer as consequências desta destruição, este estudo reflete sobre a contribuição de uma ação pastoral da Igreja Católica intitulada “Campanha da Fraternidade”, acontecida anualmente a partir do ano de 1964 e que por quatro vezes, já tratou da temática da ecologia. Por ser a maior em número de fieis, consegue mobilizar e atingir um grande percentual da população brasileira na disseminação deste conhecimento. Utilizando-se de pesquisa bibliográfica, este estudo propõe como objetivo geral analisar a contribuição da Igreja Católica no desenvolvimento de um pensamento ecológico integral com vistas a favorecer uma ressignificação na forma de como os cristãos católicos brasileiros exercem sua fé atrelada ao compromisso ético de preservação do meio ambiente. Nomeia três objetivos específicos: refletir sobre a degradação ambiental sofrida em solo brasileiro; apresentar as Campanhas da Fraternidade como recurso metodológico para a disseminação da importância de uma cultura ecológica e situar a responsabilidade cristã de se unir teoria e prática, fé e razão para a preservação do meio ambiente. Como resultado, se espera que ao passo que as pessoas vivenciem efetivamente as Campanhas da Fraternidade que versam sobre o tema, possam ampliar um percepção ambiental e se comprometam no desenvolvimento de práticas sustentáveis em defesa do meio ambiente.
Letramento e as contribuições para o ensino de leitura e escrita: ressigficando uma prática
Authors: Uchoa Sayonara Abrantes de Oliveira , Oliveira Symara Abrantes , Dantas Maria Leuziedna
Published: May 2018

Apresenta discussão acerca dos resultados de projeto ação desenvolvido em âmbito educacional objetivando reconhecer as contribuições de projetos de letramento para o desenvolvimento de práticas de leitura e escrita. Fundamentando-se em teorias da área do letramento, propõe a inserção dos alunos em práticas de uso da língua no cotidiano escolar, através de gêneros do universo acadêmico. Apresenta os resultados, considerados significativos, tendo em visto o desenvolvimento de ações de linguagem que promoveram o engajamento dos grupos de alunos em situações de uso, no cotidiano no qual estão inseridos, tanto na escrita quanto na oralidade. Há, ainda, indícios de contribuições no que tange ao protagonismo, foco das teorias de letramento. Ancorando-se em Kleiman (2000, 2007, 2008), Tinoco (2009), Rojo (2009), demonstra que o ensino de leitura e escrita, sob a perspectiva do letramento não necessita abandonar situações de linguagem ou gêneros textuais mais tradicionais, mas cabe à escola inserir os alunos, mostrar-lhes os caminhos para compreender essas situações como pertencentes a sua vida. Pelos resultados obtidos, contribui para a reflexão sobre práticas educativas mais significativas do ponto de vista do ensino de leitura e escrita como práticas de linguagem.
An Overview of Structural Aspects and Health Beneficial Effects of Antioxidant Oligosaccharides
Authors: Vieira Tatiane F. , Corrêa Rúbia C. G. , Peralta Rosely A. , Peralta-Muniz-Moreira Regina F. , Bracht Adelar , Peralta Rosane M.
Published: May 2018

Background:

Non-digestible oligosaccharides are versatile sources of chemical diversity, well known
for their prebiotic actions, found naturally in plants or produced by chemical or enzymatic synthesis or by hydrolysis
of polysaccharides. Compared to polyphenols or even polysaccharides, the antioxidant potential of oligosaccharides
is still unexplored. The aim of the present work was to provide an up-to-date, broad and critical contribution
on the topic of antioxidant oligosaccharides.

Methods:

The search was performed by crossing the words oligosaccharides and antioxidant. Whenever possible,
attempts at establishing correlations between chemical structure and antioxidant activity were undertaken.

