bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empirical likelihood tests for nonparametric detection of differential expression from RNA-seq data
Authors: Thorne Thomas
Published: December 2015

The availability of large quantities of transcriptomic data in the form of RNA-seq count data has necessitated the development of methods to identify genes differentially expressed between experimental conditions. Many existing approaches apply a parametric model of gene expression and so place strong assumptions on the distribution of the data. Here we explore an alternate nonparametric approach that applies an empirical likelihood framework, allowing us to define likelihoods without specifying a parametric model of the data. We demonstrate the performance of our method when applied to gold standard datasets, and to existing experimental data. Our approach outperforms or closely matches performance of existing methods in the literature, and requires modest computational resources. An R package, EmpDiff implementing the methods described in the paper is available from:
Effects of Acutely Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure on Running Economy and Physical Performance in Basketball Players
Authors: Kilding Andrew E. , Dobson Bryan P. , Ikeda Erika
Published: December 2015

Kilding, AE, Dobson, BP, and Ikeda, E. Effects of acutely intermittent hypoxic exposure on running economy and physical performance in basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 30(7): 2033–2042, 2016—The aim of this study was to determine the effect of short duration intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE) on physical performance in basketball players. Using a single-blind placebo-controlled group design, 14 trained basketball players were subjected to 15 days of passive short duration IHE (n = 7), or normoxic control (CON, n = 7), using a biofeedback nitrogen dilution device. A range of physiological, performance, and hematological variables were measured at baseline, and 10 days after IHE. After intervention, the IHE group, relative to the CON group, exhibited improvements in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (+4.8 ± 1.6%; effect size [ES]: 1.0 ± 0.4) and repeated high-intensity exercise test performance (−3.5 ± 1.6%; ES: −0.4 ± 0.2). Changes in hematological parameters were minimal, although soluble transferrin receptor increased after IHE (+9.2 ± 10.1%; ES: 0.3 ± 0.3). Running economy at 11 km·h−1 (−9.0 ± 9.7%; ES: −0.7 ± 0.7) and 13 km·h−1 was improved (−8.2 ± 6.9%; ES: −0.7 ± 0.5), but changes to V̇o
2peak, HRpeak, and lactate were unclear. In summary, acutely IHE resulted in worthwhile changes in physical performance tests among competitive basketball players. However, physiological measures explaining the performance enhancement were in most part unclear.
Evidential adverbials in Lithuanian: a corpus-based study
Authors: Ruskan Anna
Published: December 2015

The present study examines the functional distribution of the adverbials akivaizdžiai ‘evidently’, aiškiai ‘clearly’, ryškiai ‘visibly/clearly’, tariamai ‘allegedly/supposedly’ and aišku ‘clearly/of course’ in Lithuanian fiction and academic discourse. The aim of the study is to identify the evidential and/or pragmatic functions of perception and communication-based adverbials which can be traced synchronically to different syntactic environment (a predication manner adverbial and a CTP clause). The paper examines the frequency of these adverbials, their position, scope, functions, co-occurrence with argumentative markers, word class (adverb or non-agreeing adjective) and the type of discourse they occur in. The research is conducted by applying a corpus-based methodology and the data are obtained from the Corpus of the Contemporary Lithuanian Language, namely from the subcorpus of fiction, and the Corpus of Academic Lithuanian. The perception-based adverbials akivaizdžiai ‘evidently’, aiškiai ‘clearly’, ryškiai ‘clearly/visibly’ and aišku ‘clearly/of course’ denote inferences drawn from perceptual and conceptual evidence and contribute to persuasive authorial argumentation, while the communication-based adverbial tariamai ‘allegedly/supposedly’ functions as a hearsay marker. The latter may also be used as an epistemic marker which refers to unreal or imagined situations. In contexts of common knowledge, the adverbial aišku ‘clearly/of course’ acquires interactional and textual functions and thus reveals traces of pragmaticalisation. In academic discourse, it signals interaction with the addressee and links units of discourse, while in fiction it functions as a speech act modifier in a variety of emotive contexts. The pragmaticalisation of aišku ‘clearly/of course’ is also marked by its high frequency, positional mobility (initial, medial, final) and scopal variability (clausal, phrasal). Alongside its discrete evidential and pragmatic functions, the adverbial aišku ‘clearly/of course’ displays the merger of the two functions. The adverbials akivaizdžiai ‘evidently’, aiškiai ‘clearly’, ryškiai ‘visibly/clearly’ and tariamai ‘allegedly/supposedly’ do not acquire a pragmatic function, which is indicated by their frequency and position. The results of the present study corroborate the findings of previous studies that common sources of evidential adverbials and pragmatic markers in Lithuanian are verb-based, adjective-based and noun-based CTP clauses.
The Effects of Defect Type and Depth, and Measurement Direction on the Implant Stability Quotient Value
Authors: Shin Seung-Yun , Shin Seung-Il , Kye Seung-Beom , Hong Jongrak , Paeng Jun-Young , Chang Seok-Woo , Yang Seung-Min
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of defect type and depth as well as measurement direction on implant stability in an ex vivo peri-implant bovine rib bone model. Six kinds of defects (3-wall 2.5 mm, 3-wall 5 mm, 1-wall 2.5 mm, 1-wall 5 mm, circumferential 2.5 mm, circumferential 5 mm), and control (no defect) were prepared in 14 bovine rib bones. A total of 84 defects and 14 controls were created. The same type and size of implants (4 × 10 mm) were placed in each group. The thickness of cortical bone and the insertion torque were measured for each defect, and the implant stability quotient (ISQ) value was measured 3 times from 4 different directions. The thickness of cortical bone ranged from 2.71–3.18 mm. Insertion torque decreased as the defect size increased. As the defect size for the same defect depth increased, the ISQ value decreased (P < .001). There were significant differences between the ISQ values obtained with different measurement directions only between the control and 3-wall 5 mm defect (P < .0001). The ISQ value opposite to the defect direction was higher than that in the defect direction in all 3 directions of the 3-wall and 1-wall 5 mm defects. ISQ values were influenced by defect type and depth. Loss of cortical bone reduced the stability of implants and reduced the ISQ value. Measurement direction also influenced ISQ values.
Clinical and Immunological Features of Infectious Complications in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Smirnova O. V. , Manchuk V. T. , Agilova Yu. N.
Published: December 2015

