bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salinidade na água de beber de ovinos e uso dos dejetos em cultivo de plântulas de milho
Authors: Santos Nilmara Mércia de Souza Sá , Queiroz Mário Adriano Ávila , Araújo Gherman Garcia Leal de , Costa Samir Augusto Pinheiro , Albuquerque Ítalo Reneu Rosas de , Moura José Helder Andrade , Garrido Marlon da Silva , Manera Daniel Bomfim
Published: March 2014

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar substratos e avaliar a emergência e a sobrevivência de sementes de milho, bem como o crescimento, massa seca da parte aérea e a massa seca da raiz de plântulas cultivadas com substratos (solo e dejetos de ovinos), alimentados com água com diferentes níveis de sólidos dissolvidos totais (SDT)- 640; 3.188; 5.740 e 8.326mgl. O estudo foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação no setor de produção de mudas da Embrapa Semiárido em Petrolina-PE. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e dez repetições. Os dados foram analisados por meio de contrastes ortogonais e regressão polinomial. Foi verificado efeito (P<0,05) no índice de velocidade de emergência, sendo estimado por regressão que o melhor substrato deva conter até 1811SDT na água de beber dos animais para essa variedade de milho. No entanto, na biomassa da parte aérea e da raiz, o percentual de sobrevivência e altura das plântulas não sofreram modificações (P>0,05).
Desenvolvimento folicular e desempenho produtivo no início do ciclo de postura em duas raças de poedeiras
Authors: Ferreira Priscila Becker , Favero André , Rosa Alexandre Pires , Macedo André , Taschetto Diogo , Barbosa José Guilherme Morschel
Published: March 2014

Avaliaram-se as características reprodutivas de duas raças puras de poedeiras semipesadas. Foram utilizadas 800 fêmeas, 400 da raça Plymouth Rock White (PRW) e 400 da raça Plymouth Rock Barred (PRB) no período compreendido entre a 16ª e a 24ª semanas de idade, quando todas as aves tiveram o mesmo manejo e receberam água e ração ad libitum. Semanalmente, foram mensurados os parâmetros peso corporal, consumo alimentar, taxa de postura, conversão alimentar, peso dos ovos, peso de oviduto e número de folículos ovarianos. Foi utilizado um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com dois tratamentos (PRW e PRB) e cinco repetições de oitenta aves cada, sendo que os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste "T" de Student a 5% de significância. Observou-se que na 24ª semana de idade as aves da raça PRW apresentaram uma maior taxa de postura (P=0,006) e melhor conversão alimentar (P=0,020), comparado às aves da raça PRB. As aves PRB apresentaram maior peso corporal, comparado ao peso das PRW, entretanto, o peso do oviduto em relação ao peso corporal na 24ª semana e o número de folículos grandes amarelos na 20ª semana de idade foram maiores nas aves da raça PRW, comparado com as aves da raça PRB (P=0,029). Aves poedeiras da raça PRW são mais eficientes nos parâmetros produtivos e apresentam o desenvolvimento do aparelho reprodutivo mais precoce em relação às aves da PRB.
Análise conceitual de autogestão do indivíduo hipertenso
Authors: Balduino Anice de Fátima Ahmad , Mantovani Maria de Fátima , Lacerda Maria Ribeiro , Meier Marineli Joaquim
Published: March 2014

Objetivou analisar conceito de autogestão do indivíduo hipertenso. Estudo teórico pautado na análise conceitual Walker e Avant mediante as bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Brazil e Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online. Foram selecionados e analisados 14 artigos e 1 tese, em português e inglês, no recorte temporal de janeiro/2007 a setembro/2012. Antecedentes: ausência à consulta médica, falta de adesão ao tratamento do controle da pressão arterial, recomendações do padrão dietético adequado e estresse. Atributos: controle da pressão arterial e gestão da doença. Consequências: monitorização da pressão arterial domiciliar com melhora do controle, realização de gestão da doença, aceitação e compartilhamento no processo criação de metas de autogestão e atividades de cuidados pela equipe interdisciplinar mediante ações individualizadas. Concluiu-se que o conceito de autogestão é um processo dinâmico e ativo, requerendo conhecimento, atitude, disciplina, determinação, comprometimento, autorregulação, empoderamento e autoeficácia, a fim de gerir a doença para o alcance de um viver saudável.
Consulta de enfermagem ampliada: possibilidades de formação para a prática da integralidade em saúde
Authors: Machado Maria Luiza Paz , Oliveira Dora Lúcia Leidens Corrêa de , Manica Silvia Troyahn
Published: March 2014