Results:

The most representative in vitro and in vivo studies were compiled in two tables. Chitooligosaccharides
and xylooligosaccharides and their derivatives were the most studied up to now. The antioxidant activities of
oligosaccharides depend on the degree of polymerization and the method used for depolymerization. Other factors
influencing the antioxidant strength are solubility, monosaccharide composition, the type of glycosidic linkages
of the side chains, molecular weight, reducing sugar content, the presence of phenolic groups such as ferulic
acid, and the presence of uronic acid, among others. Modification of the antioxidant capacity of oligosaccharides
has been achieved by adding diverse organic groups to their structures, thus increasing also the spectrum of potentially
useful molecules.

Conclusion:

A great amount of high-quality evidence has been accumulating during the last decade in support of
a meaningful antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides and derivatives. Ingestion of antioxidant oligosaccharides
can be visualized as beneficial to human and animal health.
Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC)-Mediated Macrocyclization of Peptides: Impact on Conformation and Biological Activity
Authors: Testa Chiara , Papini Anna Maria , Chorev Michael , Rovero Paolo
Published: May 2018

The long-lasting impetus to design novel modes of macrocyclization, and their implementation
into a wide range of bioactive peptides, originates from their contributions to the restriction of conformational
space and the stabilization of preferential bioactive conformations that support higher efficacy
and binding affinity to cognate macromolecular targets, improved specificity and lowering susceptibility
to enzymatic degradation processes. Introducing CuI-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition
(CuAAC), a prototypical click reaction, to the field of peptide sciences as a bio-orthogonal reaction that
generates a disubstituted-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl moiety as a pseudopeptidic bond that is peptidomimetic in
nature, paved the way to its widespread application as a new and promising mode of macrocyclization.
This review presents the state-of-art of CuAAC-mediated macrocyclization as it applies to an expansive
range of bioactive peptides and explores the relationship among the structural diversity of CuAACmediated
cyclizations, biological activities and conformations.
Time Series Visualizations of Mobile Phone-Based Daily Diary Reports of Stress, Physical Activity, and Diet Quality in Mostly Ethnic Minority Mothers: Feasibility Study (Preprint)
Authors: Comulada W Scott , Swendeman Dallas , Rezai Roxana , Ramanathan Nithya
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Health behavior patterns reported through daily diary data are important to understand and intervene upon at the individual level in N-of-1 trials and related study designs. There is often interest in relationships between multiple outcomes, such as stress and health behavior. However, analyses often utilize regressions that evaluate aggregate effects across individuals, and standard analyses target single outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to illustrate how individuals’ daily reports of stress and health behavior (time series) can be explored using visualization tools.

METHODS

Secondary analysis was conducted on 6 months of daily diary reports of stress and health behavior (physical activity and diet quality) from mostly ethnic minority mothers who pilot-tested a self-monitoring mobile health app. Time series with minimal missing data from 14 of the 44 mothers were analyzed. Correlations between stress and health behavior within each time series were reported as a preliminary step. Stress and health behavior time series patterns were visualized by plotting moving averages and time points where mean shifts in the data occurred (changepoints).

RESULTS

Median correlation was small and negative for associations of stress with physical activity (r=−.14) and diet quality (r=−.08). Moving averages and changepoints for stress and health behavior were aligned for some participants but not for others. A third subset of participants exhibited little variation in stress and health behavior reports.

CONCLUSIONS

Median correlations in this study corroborate prior findings. In addition, time series visualizations highlighted variations in stress and health behavior across individuals and time points, which are difficult to capture through correlations and regression-based summary measures.
Evaluation of Mothers’ Perceptions of a Technology-Based Supportive Educational Parenting Program (Part 2): Qualitative Study (Preprint)
Authors: Shorey Shefaly , Ng Esperanza Debby
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Transitioning into parenthood can be stressful as parents struggle to cope with new parenting responsibilities. Although perinatal care in hospitals aims to improve parental outcomes, there is a general consensus that it is suboptimal and insufficient. Therefore, many studies have designed intervention methods to supplement support for parents during this stressful period. However, studies often focus on parental outcomes as indicators of their interventions’ success and effectiveness. Studies evaluating participants’ experiences and feedback are limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the experiences and perceptions of participants who participated in a supportive education parenting program intervention study.