Background: Infectious complications — the leading cause of mortality in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), their appearance is regarded as an adverse prognostic factor in the course of the disease.Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and immunological features of infectious complications in patients with G- immunochemical MM to find the most informative indicators in their forecasting. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was made. All patients were divided into 3 groups for comparison: Group 1 (n =47) — MM patients, G-immunochemical variant with infection, Group 2 (n =54) — MM patients, G-immunochemical option no infectious complications, and Group 3 (n =125) — healthy volunteers. Research material was deoxygenated blood taken on admission of a patient to the hematology department before the pathogenetic treatment. Identification of G-variant was carried by immunofixation and electrophoresis. The immune status was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. The concentration of IgA, M, E and G, and the levels of IL 2, IL 4, IL 8, TNF α, IFN γ in serum was determined by enzyme immunoassay. The activity of neutrophil granulocytes (NG) was studied by chemiluminescent analysis of spontaneous and induced production of reactive oxygen species. Statistical analysis was performed using the software STATISTICA v. 8.0 (USA).Results: We analyzed data from 101 patients with MM and 125 healthy volunteers. The average age of MM patients was 60.53±6.78 years. The group of healthy volunteers was similar in sex and age to groups of patients with MM. In patients with MM in the presence of infectious complications the researchers detected combined secondary development of T and B cell immunodeficiency, changes in non-specific immunity depended on the stage of the disease, unidirectional irregularities in spontaneous and induced chemiluminescence activity NG in II stage disease and multidirectional irregularities in stage III (p =0.045). Prevalence of the content of proinflammatory cytokines on inflammatory (p 0.001) and the deviation of the immune response to Th1-type were detected.Conclusion: the set of 6 informative indicators (the content of IL 4, IL 2, TNF α, IgG, the absolute number of CD4+ and CD19+ cells) enables the development of prediction method of infectious complications in patients with MM.
Causes and Factors of Male Infertility
Authors: Kolesnikova L. I. , Kolesnikov S. I. , Kurashova N. A. , Bairova T. A.
Published: December 2015

The preservation of reproductive health of the population is an important factor of demographic policy of the state. According to some authors from 14 to 30% of couples of reproductive age suffer from infertility, male factor in such marriages is detected in more than half of the cases. As you know, in recent years there has been a significant deterioration in the main indicators of reproductive function of men. Increased the number of andrological diseases, morphological disorders of the male reproductive system, almost halved the production of sperm in men of reproductive age. The reason probably lies behind a whole range of stress factors, such as medical ignorance, uncontrolled and inappropriate use of medication, metabolic disturbances, lack of vitamins and minerals, the impact of industrial pollutants, as well as the growth of addictive disorders (alcoholism, smoking and drug addiction). The forms of infertility differ according to its etiology and severity from minor changes to complete spermatogenesis dysfunction of the gonads, and can also occur due to genetic disorders. The lack of analysis of the relationship between clinical and genetic-biochemical components in men with infertility makes it impossible to understand the pathogenesis of infertility and to assess the risks of male infertility. High level of current medicine does not always guarantee an identification of the cause of male infertility. The article analyzes data from the review of specialized literature on the diagnosis and etiopathogenesis of male infertility. Frequency and clinical signs of pathology of the male reproductive system depend on the combinatorial effects of environmental influences, manifested most often in mutually reinforcing effect. A combination of several, seemed to be imperceptible factors makes the risk of development of male reproductive pathology very high. This situation compels specialists to conduct comprehensive studies on the men reproductive potential.
Condition of State and Trait Anxiety in Pregnant Women with Fetal Malformations
Authors: Khudaverdyan A. D.
Published: December 2015