Objetivou-se analisar uma intervenção no modo tradicional de ensinar a consulta de enfermagem e seu potencial para a formação de enfermeiros para a prática da integralidade em saúde. Pesquisa participante, desenvolvida com oito alunos do Curso de Enfermagem de uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil, no período de agosto a novembro de 2011. O contexto de estudo constituiu-se pelas consultas ambulatoriais e por vivências no cotidiano dos usuários. Os dados coletados por meio de grupo focal foram submetidos à análise temática, emergindo duas categorias: "A interatividade entre o cenário tradicional e o ampliado: possibilidades para o aprendizado da integralidade" e "A consulta de enfermagem ampliada: saberes gerados na experiência". Evidenciou-se que a experiência foi produtora de saberes coerentes com a formação para integralidade. Conclui-se que a diversificação de cenários de aprendizagem pode configurar-se como estratégia pedagógica com potência para provocar transformações no modelo de atenção/formação em saúde vigente.
Coordenação de unidades de saúde da família por enfermeiros: desafios e potencialidades
Authors: Melo Rafael Cerva , Machado Maria Élida
Published: March 2014

Trabalho que parte da reflexão de que, embora a Política Nacional de Atenção Básica não defina o enfermeiro como o coordenador das Unidades de Saúde da Família (USF), muitas vezes este profissional acaba assumindo tal função por diversos fatores que compõem as práticas de enfermagem. Objetivou-se analisar a coordenação das Unidades de Saúde da Família realizada por enfermeiros, a partir de uma análise descritiva com abordagem qualitativa. O estudo foi realizado com oito enfermeiras da rede de atenção básica de Porto Alegre/RS, utilizando-se entrevista semiestruturada e observação registrada em diário de campo. Os resultados foram organizados a partir das categorias: atividades de coordenação; potencialidades ante ao processo de coordenação; dificuldades ante o processo de coordenação, e demonstraram um panorama duplo de desafios e qualidades que compõem o trabalho das enfermeiras coordenadoras. Este estudo retomou velhos desafios e discutiu novas perspectivas de olhar para o trabalho na atenção básica.
Fidedignidade e validade do Instrumento de Avaliação da Dor em Idosos Confusos - IADIC
Authors: Saurin Gislaine , Crossetti Maria da Graça Oliveira
Published: March 2014

Trata-se de um estudo metodológico, cujo objetivo foi realizar o pré-teste e validar as propriedades psicométricas do Instrumento de Avaliação de Dor em Idosos Confusos (IADIC) no pós-operatório imediato. A amostra constituiu-se de 104 pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos em pós-operatório imediato, internados na sala de recuperação pós-operatória de um hospital geral do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados de abril a agosto de 2012. Os pacientes incluídos no estudo foram diagnosticados como confusos após aplicação do Confusion Assessment Method - CAM e possuíam idade de 71,51±8,81 anos. No pré-teste, não houve necessidade de modificações do instrumento. Ao se validar as propriedades psicométricas, a consistência interna dos itens apresentou alfa de Cronbach de 0,88 e a reprodutibilidade avaliada pelo coeficiente intraclasse foi de 0,838. A consistência interna e a reprodutibilidade conferiram validade e fidedignidade ao IADIC para o uso no Brasil.
Significados atribuídos ao uso de álcool e tabaco por profissionais de saúde
Authors: Reisdorfer Emilene , Gherardi-Donato Edilaine Cristina da Silva , Moretti-Pires Rodrigo Otávio
Published: March 2014

No processo de autoconhecimento do profissional de saúde para a melhoria da qualidade da assistência na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF), torna-se importante a abordagem do significado atribuído ao uso de álcool e tabaco. Este estudo pretendeu compreender o significado atribuído ao próprio uso de álcool e tabaco por profissionais da ESF. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo em cinco cidades de pequeno porte da Região Sul do Brasil entre março e maio de 2012. Foram realizadas observações diretas e entrevistas em profundidade com 39 sujeitos. A partir da análise de conteúdo, foram encontradas duas categorias centrais: "Faça o que eu digo mas não faça o que eu faço" e "Eu sou um exemplo de comportamento". Foi possível identificar que o profissional vivencia um processo interativo de ressignificação dos conceitos a respeito do próprio uso de substâncias psicoativas, que o levam a responder à expectativa social de ser modelo de comportamento.
Sobre morrer com câncer: as lições de Hollywood
Authors: Niemeyer Fernanda , Kruse Maria Henriqueta Luce
Published: March 2014