METHODS

A qualitative semistructured interview was conducted with 16 mothers (6 control and 10 intervention) from a randomized controlled trial. The supportive education parenting program received by the intervention group included 2 phone-based perinatal educational sessions, a phone-based educational session after childbirth, and a 1-month postpartum access to a mobile health app. The interviews were approximately 30- to 60-min long, audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Study findings were reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist.

RESULTS

The 3 main themes evaluating mothers’ experiences and perceptions were generated: (1) changed perspective toward parenthood, (2) journey from pregnancy to after birth, and (3) a way forward. Mothers from the intervention group mostly had good perinatal experiences with sufficient support received, which elevated their emotional well-being and increased parenting involvement. Mothers in the control group, although satisfied with the hospital care received, were more stressed and shared a need for professional advice and extra support. Apart from technical enhancements, mothers also requested extended social support during early pregnancy up to 1 year postpartum, taking into consideration Asian cultural practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers who received the intervention were overall satisfied with the support provided by the technology-based supportive educational parenting program. The success of the educational program in this study highlights the need to supplement standard care in hospitals with technology-based educational programs. Future research should include fathers’ perceptions to attain an in-depth understanding of overall participants’ experiences and needs in the future development of supportive and educational programs.
Big Data: una exploración de investigaciones, tecnologías y casos de aplicación
Authors: Hernández-Leal Emilcy J. , Duque-Méndez Néstor D. , Moreno-Cadavid Julián
Published: May 2018

Big Data se ha convertido en una tendencia a nivel mundial y aunque aún no cuenta con un concepto científico o académico consensuado, se augura cada día mayor crecimiento del mercado que lo envuelve y de las áreas de investigación asociadas. En este artículo se reporta una exploración de literatura sobre Big Data, que comprende un estado del arte de las técnicas y tecnologías asociadas a Big Data, las cuales abarcan captura, procesamiento, análisis y visualización de datos. Se exploran también las características, fortalezas, debilidades y oportunidades de algunas aplicaciones y modelos que incluyen Big Data, principalmente para el soporte al modelado de datos, análisis y minería de datos. Asimismo, se introducen algunas de las tendencias futuras para el desarrollo de Big Data por medio de la definición de aspectos básicos, alcance e importancia de cada una. La metodología empleada para la exploración incluye la aplicación de dos estrategias, una primera corresponde a un análisis cienciométrico; y la segunda, una categorización de documentos por medio de una herramienta web de apoyo a los procesos de revisión literaria. Como resultados se obtiene una síntesis y conclusiones en torno a la temática y se plantean posibles escenarios para trabajos investigativos en el campo de dominio.
Control difuso del péndulo invertido con rueda de reacción usando seguimiento de trayectoria
Authors: Correa-Ramírez Víctor Daniel , Giraldo Buitrago Didier , Escobar-Mejía Andrés
Published: May 2018

En este trabajo se presenta el diseño de un controlador difuso Takagi-Sugeno (T-S), con un esquema de seguimiento de trayectoria para el sistema conocido como péndulo con rueda de reacción. A partir del modelo de estados no lineal, se definen los puntos de operación donde el sistema funcionará y se aplica la técnica de linealización por no linealidad sectorial con el fin de implementar reguladores lineales locales. Con los modelos linealizados reducidos y con base en las características dinámicas deseadas de lazo cerrado, se diseñan los reguladores locales que, al ser combinados, usando las funciones de pertenencia del modelo difuso, generan la señal de control global que contiene dos términos: el regulador y el seguimiento simple de la referencia. El controlador difuso propuesto logra llevar el péndulo desde su posición de equilibrio natural a la posición invertida de forma gradual, con oscilaciones de amplitud creciente y con mínimo error de seguimiento. Cuando el péndulo alcanza la posición deseada invertida, se usa un regulador sobre el modelo linealizado completo alrededor del punto de operación. Los resultados de simulación muestran el seguimiento de la trayectoria angular (del péndulo) y el desempeño del controlador ante pequeñas perturbaciones. La señal de control y la velocidad angular de la rueda son presentadas con el fin de verificar que se mantienen dentro de los límites de operación establecidos. Si bien se presenta saturación en la señal de control, se obtiene un error de seguimiento menor a 0,22 radianes.
Fabrication of mems devices – a scanning micro mirror case study
Authors: Zarzycki Artur , Gambin Wiktor L. , Bargiel Sylwester , Gorecki Christophe
Published: May 2018