Objective: Our aim was to assess the level of state and trait anxiety, and the level of tolerated stress in pregnant women with fetus malformations.Methods: A controllled non-randomized clinical study with sequential inclusion of participants was carried out. Psychoemotional status of pregnant women was assessed by Spielberger anxiety scale, with identification of state and trait anxiety, as well as on the basis of medical history data. Pregnant women were divided into 2 groups. Control group — 20 women with physiological gestation course without any fetus malformations and absence of stress situations in medical history. Main group — 40 women with fetus malformations, presence of long stressful situations in medical history, starting from early gestation period.Results: 60 women aged 20–37 years old, at the pregnancy age of 20–38 weeks were examined by ultrasound with assessment anatomy of the fetus. Comparative analysis of the psychological and emotional status of pregnant women from both groups indicated significant increase of the state and trait anxiety level in the main group of women compared to the control in the average grew from 30.80±1.47 to 48.13±3.84 (p 0.001) and from 32.35±1.45 to 50.25±3.40 (p 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: The identified high level of state and trait anxiety in pregnant women with fetus malformations allows concluding that maternal stress is a potential risk factor for generation of intrauterine malformations of the fetus. This serves as a basis to recommend corresponding prophylactic, anti-stress measures should be taken during such pregnancy, especially at early stages, when fetus tissues formation process is taking place.
Competence Approach in the Process of Specialists Training in Pedagogy and Psychology of Deviant Behavior
Authors: Bogdanovich N.V.
Published: December 2015

We present the model of specialist training in pedagogy and psychology of deviant behavior. We reveal the basic activities necessary for development within Federal State Educational Standard III, majoring in 050407 “Pedagogy and Psychology of deviant behavior”: general and pathopsyhological diagnostics, developmental activities, psychological education (training activities), psychological correction, psychological counseling. For each of the activities we proposed a training module, which combines theoretical training with practical training, as well as with a special form of the educational process: special training. In accordance with the requirement of the standard, the competences are allocated to each of these activities, and the general professional competences (for the major as a whole), and professional and specialized competences are proposed (for the majors in “Psycho-pedagogical prevention of deviant behavior”, ”Psycho-pedagogical support of children and youth in risk groups”, ”Psycho-pedagogical correction and rehabilitation of persons with deviant behavior”).
Adaptation and Disadaptation of Pupils in the Context of the Requirements of the New Federal Education Standards
Authors: Leonova E.V. , Shatova S.S. , Shcherbakova E.V.
Published: December 2015

We discuss the problem of adaptation and disadaptation enrolled in the new educational environment in the context of the requirements of the new federal educational standards. We present a new approach to the problem, based on the differentiation of the causes and indicators of students disadaptation. We test hypotheses of the importance of the students’ components of personal competence for the success of adaptation in the new educational environment: individual-psychological, motivational-value, activity and communicative. On the basis of the approach of B.F. Lomov, we defined the criteria and indicators for adaptation / disadaptation of students: information and communication (school performance), regulatory and communicative (behavior), affective communication (emotional well-being). On a sample of first-graders (n = 81), using multiple regression analysis, we reveal the psychological factors of students’ disadaptation. It is shown that the dominant factor of students’ disadaptation is immature communicative skills. We grounded and empirically approbated the content of psychological support of first-graders, based on the idea of the development of creative abilities of students in the game and cognitive activity.
Ethnopedagogical Aspects of Modern Students Socialization
Authors: Dagbaeva S.B.
Published: December 2015

We discuss the means and methods of public education in ethnic socialization of modern school students. We reveal the subject and objectives of ethnopedagogics, disclose the possibility of such means of public education as verbal actions (proverbs, songs, tales, legends, traditions), traditional folk games, folklore, customs, traditions, etc. We show that the positive experience gained by folk pedagogy is insufficiently used in modern practice of educational institutions. We emphasize that the transition to the new federal state educational standards of general education will create conditions for ethnic and cultural education of schoolchildren through the organization of extracurricular activities on the basis of national traditions and values of Russian and world culture. The analysis provides a basis for concluding that the it is necessary to allocate the value bases of the folk experience of children socialization, suitable for the present time, and the implementation of the best achievements of folk pedagogy in the practice of modern educational institutions.
Recognition of the Emotional Content of Music Depending on the Characteristics of the Musical Material and Experience of Students
Authors: Knyazeva T.S. , Toropova A.V.
Published: December 2015

We studied the effect of the factors affecting the recognition of the emotional content of the music. We tested hypotheses about the influence of the valence of the music, ethnic style and the listening experience on the success of music recognition. The empirical study involved 26 Russian musicians (average age of 25,7 years). For the study of musical perception we used bipolar semantic differential. We revealed that the valence of music material affects the recognition of the emotional content of music, and the ethno style does not. It was found that senior students recognize the emotional context of the music more effectively. The results show the universal nature of emotional and musical ear, equally successfully recognizing music of different ethnic style, as well as support the notion of higher significance of negative valence of emotional content in the process of musical perception. A study of factors influencing the emotional understanding of music is important for the development of models of emotion recognition, theoretical constructs of emotional intelligence, and for the theory and practice of music education.
Features of General and Social Practical Intelligence in the University Students with Different Status
Authors: Krushelnitskaya O.B. , Kursov S.O.
Published: December 2015