O estudo busca conhecer o modo pelo qual a morte de pessoas com câncer é apresentada por cinco filmes produzidos em Hollywood entre 1993 e 2006. Com base nos estudos culturais, na vertente pós-estruturalista e com o apoio das noções de discurso e subjetividade propostas pelo filósofo Michel Foucault, articulamos uma das possíveis leituras do corpus fílmico. Avaliamos como o discurso cinematográfico atua como uma pedagogia cultural que produz modos de ver o morrer com câncer: imortalizando a imagem do corpo saudável, silenciando a morte, cuidando do corpo morto e, por fim, aceitando a morte. Nossa proposta é suscitar reflexões que possam contribuir para a assistência e para a docência em enfermagem.
Genome-wide Chromatin Mapping Defines AP2α in the Etiology of Craniofacial Disorders
Authors: Enkhmandakh Badam , Bayarsaihan Dashzeveg
Published: March 2014

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify direct AP2α target genes implicated in craniofacial morphogenesis.

Design

AP2α, a product of the TFAP2A gene, is a master regulator of neural crest differentiation and development. AP2α is expressed in ectoderm and in migrating cranial neural crest (NC) cells that provide patterning information during orofacial development and generate most of the skull bones and the cranial ganglia. Mutations in TFAP2A cause branchio-oculofacial syndrome characterized by dysmorphic facial features including cleft or pseudocleft lip/palate. We hypothesize that AP2α primes a distinctive group of genes associated with NC development. Human promoter ChIP-chip arrays were used to define chromatin regions bound by AP2α in neural crest progenitors differentiated from human embryonic stem cells.

Results

High-confidence AP2α-binding peaks were detected in the regulatory regions of many target genes involved in the development of facial tissues including MSX1, IRF6, TBX22, and MAFB. In addition, we uncovered multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) disrupting a conserved AP2α consensus sequence.

Conclusions

Knowledge of noncoding SNPs in the genomic loci occupied by AP2α provides an insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying craniofacial development.
Evaluation of Premature Membrane Exposure and Early Healing in Guided Bone Regeneration of Peri‐Implant Dehiscence and Fenestration Defects With a Slowly Resorbing Porcine Collagen Ribose Cross‐Linked Membrane: A Consecutive Case Series
Authors: Scheyer E. Todd , McGuire Michael K.
Published: March 2014

Introduction: Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a well‐known and accepted procedure for effective treatment of oral bony defects that is dependent on sustained barrier membrane function for adequate new bone formation. Cross‐linking between collagen fibrils with various agents has proven to be effective in prolonging membrane integrity and function, both critical to positive bone regenerative outcomes. Overlying mucosal dehiscence with membrane exposure may lead to less than adequate new bone formation. The current case series examines guided bone regenerative outcomes for peri‐implant defects using a ribose cross‐linked porcine collagen membrane that appears to reduce the risk of cross‐linking–associated membrane exposure.

Case Series: Seven patients with nine sites having peri‐implant dehiscence and fenestration defects were enrolled in this consecutive case series pilot study. At surgery, the linear range of implant thread exposure was 5 to 10 mm (mean of ≈6.3 mm). After implant insertion, grafting with mineralized allograft, and placement of a ribose cross‐linked collagen membrane, patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months. At 6‐month reentry surgery, all dehiscence and fenestration defects were eliminated with newly regenerated bone covering previously exposed implant threads. No membrane exposure occurred during this study.

Conclusions: Successful GBR outcomes may be enhanced by avoiding premature membrane exposure. Although collagen cross‐linking may be associated with increased mucosal dehiscence, the ribose cross‐linked membrane examined in the current study may help promote positive regenerative outcomes by sustained functional and structural integrity and a reduction in membrane exposure incidence.
The challenge of global water access monitoring: evaluating straight-line distance versus self-reported travel time among rural households in Mozambique
Authors: Ho Jeff C. , Russel Kory C. , Davis Jennifer
Published: March 2014

Support is growing for the incorporation of fetching time and/or distance considerations in the definition of access to improved water supply used for global monitoring. Current efforts typically rely on self-reported distance and/or travel time data that have been shown to be unreliable. To date, however, there has been no head-to-head comparison of such indicators with other possible distance/time metrics. This study provides such a comparison. We examine the association between both straight-line distance and self-reported one-way travel time with measured route distances to water sources for 1,103 households in Nampula province, Mozambique. We find straight-line, or Euclidean, distance to be a good proxy for route distance (R2 = 0.98), while self-reported travel time is a poor proxy (R2 = 0.12). We also apply a variety of time- and distance-based indicators proposed in the literature to our sample data, finding that the share of households classified as having versus lacking access would differ by more than 70 percentage points depending on the particular indicator employed. This work highlights the importance of the ongoing debate regarding valid, reliable, and feasible strategies for monitoring progress in the provision of improved water supply services.
Assessing risk with increasingly stringent public health goals: the case of water lead and blood lead in children
Authors: Triantafyllidou Simoni , Gallagher Daniel , Edwards Marc
Published: March 2014