This paper presents the working principle, design, and fabrication of a silicon-based scanning micromirror with a new type of action mechanism as an example of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems). Micromirrors can be found in barcode readers as well as micro-projectors, optical coherence tomography, or spectrometers’ adjustable filters. The fabrication process of the device prompted us to describe and discuss the problems related to the manufacture of MEMS. The article starts with some terminology and a brief introduction to the field of microsystems. Afterwards, the concept of a new scanning micromirror is explained. The device is operated by two pairs of thermal bimorphs. A special design enables to maintain a constant distance from the center of the mirror to the light source during the scanning process. The device was implemented in a one degree-of-freedom micromirror and a two degree-of-freedom micromirror. The fabrication process of both types is described. For each case, a different type of substrate was used. The first type of substrate was a standard silicon wafer; the second one, SOI (Silicon-On-Insulator). The process with the first one was complicated and caused many problems. Replacing this substrate with SOI solved some of the issues, but did not prevent new ones from arising. Nevertheless, the SOI substrate produces much better results and it is preferable to manufacture this type of MEMS devices.
Implementación de Nodos Lógicos DER IEC 61850-7-420 en una placa electrónica
Authors: Salazar-Zuluaga Anderson , Aguilar-Londoño Luis A. , Zapata-Madrigal Germán D. , García-Sierra Rodolfo
Published: May 2018

En este artículo se presenta la implementación de una variedad de nodos lógicos (NLs) de sistemas de generación basados en recursos energéticos distribuidos (DER), en una placa electrónica (o SBC) que permite la adquisición y empaquetamiento de señales analógicas de un arreglo fotovoltaico con baterías, con base en el estándar IEC 61850-7-420. Para esto, se usa una placa electrónica SBC (Single Board Computer) integrada con una tarjeta de conversión análogo digital (ADC) que permite la lectura de los valores analógicos del sistema. La SBC se comunica con la tarjeta ADC para empaquetar los datos leídos dentro de los objetos de datos propios del estándar IEC 61850, usando el nodo lógico (NL) respectivo. Se usó una librería con licencia abierta para la creación del servidor IEC 61850 en la placa electrónica, y el driver del fabricante de la tarjeta ADC para comunicar las dos tarjetas efectivamente. Lo que se busca con este trabajo es el desarrollo de nodos lógicos (NLs) para recursos energéticos distribuidos (DER), de tal forma que los fabricantes de tecnologías de generación basadas en fuentes renovables, como la solar y/o la eólica, incorporen los equipos electrónicos inteligentes (IED) y los controladores de acuerdo con la extensión del estándar para estos nodos lógicos. Se presentan las pruebas de comunicación de la implementación realizada y los resultados obtenidos.
Contra-reforma y des-constitucionalización estatal en Bolivia: Del horizonte plurinacional a la restauración neocolonial del Estado-nación
Authors: López Flores Pabel Camilo
Published: May 2018