We discuss the problem of the relationship of general and practical intelligence with social status of university students in the study group. We present theoretical and empirical analysis of the features of general and social practical intelligence in the students with different status who are at the initial and final stages of training in high school. In an empirical study we proved the hypothesis that the level of the general and social practical intelligence of the students is a significant condition of their in-group status differentiation. In order to determine the position of the student in the attractions relationship system, social and practical intelligence is more important, and the position in the structure of relations is defined by general, as well as social and practical intelligence. We show the differences in the relationship of intra-group status and mental abilities of students in the initial and final stages of training. The study included full-time students of I and V Moscow university courses (167 people).
The Problem of Self-identity in Terms of Cultural-Historical Psychology
Authors: Shchukina M.A.
Published: December 2015

We discuss the possibilities of solving the key problems of psychology of self-identity (its psychological nature and mechanisms) by the means of cultural-historical methodology. Through the category of "culture", the essence of self-development as a process of culture adequate self-transformation is revealed, carried out with the help of specifically human higher mental functions and having the attributes of arbitrariness, sociality, mediation, and awareness. We denoted the line of personal development as a process of cultural production of the means by which a person will change, create, cultivate environment: external and internal. We reveal the mechanism of ontogenetic transition from development to self-development as the history of the transition from the position of culture agent to the creativity and self-creation of the personality. We show the role of the personality as an organizing, managing, directing functional center, providing self-determined nature of self-development.
Awareness of the Family History as a Factor in Psychological Well-being in Adolescence
Authors: Yakimova T.V. , Bondarenko Y.A.
Published: December 2015

We present the results of the study of connection of psychological well-being of adolescents with their awareness of their own family history. We briefly overview the main trends and individual empirical studies on the influence of family history of psychological well-being of the individual. In the present study, we focuses not on pathological influence of family history, but on its resource and supporting effect during the difficulties of adolescence. The study involved 32 teenagers. The empirical study is based on data obtained using a questionnaire designed to examine the links of teenager with extended family members and his awareness of family history. We found that adolescents who know their family history, have an interest in it and keep in touch with the extended family, are characterized by high values of the level of psychological well-being.
Conflict Competence of Preschool Children and its Relationship with the Sociometric Status of the Child in the Peer Group
Authors: Denisenkova N.S. , Vyrotskova V.V.
Published: December 2015

The purpose of the study was to investigate the conflict competence of children of preschool age and identification of its relationship with the child's sociometric status in the peer group. The hypothesis of the study was that there is a relationship between the sociometric status of preschoolers in the peer group and the strategy of their behavior in a conflict situation, a conflict of competence. The study involved children (41 children: 22 boys and 19 girls) aged 5-7 years, attending preparatory groups in kindergartens in Moscow (in 2011-2013). The study was conducted using an experimental technique "Desk of cooperation" (M. Madsen), aimed at the study of conflict competence, the sociometric technique "Two Houses" (modification by R.I. Govorova), and a survey of educators aimed at identifying the status position in the preschool group peers. According to the survey, we can say that there are qualitative differences in the strategies of behavior in the conflict that children with different sociometric status choose.
Category of Development in the Context of Modern Psychotechnics
Authors: Zhelyabin A.V.
Published: December 2015

We show the historical conditions of origins of psychotechnics as direction in psychology, consider the evolution of psychotechnical approach in the context of Russian cultural-historical psychology. We described the characteristic of modern psychotechnical approach, essential for the formulation of the category of its development. The attention of modern psychotechnics is attracted to the term "combined subject", its importance is proved for context of psychotechnical practice, as well as for understanding the categories of development in the context of psychotechnics. We formulated historical model of development, according to which, instead of relying on periodization, we propose to consider the impossibility of overcoming the situation as a step development of the subject.
Integrative Approach to the Formation of Regulatory Universal Curricular Activities in Primary School Children with Learning Difficulties
Authors: Zaitsev S.V. , Moiseva I.G.
Published: December 2015

The introduction of a new state standard of primary education revealed the contradiction between the need to develop regulative universal educational actions in primary school children and the lack of specially developed psycho-pedagogical methods. We proposed a possible method: integrative approach to form regulatory universal educational actions characterized by integrity and informativity. It allows to provide the conditions for successful formation of regulatory universal educational actions in primary school children with learning difficulties. During the study, we obtained experimental data that confirm the efficiency in teaching the proposed integrative approach.
La fundamentalidad del derecho al agua en Colombia
Authors: Sutorius Mies , Rodríguez Sonia
Published: December 2015