Previous predictions of children's blood lead levels (BLLs) through biokinetic models conclude that lead in tap water is not a primary health risk for a typical child under scenarios representative of chronic exposure, when applying a 10 μg/dL BLL of concern. Use of the US Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model and of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) biokinetic model to simulate children's exposure to water lead at home and at school was re-examined by expanding the scope of previous modeling efforts to consider new public health goals and improved methodology. Specifically, explicit consideration of the more sensitive population groups (e.g., young children and, particularly, formula-fed infants), the variability in BLLs amongst exposed individuals within those groups (e.g., more sensitive children at the upper tail of the BLL distribution), more conservative BLL reference values (e.g., 5 and 2 μg/dL versus 10 μg/dL) and concerns of acute exposure revealed situations where relatively low water lead levels were predicted to pose a human health concern.
Broader incubation temperature tolerances for microbial drinking water testing with enzyme substrate tests
Authors: Matthews Robert L. , Tung Rosalind
Published: March 2014

Microbiological testing is an integral part of measures to ensure safe drinking water. However, testing can be restricted in low-resource settings by the requirement for specialized laboratory facilities and testing procedures. Precisely controlled incubation temperature is one example. The effect of varied incubation temperatures on the performance of two enzyme substrate tests for the detection of Escherichia coli and total coliforms has been examined. The aim was to determine whether these tests would provide consistent and comparable enumeration over a broader temperature range than currently specified. Recovery of chlorine-injured and wild type E. coli was examined over a range of non-standard incubation temperatures in comparison to 37 °C ± 1. Colilert® and Aquatest, a new E. coli-specific detection medium, served as the two representative enzyme substrate media. Recovery of chlorine-injured E. coli in Colilert was not impaired within the range 33–39 °C; the equivalent range in Aquatest medium was 31–43 °C. Both these tests recovered E. coli without significant loss of performance over a wider range of temperatures than currently specified.
Removal of bacteria, protozoa and viruses through a multiple-barrier household water disinfection system
Authors: Espinosa-García A. C. , Díaz-Ávalos C. , Solano-Ortiz R. , Tapia-Palacios M. A. , Vázquez-Salvador N. , Espinosa-García S. , Sarmiento-Silva R. E. , Mazari-Hiriart M.
Published: March 2014

Municipal water disinfection systems in some areas are not always able to meet water consumer needs, such as ensuring distributed water quality, because household water management can be a contributing factor in water re-contamination. This fact is related to the storage options that are common in places where water is scarce or is distributed over limited time periods. The aim of this study is to assess the removal capacity of a multiple-barrier water disinfection device for protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Water samples were taken from households in Mexico City and spiked with a known amount of protozoa (Giardia cyst, Cryptosporidium oocyst), bacteria (Escherichia coli), and viruses (rotavirus, adenovirus, F-specific ribonucleic acid (FRNA) coliphage). Each inoculated sample was processed through a multiple-barrier device. The efficiency of the multiple-barrier device to remove E. coli was close to 100%, and more than 87% of Cryptosporidium oocysts and more than 98% of Giardia cysts were removed. Close to 100% of coliphages were removed, 99.6% of the adenovirus was removed, and the rotavirus was almost totally removed. An effect of site by zone was detected; this observation is important because the water characteristics could indicate the efficiency of the multiple-barrier disinfection device.
Comparison of Microcystis aeruginosa (PCC7820 and PCC7806) growth and intracellular microcystins content determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anti-Adda and phosphatase bioassay
Authors: Ríos V. , Moreno I. , Prieto A. I. , Soria-Díaz M. E. , Frías J. E. , Cameán A. M.
Published: March 2014