Los sentidos y contenidos transformadores del actual texto Constitucional boliviano, como resultado de un polémico proceso constituyente que se realizó en la década pasada con la densidad de una ‘coyuntura fundante’, a pesar de haber sido objeto de negociaciones y modificaciones por actores del poder constituido, resulto en un texto que representaba un horizonte de cambio en torno a la construcción de un Estado Plurinacional. Sin embargo, luego de su aprobación y promulgación, normas sucesivas y políticas estatales y gubernamentales que tiene lugar en la realidad del país apuntarían a un retroceso de los horizontes de transformación estatal de la Constitución y a un evidente proceso de contra-reforma y des-constitucionalización, lo que alejarían cada vez más la construcción plurinacional del Estado y, por el contrario, reproducen y acentúan una faceta monológica del Estado-nación en Bolivia. En este breve texto se propone un abordaje al actual contexto sociopolítico del proceso post-constituyente boliviano en la década actual y una mirada crítica a la situación del horizonte de construcción del Estado plurinacional a través de las orientaciones e implicaciones de las políticas del gobierno del MAS en lo últimos años de manejo estatal, que expresarían, entre otros aspectos, un proceso de des-constitucionalizacion, una tendencia de desplurinacionalizacion del Estado con efectos en la relación del Estado con las organizaciones sociales comunitarias, los pueblos indígenas y con sus reivindicaciones.
Adoecimento mental em comunidades rurais do município de Centenário: perspectivas histórico-sociais
Authors: Schneider Marmentini Joice
Published: May 2018

Este estudo busca identificar quais são os fatores socioambientais que levam ao adoecimento emocional/mental às comunidades rurais do município de Centenário, norte do Rio Grande do Sul. A pesquisa, caracterizada como qualitativa e exploratória, envolveu 16 participantes, os quais residem no meio rural do município, com faixa etária entre 20 e 80 anos, que possuem algum tipo de diagnóstico de adoecimento mental e que estavam no momento da pesquisa tomando medicamento para este fim. Compreender quais são os fatores do adoecimento emocional exige um conhecimento acerca das relações que estas pessoas possuem com o meio em que vivem. Dessa forma, entende-se ser possível aprimorar as políticas públicas que atendam as demandas desta população que sofre e que necessita, além de um diagnóstico, de alternativas de tratamento e cuidados especiais no que diz respeito à saúde mental e a qualidade de vida das mesmas.
Práticas pedagógicas em dança na Escola Estadual General Edson Figueiredo P
Authors: BALDI NEILA CRISTINA , Potrich Bruna Letícia , Dos Santos Oneide Alessandro Silva
Published: May 2018

Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar e discutir práticas pedagógicas em Dança realizadas na Escola Estadual General Edson Figueiredo, no município de Santa Maria/RS. As ações foram desenvolvidas em turmas de 6° e 7° ano do ensino fundamental, como parte das atividades do Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID), Subprojeto Dança, da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Tendo como eixos norteadores: Consciência Corporal, Paisagens Sonoras; Criação e Composição e Qualidades de Movimento, os bolsistas sistematizaram propostas para atividades em sala de aula. Este processo se deu de forma colaborativa, envolvendo coordenação, supervisão e estudantes pibidianos. Foi possível perceber que o trabalho contribuiu para os alunos realizassem novas aprendizagens corporais, ampliando o seu repertório de movimento e percebendo a dança como possibilidade criativa.
Economia Solidária: uma construção social e sua institucionalização
Authors: Da Silva Sandro , Quintanilha Gomes Angela Quintanilha Gomes , Carbonai Davide
Published: May 2018

O presente trabalho pretende elucidar como o governo brasileiro a partir de 2003, após o fracasso das políticas neoliberais dos anos 1990, retomou a capacidade do enfrentamento das desigualdades sociais implementando políticas focalizadas e criando novas institucionalidades. Analisaremos com base nos documentos da Secretaria Nacional de Economia Solidária o caso da política pública de economia solidária implementada pelo governo federal brasileiro, que configura uma nova institucionalidade dentro de uma moldura de política distributiva. Utilizaremos a análise de conteúdo para examinar as características e objetivos atribuídos a política pública. Desta maneira foi possível verificar a existência de traços de outras molduras e que a nova institucionalidade derivou do poder de interferência construído pelo movimento, sendo uma política inovadora no que diz respeito ao processo decisório que delibera suas diretrizes e sua capacidade de articulação.
Programa Escola Sem Partido: Repressão ou Liberdade Para o Ensino?
Authors: De Souza França Paula Fernanda , Gugliano Alfredo Alejandro
Published: May 2018