El agua es un recurso natural finito de vital importancia para el ser humano, lo que explica que con el paso del tiempo se busque con mayor fuerza su protección, no solo en el ámbito internacional sino también en el orden jurídico interno. De ahí el interés en realizar una revisión normativa y especialmente jurisprudencial que permita evidenciar la evolución del derecho al agua, los matices y las diversas formas de protección del mismo, profundizando en su dimensión personal.La Constitución Política colombiana omite enunciar el derecho al agua como derecho individual, razón por la cual se procede a estudiar la jurisprudencia constitucional, seleccionándose algunas sentencias en donde existen sujetos de especial protección, en tanto al reconocerse a estos la vulneración y garantía de derechos se prevé la protección de los derechos del resto de la población; así como algunos casos en donde existen condiciones particulares, a partir de la suspensión del servicio por falta de pago a la empresa encargada del suministro, conexión fraudulenta y reconexión ilegal; para concluir que se han presentado dos tendencias en el amparo de este derecho, que ha pasado de ser protegido por vía de la “teoría de la conexidad” a ser catalogado como fundamental con una tutela restringida a la cantidad mínima necesaria para sobrevivir.
Hydrological response of the Ötztal glacierized catchments to climate change
Authors: Wijngaard René R. , Helfricht Kay , Schneeberger Klaus , Huttenlau Matthias , Schneider Katrin , Bierkens Marc F. P.
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates the hydrological response of glacierized headwater catchments to future climate change in the Ötztal Alps, Austria. To this end, two conceptual hydrological models, HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) and HQsim, are applied for the simulation of future daily discharge in three (nested) catchments with varying degrees of glaciation. The models are forced with downscaled climate change projections, and outputs from an empirical glacier model, which is able to simulate future glacial evolution. Under the future conditions, the outcomes show initially that runoff increases for all catchments without changes in the runoff regimes. In the long term, summer runoff is expected to decrease and winter/spring runoff is expected to increase in all catchments. These runoff changes are accompanied with regime shifts from glacial/glacio-nival runoff regimes to runoff regimes with a higher nival component. Changing runoff conditions might also lead to changes in the seasonality of annual flood peaks with an earlier appearance of flood peaks, and an increasing appearance of low flow conditions during summer months. The outcomes of the two hydrological models show minor differences. The results of this study provide improved understanding of the future impact of climate change on the water cycle of glacierized Alpine catchments.
Joint estimation of hydraulic conductivities of two sand samples in a W-tube system with a bi-exponential response
Authors: Kaczmarek Mariusz , Wolny Filip , Marciniak Marek
Published: December 2015

The motivation for this paper is the practical problem of interpreting bi-exponential rate-of-rise curves that are observed during many field piezometric tests. In the authors' previous study, a laboratory W-tube system of water flow through two samples of sand was introduced with an adequate mathematical model. The desired bi-exponential character of water flow was obtained by placing two different samples of sand in separate but connected columns. In the present paper, a so-called inverse problem is solved. The optimization procedure is applied in order to jointly estimate a pair of hydraulic conductivity values based on experimentally recorded bi-exponential rate-of-rise curves. The obtained values of hydraulic conductivities are presented and compared to the values determined from independent constant-head permeability tests conducted for the analyzed sands. The results of this identification procedure varied in accuracy. The mean percent errors between the hydraulic conductivity values measured jointly and independently for the analyzed experimental series were in the range of 8.8 to 37.2%. The discussion presents the restrictions of this interpretational method and suggests further modeling plans.
Bio-statistical evaluation of cultural conditions on industrial textile dye decolourisation using a native bacterium Micrococcus endophyticus (ES37)
Authors: Ayyasamy P. M. , Raja Suresh S. S. , Subashni B. , Palanivelan R.
Published: December 2015

An indigenous dye-decolourising bacterium Micrococcus endophyticus (ES37) was isolated from dye contaminated soil and identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. The bacterial strain ES37 exhibited 97.19% of dye removal capacity in Luria-Bertani broth composition within 48 h, while the culture containing yeast extract showed 53.4% decolourisation in 72 h. In the absence of carbon and nitrogen sources, the bacterial strain failed to decolourise the dye, even on extended incubation. The effect of environmental factors on decolourisation was investigated by Plackett–Burman design and the significant parameters were lactose, yeast extract and pH. Optimisation of these factors was done by response surface methodology with central composite design; the decolourisation ranged from 0.43 to 77.49%. The optimised levels of lactose, yeast extract and pH were found to be 0.85% (w/v), 0.71% (w/v) and 7.5%, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, decolourisation of remazol golden yellow by ES37 strain was 81.61%, which was in agreement with the predicted value of 79.99%. These findings revealed the interactions and importance of environmental factors on dye decolourisation using native bacteria and also their standard point for an effective dye removal process.
Comparison between the photocatalytic degradation of single and binary azo dyes in TiO2 suspensions under solar light irradiation
Authors: Min Ohm-Mar , Ho Li-Ngee , Ong Soon-An , Wong Yee-Shian
Published: December 2015