Cyanobacteria are able to produce several metabolites that have toxic effects on humans and animals. Among these cyanotoxins, the hepatotoxic microcystins (MC) occur frequently. The intracellular MC content produced by two strains of Microcystis aeruginosa, PCC7806 and PCC7820, and its production kinetics during the culture time were studied in order to elucidate the conditions that favour the growth and proliferation of these toxic strains. Intracellular MC concentrations measured by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (MS) were compared with those obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) anti-Adda and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition assays. It has been demonstrated there are discrepancies in the quantification of MC content when comparing ELISA and LC-MS results. However, a good correlation has been obtained between PP2A inhibition assay and LC-MS. Three MC were identified using LC-MS in the PCC7806 strain: MC-LR, demethylated MC-LR and a new variant detected for the first time in this strain, [L-MeSer7] MC-LR. In PCC7820, MC-LR, D-Asp3-MCLR, Dglu(OCH3)-MCLR, MC-LY, MC-LW and MC-LF were identificated. The major one was MC-LR in both strains, representing 81 and 79% of total MC, respectively. The total MC content in M. aeruginosa PCC7820 was almost three-fold higher than in PCC7806 extracts.
Magnesium in drinking water – a case for prevention?
Authors: Rylander Ragnar
Published: March 2014

Studies in many countries have demonstrated a relationship between drinking water mineral content and the risk of death in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Particularly strong relationships have been found for magnesium and it has been suggested that magnesium be added to drinking water. The aim of this article is to evaluate the validity of this suggestion by reviewing information on possible causative agents. Major epidemiological studies on the drinking water content of calcium, magnesium, and hardness were analysed regarding exposure specificity, confounding factors, dose-response relationships and biological plausibility. Intervention experiments were analysed. The risk of death in CVD was related to the content of Ca, Mg and HCO3−. The data demonstrate that Ca and Mg need to be considered together, and that HCO3− could play a role by intervening with the body acid load. There is no evidence to justify the addition of magnesium only to drinking water for preventive purposes. The data suggest that Ca and Mg could be administered together but no data are available regarding the relative proportions for an optimal effect.
The impact of influent total ammonium nitrogen concentration on nitrite-oxidizing bacteria inhibition in moving bed biofilm reactor
Authors: Kouba Vojtech , Catrysse Michael , Stryjova Hana , Jonatova Ivana , Volcke Eveline I. P. , Svehla Pavel , Bartacek Jan
Published: March 2014

The application of nitrification–denitrification over nitrite (nitritation–denitritation) with municipal (i.e. diluted and cold (or low-temperature)) wastewater can substantially improve the energy balance of municipal wastewater treatment plants. For the accumulation of nitrite, it is crucial to inhibit nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) with simultaneous proliferation of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The present study describes the effect of the influent total ammonium nitrogen (TAN) concentration on AOB and NOB activity in two moving bed biofilm reactors operated as sequencing batch reactors (SBR) at 15 °C (SBR I) and 21 °C (SBR II). The reactors were fed with diluted reject water containing 600, 300, 150 and 75 mg TAN L−1. The only factor limiting NOB activity in these reactors was the high concentrations of free ammonia and/or free nitrous acid (FNA) during the SBR cycles. Nitrite accumulation was observed with influents containing 600, 300 and 150 mg TAN L−1 in SBR I and 600 and 300 in SBR II. Once nitrate production established in the reactors, the increase of influent TAN concentration up to the original 600 mg TAN L−1 did not limit NOB activity. This was due to the massive development of NOB clusters throughout the biofilm that were able to cope with faster formation of FNA. The results of the fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis preliminarily showed the stratification of bacteria in the biofilm.
The impact of slowly biodegradable organic compounds on the oxygen uptake rate in activated sludge systems
Authors: Drewnowski J.
Published: March 2014

The hydrolysis process of slowly biodegradable substrate (XS) has an impact on the efficiencies of nutrient removal in activated sludge systems. Measurement of oxygen utilization rates (OURs) and corresponding chemical oxygen demand (COD) is accepted as a very useful tool to reflect the consumption of biodegradable substrates. The influence of the SS fraction in biological wastewater treatment systems has been extensively investigated, but little information is known about the effects of XS on OUR. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of particulate and colloidal (XS) biodegradable compounds on oxygen utilization for a full-scale process mixed liquor from a large wastewater treatment plant located in northern Poland. Since it is difficult to distinguish XS in a direct way, a novel procedure, based on the standard batch tests, was developed and run in parallel reactors with settled wastewater (SWW) and pretreated SWW samples. Two types of aerobic OUR experiments with low and high substrate/biomass (S0/X0 ratio) concentration, were carried out with the SWW without pretreatment, and pretreated with a coagulation–flocculation (C–F) method. The removal of colloidal and particulate fractions by C–F resulted in reduced process rates. The major discrepancy in the rate reductions (over 300% referred to the OURmax) was observed during the OUR batch test with high S0/X0 ratio.
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from sewage sludge aerobic compost in China
Authors: Liu H.-t. , Zheng H.-x. , Chen T.-b. , Zheng G.-d. , Gao D.
Published: March 2014