O presente artigo estuda a oposição ao movimento e à implantação do programa “Escola sem Partido” no ensino brasileiro com dados coletados a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica e analisados pelo método de comparação. O trabalho foi dividido em três blocos: no primeiro, são apresentados os defensores do programa, expondo os principais pontos do histórico e dos objetivos do grupo “EscolasemPartido.org”, dos contextos do Projeto de Lei nº 190/2015-RS e do Projeto de Lei do Senado Federal nº 193/2016, ponderando sobre os resultados dos anos de 2016 e 2017 da enquete do Senado Federal referente ao assunto. As ideias contrárias ao movimento e aos projetos de lei são apontadas no segundo bloco. No último bloco, utilizando de referências que versam sobre o assunto, são feitas reflexões críticas de modo a auxiliar o leitor a definir sua posição sobre a implantação do programa ao atual modelo de ensino brasileiro. Fora observado, ao longo da pesquisa, que a ideia inicial do movimento – evitar que profissionais da área da educação se beneficiem de sua posição para promover suas concepções ideológicas, morais e partidárias – tem fundamento e que norteiam a construção de programas para o ensino brasileiro, porém, deve haver cuidado para que o real interesse do grupo não seja utilizado como camuflagem do interesse de alguns em promover de suas ideias e para a criação de um instrumento legal que impeça manifestações por parte dos alunos, incentivando a formação de uma população passiva, possibilitando assim, a magnitude do governo sobre sua população.
Ciência da religião como discurso colonialista: o caso de Rudolf Otto
Authors: Murphy Timothy M.
Published: May 2018

A abordagem dominante na ciência da religião conhecida como fenomenologia da religião possui um pressuposto central de que subjacente à multiplicidade de religiões historicamente e geograficamente dispersas há um substrato metafísico e trans-histórico chamado de “o homem”, Geist ou “consciência”. Esse substrato transcultural é um agente expressivo de natureza uniforme e essencial. Ao interpretar os dados da religião como “expressões” desse substrato, poderíamos entender de forma empática seu significado. Assim, Geist, ou “o homem”, é uma filosofia da história e uma teoria hermenêutica. Também forma um conjunto sistemático de representações que reproduz a estrutura das relações assimétricas entre os europeus e os colonizados pelos europeus. A metanarrativa de Geist é uma narrativa da supremacia – palavras deles, não minhas – da Europa branca cristã sobre a África negra “primitiva” e a Ásia “despótica”. O espírito se move do sul para o norte; afastando-se do oriente para o ocidente. Este artigo localiza o trabalho de Rudolf Otto dentro da estrutura e história do discurso fenomenológico, argumentando que a ciência da religião como ali descrita se adapta perfeitamente às estruturas do discurso colonial como já discutidas e analisadas por teóricos como Jacques Derrida e Edward Said.
Tálamo dos Cânticos na capela Árvore da Vida: por uma espiritualidade do atrevimento
Authors: Carvalho Joaquim Félix De
Published: May 2018

A capela Árvore da Vida foi agraciada, em 2011, com o prémio ArchDaily para edifício religioso com melhor arquitetura, e tornou-se mundialmente conhecida. Na construção de uma via hermenêutica de acesso ao seu tálamo eucarístico, em cuja criação participámos, explora-se a sua compreensão multidimensional: as diferentes camadas simbólicas; como memória e recriação se implicam. Nesse diálogo temos presentes as criações artísticas, a literatura mística (sobretudo comentários de Santa Teresa e sermões de S. Bernardo sobre o Cântico dos Cânticos) e a poesia contemporânea. Ensaístico e meditativo, o texto desafia para uma espiritualidade do atrevimento, no sentido teresiano, cuja expressão criativa se institui no renovar poético da espacialidade, da praxis escultórica, da performance ritual e da linguagem religiosa.