Textile industries discharge a large quantity of colored wastewater which is harmful to the ecosystem. In this study, two kinds of dyes were investigated: the mono azo Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and diazo Reactive Green 19 (RG19). The photocatalytic degradation of single (AO7, RG19) azo dye and binary (AO7 and RG19 mixture) azo dye aqueous solutions was photocatalyzed by commercial titanium dioxide (TiO2, P25) under solar light irradiation. The objectives of this study are to compare the photocatalytic degradation between single and binary azo dye aqueous solution and to study the various parameters such as the effect of different initial azo dye concentrations, different initial azo dye pH values, and compare the adsorption capacity of azo dyes with and without solar light irradiation, which influences the photocatalytic activities of single and binary azo dye aqueous solutions in a TiO2 suspension. The results showed that photocatalytic degradation of AO7 and RG19 in a single azo dye aqueous solution was faster than a binary azo dye solution under the solar light irradiation process. Chemical oxygen demand results revealed that complete mineralization could be achieved for both AO7 and RG19 azo dyes under solar light irradiation within 22 hours.
Impact of treated wastewater on groundwater quality in the region of Tiznit (Morocco)
Authors: El Heloui Mounir , Mimouni Rachida , Hamadi Fatima
Published: December 2015

The Tiznit region has an arid to semi-arid climate. Rainfall is scarce and the reuse of wastewater for crop irrigation is common, and consequently groundwater can be contaminated by chemical and biological pollutants. A wastewater treatment plant is constructed with the aim of producing water suitable for reuse in agriculture and reducing groundwater pollution. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of factors that may influence groundwater quality, namely wastewater reuse and fertilizer use in the region. Groundwater was collected monthly over 1 year from five shallow wells (P1–P5) and analysed for a range of physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Concentrations frequently exceeded the WHO standards for potable water. The average concentration of nitrate was 98 mg/L. Conductivity varied from 1,930 to 2,500 μS/cm over four of the wells but was 11,703 in P3, which was close to the treatment plant. Bacteriological contamination was also found, with total coliforms varying from 0 at P1 to 9,000 cfu/100 mL at P4 and fecal coliforms (FC) 0 in P1, P2, P3 and P5 but up to 250 FC/100 mL at P4. Fecal streptococci (FS) varied from 0 to 3,500 FS/100 mL at P4. These values widely exceeded the limit for bacteria in water (0 units/100 mL).
Water reclamation with hybrid coagulation–ceramic microfiltration: first part of a long-term pilot study in Portugal
Authors: Viegas Rui M. C. , Mesquita Elsa , Campinas Margarida , Inocêncio Paulo , Paula Teixeira Ana , Martins José , Rosa Maria João
Published: December 2015

Sustainable water management must nowadays consider alternative water sources and the use of reclaimed water is a good candidate. Low-pressure ceramic membrane filtration is an emerging option for safe water reclamation given its high mechanical and chemical robustness with safety and operational advantages. One-year pilot studies of hybrid coagulation–ceramic filtration were developed in Portugal in two wastewater treatment plants in the Lisbon metropolitan area. The results obtained demonstrated the technology's effectiveness, reliability and efficiency towards water quality, with the hybrid process consistently producing water highly clarified (monthly median <0.1 NTU), bacteria-free and with reduced organic matter content, regardless of the strong and severe variations in its intake.
Treatment of eutrophic lake water and phosphorus recovery by reusing alum sludge and/or wood
Authors: Takashima M. , Nakamura S. , Takano M. , Ikemoto R.
Published: December 2015

Treatment of eutrophic lake water was investigated, when alum sludge and/or wood were used as the media for laboratory-scale filtration. Process 1 consisted of Column 1 with wood and Column 2 with alum sludge in series, and Process 2 of Column 3 with alum sludge. The filtration velocity was 0.45 and 0.91 m/d for 49 days each. Both processes removed suspended solids and total phosphorus well with about 98% and 92% removal efficiency, respectively. Total nitrogen removal efficiency was higher in Process 1 (64–72%) than Process 2 (18–19%), because of biological denitrification using organics supplied from wood. The dissolution of organics and aluminium from wood and alum sludge, respectively, was not significant in the effluent. An alkaline extraction method was able to extract two-thirds of phosphorus in the alum sludge. Thus, alum sludge was excellent at removing and recovering phosphorus and the filtration combining wood and alum sludge enabled the concomitant removal of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Correlation and prediction of saline solution properties for their use in mineral processing using artificial neural networks
Authors: Valderrama José O. , Campusano Richard A. , Toro Alvaro S.
Published: December 2015

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are applied to correlate and predict physico-chemical, transport and thermodynamic properties of seawater. Values of these properties are needed in the design, simulation and optimization of processes in which seawater is used, mainly in the mining industry. Density, vapor pressure, boiling temperature elevation, specific heat, viscosity, thermal conductivity, surface tension, osmotic coefficient, enthalpy, entropy and latent heat of vaporization are analyzed. These properties depend on temperature and salt content in the saline solution, so these are the independent variables considered for the training and testing of the ANN. Several network architectures were considered and correlated, and predicted values of these properties were compared with values obtained from the literature. As a measure of the accuracy of the method, the average deviation and the average absolute deviation are evaluated. The ANN model obtained gave lower deviations than other more sophisticated models presented in the literature. The chosen ANN model gave absolute deviations lower than 0.5%, with a few exceptions, but maximum deviations were always below 1.0% for all properties.
Polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide/Fe3O4 nano-composite for aqueous Hg(II) removal
Authors: Li Renjie , Liu Lifen , Yang Fenglin
Published: December 2015