Sewage sludge is an important contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the carbon budget of organic solid waste treatment and disposal. In this case study, total GHG emissions from an auto-control sludge compost system, including direct and indirect emissions and replaceable reduction due to sludge compost being reused as fertilizer, were quantified. The results indicated that no methane generation needed to be considered in the carbon debit because of the advantages of auto-control for monitoring and maintenance of appropriate conditions during the composting process. Indirect emissions were mainly from electricity and fossil fuel consumption, including sludge transportation and mechanical equipment use. Overall, the total carbon replaceable emission reduction owing to sludge being treated by composting rather than landfill, and reuse of its compost as fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer, were calculated to be 0.6204 tCO2e t−1 relative to baseline. Auto-control compost can facilitate obtaining certified emission reduction warrants, which are essential to accessing financial support with the authentication by the Clean Development Mechanism.
Effect of co-managing organic waste using municipal wastewater and solid waste treatment systems in megacities
Authors: Takaoka Masaki , Oshita Kazuyuki , Iwamoto Takahiro , Mizuno Tadao
Published: March 2014

A model was developed to calculate the mass and heat balances of wastewater and municipal solid waste treatment plants when these plants operate either separately or together with a mutual dependence on mass and energy. Then the energy consumption, life cycle costs (LCCs), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and effluent quality were evaluated under various scenarios to identify the most effective co-management and treatment system. The results indicated that co-digestion of kitchen waste and sewage sludge, and their co-combustion reduced LCCs by 30%, energy consumption by 54% and GHG emissions by 41% compared to the base case. However, co-digestion increased the total nitrogen load in the wastewater treatment plant effluent. Even if an advanced wastewater treatment system was applied to improve total nitrogen concentration, the above indicators were affected but still reduced compared to the base case. Therefore, it was confirmed that the integrated system was beneficial for megacities.
Implications of full-scale implementation of an anammox-based process as post-treatment of a municipal anaerobic sludge digester operated with co-digestion
Authors: Vázquez-Padín J. R. , Morales N. , Gutiérrez R. , Fernández R. , Rogalla F. , Barrio J. P. , Campos J. L. , Mosquera-Corral A. , Méndez R.
Published: March 2014

The feasibility of treating the supernatant of a municipal sludge digester supplemented with co-substrates by means of an anammox-based process (ELAN®) was tested in Guillarei (NW of Spain). Ammonia concentration measured in the supernatant of the sludge digester varied in the range 800–1,500 g N/m3 due to the fact that the sludge produced in the plant was co-digested with wastes coming from surrounding food industries. Treating this supernatant in the ELAN® reactor, nitrogen removal rates up to 1.1 kg N/(m3 d) were reached in experiments run in a pilot plant reactor operated in batch mode. No nitrite oxidation was registered after several months of operation despite the average dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations being 1.5 g O2/m3 and the temperature reaching values as low as 18 °C. By keeping the DO set point at 1–2 g O2/m3 and tuning the hydraulic retention time, the stability of the process was guaranteed and the presence of co-substrates in the anaerobic digester did not affect negatively the operation of the autotrophic nitrogen removal process. Due to the success of the pilot plant experiment, an upscale of the process to full scale is proposed. Mass balances applied to Guillarei wastewater treatment plant revealed that in the main stream line the average denitrification rate calculated with the data of year 2011 was 226 kg N/d. Since the nitrogen removal efficiency is limited by the amount of readily biodegradable organic matter available to carry out denitrification in the water line, the implementation of an anammox-based process to treat the supernatant seems the best option to improve the effluent quality in terms of nitrogen content. The nitrogen removal rate in the sludge line would be 30 times higher than the one in the water line. The implementation of the process would improve the energetic balance and the nitrogen removal performance of the plant.
Reduced sulfur compounds in the atmosphere of sewer networks in Australia: geographic (and seasonal) variations
Authors: Wang B. , Sivret E. C. , Parcsi G. , Le N. M. , Kenny S. , Bustamante H. , Stuetz R. M.
Published: March 2014

The management of odorous emissions from sewer networks has become an important issue for sewer system operators resulting in the need to better understand the composition of reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs). Gaseous RSCs including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methanethiol (MeSH), dimethyl sulﬁde (DMS), carbon disulﬁde (CS2), dimethyl disulﬁde (DMDS) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) were measured in the atmosphere of selected sewer networks in two major Australian cities (Sydney and Melbourne) during 2011–2012. The RSC concentrations in the sewer air were detected in a highly variable range. H2S and MeSH were found at the highest concentrations, followed by DMS (39.2–94.0 μg/m3), CS2 (18.3–19.6 μg/m3), DMDS (7.8–49.6 μg/m3) and DMTS (10.4–35.3 μg/m3). Temporal trends in the occurrence of targeted RSCs were observed and the highest sulfur concentration occurred either in summer or spring, which are typically regarded as the warmer seasons. Statistical significant difference in the magnitude of targeted RSCs was found between samples collected in Sydney and Melbourne.
Photodegradation of organic matter in fresh garbage leachate using immobilized nano-sized TiO2 as catalysts
Authors: Chen C. , Xie Q. , Hu B. Q. , Zhao X. L.
Published: March 2014

Two immobilized nano-sized TiO2 catalysts, TiO2/activated carbon (TiO2/AC) and TiO2/silica gel (SG) (TiO2/SG), were prepared by the sol–gel method, and their use in the photocatalytic degradation of organic matter in fresh garbage leachate under UV irradiation was investigated. The influences of the catalyst dosage, the initial solution pH, H2O2 addition and the reuse of the catalysts were evaluated. The degradation of organic matter was assessed based on the decrease of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the leachate. The results indicated that the degradation of the COD obeyed first-order kinetics in the presence of both photocatalysts. The degradation rate of COD was found to increase with increasing catalyst dosage up to 9 g/L for TiO2/AC and 6 g/L for TiO2/SG, above which the degradation began to attenuate. Furthermore, the degradation rate first increased and then decreased as the solution pH increased from 2 to 14, and the degradation rate increased as the amount of H2O2 increased to 2.93 mM, after which it remained constant. No obvious decrease in the rate of COD degradation was observed during the first four repeated uses of the photocatalysts, indicating that the catalysts could be recovered and reused. Compared with TiO2/AC, TiO2/SG exhibited higher efficiency in photocatalyzing the degradation of COD in garbage leachate.
Photolytic degradation of chlorophenols from industrial wastewaters by organic oxidants peroxy acetic acid, para nitro benzoic acid and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide: identification of reaction products
Authors: Sharma Swati , Mukhopadhyay Mausumi , Murthy Zagabathuni Venkata Panchakshari
Published: March 2014

In this investigation, chlorophenol (CP) containing industrial wastewater was remediated by ultraviolet irradiation in conjunction with organic oxidants, peroxy acetic acid (PAA); para nitro benzoic acid (PNBA); and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP). CP mineralization was studied with regard to chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chloride ion release under identical test conditions. COD depletion to the extent of 81% by PAA, 66% by PNBA, and 67% by MEKP was noted along with an upwardly mobile trend of chloride ion release upon irradiation of samples at 254 nm. A 90–99% decrease in CP concentration (as per high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis) was achieved with an additional 15.0 ml of organic oxidant in all cases. Gas chromatography high resolution mass spectroscopy (GC-HRMS) results also indicated the formation of such reaction products as are free from chlorine substitutions. This treatment also leads to total decolorization of the collected samples.
Evaluation of the flocculation and de-flocculation performance and mechanism of polymer flocculants
Authors: Ponou Josiane , Ide Tomohito , Suzuki Akiko , Tsuji Hideyuki , Wang Li Pang , Dodbiba Gjergj , Fujita Toyohisa
Published: March 2014

Understanding the interaction mechanism between polymeric flocculants and solid particles in two oppositely charged solutions: bentonite and calcium fluoride, is of great practical and fundamental importance. In this work, inorganic flocculants based on aluminum(III) or iron(III); cationic, anionic and non-ionic organic flocculants were used. The solution pH, which highly influenced the flocculation performance of the system, has been used as a function of turbidity removal, sediment volume and velocity. Results show that the flocculation of inorganic polymers does not depend on the zeta potential but on the solution pH, contrary for cationic and anionic polymers. Non-ionic polymer was independent on both. By varying the final pH of the heterogeneous solution formed of flocs-liquid, it was found for inorganic polymers, the optimum condition of pH < 3 to separate inorganic flocculant particles from flocs. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer and X-ray fluorescence analysis proved the reversibility of flocculation process by indicating the concentration of flocculant representative atom (Al or Fe) in the flocs and in the emerging solutions when the flocculation was optimized and the reversibility was effective. As results, weak forces were suggested as responsible for inorganic polymers flocculation where electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds may enroll the mechanism of organic flocculants.
Co-treatment of landfill leachate in laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors: analysis of system performance and biomass activity by means of respirometric techniques
Authors: Capodici M. , Di Trapani D. , Viviani G.
Published: March 2014