To ease the adsorbent recovery and to increase the adsorption capacity of polyaniline (PANI), aniline was polymerized in the presence of a solvothermally prepared nano-composite of reduced graphene oxide and Fe3O4 (RGO/Fe3O4). The polyaniline was formed along the RGO/Fe3O4 composite in transmission electron microscope (TEM). The thus formed PANI/RGO/Fe3O4 adsorbent was tested and applied in removing Hg(II) in aqueous solution. The initial adsorption rate as well as the adsorption capacity increases with the incorporation of RGO/Fe3O4. The magnetic separation of PANI/RGO/Fe3O4 was easy, and its regeneration can be carried out at the optimal pH of 2. Test results proved the competence of the prepared adsorbent in pollution remediation applications for safer water quality and environmental protection.
Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 with volatile fatty acids from palm oil mill effluent as precursors
Authors: Setiadi Tjandra , Aznury Martha , Trianto Azis , Pancoro Adi
Published: December 2015

The highest volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration from palm oil mill effluent (POME) treated by anaerobic fermentation was achieved for a 1-day process when the main acids used were acetic, propionic and butyric acids. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production with VFAs from POME as precursors in the fed-batch mode has advantages over batch mode, both in terms of its productivity and 3HV (3-hydroxyvalerate) composition in the produced polymer. With the fed batch, the productivity increased to 343% and contained more 3HV than those of the batch. The structures of the PHA were identified by different methods and they supported each other; the resulting products consisted of functional groups of 3HB (3-hydroxybutyrate) and 3HV.
Simultaneous removal of ammonium and nitrate by HDTMA-modified zeolite
Authors: Tao Quan , Hu Mu , Ma Xiaofang , Xiang Mingli , Zhang Tian C. , Li Chengle , Yao Jing , Liang Ying
Published: December 2015

In this study, surfactant (hexadecyltrimethylammonium, HDTMA) modified zeolite (clinoptilolite) (SMZ) was used for simultaneous removal of ammonium and nitrate in wastewater, and the sorption properties of SMZ were determined. Results showed that natural clinoptilolite had good affinity for ammonium, but low sorption ability for nitrate, and the ammonium sorption process was well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The SMZ had a significant enhancement on nitrate sorption and could simultaneously remove ammonium and nitrate at specific conditions, with removal efficiency up to 93.6% and 81.8%, respectively. The sorption process fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm. Orthogonal experiments showed that ammonium concentration was the most important factor for ammonium sorption on SMZ. However, surfactant loading was the major factor for nitrate sorption. Meanwhile, phosphate did not interfere with nitrate removal. Semi-empirical quantum mechanics molecular simulation indicated that electrostatic attraction existed between HDTMA and nitrate. Results of this study demonstrated that SMZs may have great potential for removing cations and anions simultaneously in the aquatic environment.
Potential applications of next generation DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons in microbial water quality monitoring
Authors: Vierheilig J. , Savio D. , Ley R. E. , Mach R. L. , Farnleitner A. H. , Reischer G. H.
Published: December 2015

The applicability of next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) methods for water quality assessment has so far not been broadly investigated. This study set out to evaluate the potential of an NGS-based approach in a complex catchment with importance for drinking water abstraction. In this multi-compartment investigation, total bacterial communities in water, faeces, soil, and sediment samples were investigated by 454 pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons to assess the capabilities of this NGS method for (i) the development and evaluation of environmental molecular diagnostics, (ii) direct screening of the bulk bacterial communities, and (iii) the detection of faecal pollution in water. Results indicate that NGS methods can highlight potential target populations for diagnostics and will prove useful for the evaluation of existing and the development of novel DNA-based detection methods in the field of water microbiology. The used approach allowed unveiling of dominant bacterial populations but failed to detect populations with low abundances such as faecal indicators in surface waters. In combination with metadata, NGS data will also allow the identification of drivers of bacterial community composition during water treatment and distribution, highlighting the power of this approach for monitoring of bacterial regrowth and contamination in technical systems.
Quantification and characterization of greywater from schools
Authors: Alsulaili Abdalrahman D. , Hamoda Mohamed F.
Published: December 2015

Survey of schools of different education levels (primary, intermediate and secondary) in Kuwait showed an average greywater generation rate of 7.3 L/p/d and varied in the range of 2.9–16 l/p/d, reflecting the school level of education (i.e. student age). The highest rates were observed for primary schools while the lowest rates were observed in secondary schools where students are more mature and use the water more wisely. The greywater characteristics indicated waste with low chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) values but relatively high solids, conductivity, and sodium content due to excessive use of hand soap. Total coliform values ranged between 89 and 352 most probable number (MPN)/mL with an average of 196 MPN/mL while no fecal coliform values were detected. Greywater collected from schools is classified as light greywater and contains much lower levels of organic matter and nutrients compared to residential greywater and domestic wastewater. It is suitable for non-potable reuse after minimal treatment since microbial contamination may pose a serious threat to health if greywater comes into contact with humans. It also provides a good opportunity for reuse in toilet flushing since it can be easily collected from wash sinks and fountains, as major sources, and recycled.
Evaluation of treated sewage reuse potential and membrane-based water reuse technology for the Bangkok Metropolitan area
Authors: Chiemchaisri Chart , Chiemchaisri Wilai , Prasertkulsak Sirilak , Hamjinda Nutta Sangnarin , Kootatep Thammarat , Itonaga Takanori , Yamamoto Kazuo
Published: December 2015

Only 3.4% of total water use in the Bangkok Metropolitan area is reused treated sewage. This study anticipates that further treated-sewage reuse in industrial sectors, commercial buildings and public parks, in addition to present in-plant and street cleaning purposes, would increase total water reuse to about 10%. New water reuse technologies using membrane bioreactor (MBR) and microfiltration (MF) as tertiary treatment were implemented to assess their potential for their application in the Bangkok Metropolitan area. The MBR was applied to the treatment of raw sewage in a central treatment plant of the Bangkok Metropolitan area. The MF membrane was used for polishing the effluent of the treatment plant. The results show the quality of treated water from MBR and tertiary MF treatment could meet stringent water reuse quality standard in terms of biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids and biological parameters. Constant permeate flux of the membrane was achieved over long-term operation, during which inorganic fouling was observed. This is due to the fact that incoming sewage contains a considerable amount of inorganic constituents contributed from storm water and street inlet in the combined sewerage systems. The total cost of the MBR for sewage treatment and production of reuse water is estimated to be about USD1.10/m3.
A downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor for faecal coliform removal from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) effluent
Authors: Yaya Beas Rosa Elena , Kujawa-Roeleveld Katarzyna , van Lier Jules B. , Zeeman Grietje
Published: December 2015

This research was conducted to study the faecal coliforms removal capacity of downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors as a post-treatment for an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Three long-term continuous laboratory-scale DHS reactors, i.e. a reactor with cube type sponges without recirculation, a similar one with recirculation and a reactor with curtain type sponges, were studied. The porosities of the applied medium were 91%, 87% and 47% respectively. The organic loading rates were 0.86 kgCOD m−3 d−1, 0.53 kgCOD m−3 d−1 and 0.24 kgCOD m−3 d−1 correspondingly at hydraulic loading rates of 1.92 m3 m−2 d−1, 2.97 m3 m−2 d−1 and 1.32 m3 m−2 d−1, respectively (COD: chemical oxygen demand). The corresponding averages for faecal coliform removal were 99.997%, 99.919% and 92.121% respectively. The 1989 WHO guidelines standards, in terms of faecal coliform content for unrestricted irrigation (category A), was achieved with the effluent of the cube type DHS (G1) without recirculation. Restricted irrigation, category B and C, is assigned to the effluent of the cube type with recirculation and the curtain type, respectively. Particularly for organic compounds, the effluent of evaluated DHS reactors complies with USEPA standards for irrigation of so called non-food crops like pasture for milking animals, fodder, fibre, and seed crops.
Photocatalysis assisted by peroxymonosulfate and persulfate for benzotriazole degradation: effect of pH on sulfate and hydroxyl radicals
Authors: Ahmadi Mehdi , Ghanbari Farshid , Moradi Mahsa
Published: December 2015

Recently, notable attempts have been devoted to removing emerging pollutants from water resources. Benzotriazole (BTA) as an emerging pollutant has widely been detected in the aquatic environment and water resources. In the current work, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and persulfate (PS) were added to a TiO2/UV system for BTA degradation, as electron acceptors to overcome recombination of hole and electron. Additions of PMS and PS to the photocatalysis process considerably increased removal efficiency. The rate constants of UV/TiO2/PMS, UV/TiO2/PS and UV/TiO2 were 0.0217 min−1, 0.0152 min−1 and 0.0052 min−1 respectively. The results showed that pH significantly affected the UV/TiO2/PMS system while it marginally affected UV/TiO2/PS. Scavenging experiments using alcohols indicated that in acidic pH, the dominant oxidant was sulfate radical in both systems. The contribution of hydroxyl radical in BTA degradation was boosted at alkaline and neutral conditions especially in the UV/TiO2/PMS system. Moreover, other scavenging experiments implied that reaction of radicals occurred at both the catalyst surface and in solution. The mineralization results showed that PMS and PS significantly increased chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon removal efficiencies. In general, presence of PMS in the photocatalysis process had a better performance compared to PS in terms of BTA removal and mineralization.