Aged or mature leachate, produced by old landfills, can be very refractory; for this reason mature leachate is difficult to treat alone, but it can be co-treated with sewage or domestic wastewater. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of leachate co-treatment with synthetic wastewater, in terms of process performance and biomass activity, by means of respirometric techniques. Two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), named SBR1 and SBR2, were fed with synthetic wastewater and two different percentages of landfill leachate (respectively 10% and 50% v v−1 in SBR1 and SBR2). The results showed good chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency for both reactors, with average COD removals equal to 91.64 and 89.04% respectively for SBR1 and SBR2. Furthermore, both SBRs showed good ammonia-nitrogen (AN) removal efficiencies, higher than 60%, thus confirming the feasibility of leachate co-treatment with a readily biodegradable wastewater. Significant respiration rates were obtained for the heterotrophic population (average values of maximum oxygen uptake rate equal to 37.30 and 56.68 mg O2 L−1 h−1 respectively for SBR1 and SBR2), thus suggesting the feasibility of leachate co-treatment with synthetic wastewater.
Lessons learnt from the application of a multi-variable controller for nitrogen removal in the Mekolalde wastewater treatment plant: good simulation practices in control
Authors: Irizar I. , Beltrán S. , Urchegui G. , Izko G. , Fernández O. , Maiza M.
Published: March 2014

Although often perceived as tools for use by scientists, mathematical modelling and simulation become indispensable when control engineers have to design controllers for real-life wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Nonetheless, the design of effective controllers in the wastewater domain using simulations requires effects, such as the nonlinearity of actuators, the time response of sensors, plant model uncertainties, etc. to have been reproduced beforehand. Otherwise, control solutions verified by simulation can completely underperform under real conditions. This study demonstrates that, when all the above effects are included at the outset, a systematic use of simulations guarantees high quality controllers in a relatively short period of time. The above is exemplified through the Mekolalde WWTP, where a comprehensive simulation study was conducted in order to develop a control product for nitrogen removal. Since its activation in May 2011, the designed controller has been permanently working in the plant which, from this time onwards, has experienced significant improvements in the quality of water discharges combined with a lower utilization of electricity for wastewater treatment.
Experimental investigations of aeration efficiency in high-head gated circular conduits
Authors: Cihat Tuna M. , Ozkan Fahri , Baylar Ahmet
Published: March 2014

The primary purpose of water aeration is to increase the oxygen saturation of the water. This can be achieved by using hydraulic structures because of substantial air bubble entrainment at these structures. Closed conduit aeration is a particular instance of this. While there has been a great deal of research on air-demand ratio within closed conduit, very little research has specifically addressed aeration efficiency of closed conduit. In the present work an experimental study was conducted to investigate the aeration efficiency of high-head gated circular conduits. Results showed that high-head gated circular conduits were effective for oxygen transfer. The effects of Froude number and ratio of the water cross-sectional flow area to the conduit cross-sectional area on aeration efficiency were particularly significant, whereas the effect of conduit length was only moderate. Further, a design formula for the aeration efficiency was presented relating the aeration efficiency to ratio of water cross-sectional flow area to conduit cross-sectional area and Froude number. The obtained results will be useful in future modeling processes and aid the practicing engineer in predicting aeration efficiency for design purposes.
Estimation of the nonpoint source nitrogen load in a strongly disturbed watershed of the North China Plain
Authors: Li Wenzan , Li Xuyong , Du Xinzhong , Wang Xiaoxue
Published: March 2014

Identification of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is a great challenge in the North China Plain, which has modified rivers and insufficient data. In this study, a simple and reasonable method was developed to estimate the total nitrogen (TN) load in rural areas of the North China Plain. The method was found to work well and produce results consistent with monitoring data when considering various TN sources and transfer mechanisms. The annual TN loads from rural living, livestock and the farmlands were 121.9 × 103, 45.6 × 103 and 78.5 × 103 kg/yr, respectively. The TN load in the region along the river contributed much more to the NPS pollution than that in areas far from the river, with average TN loads of approximately 3394 and 602 kg km−2 yr−1, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that this method is suitable for NPS load estimates in severely disturbed watersheds with insufficient data.
A sensitive and robust method for automated on-line monitoring of enzymatic activities in water and water resources
Authors: Ryzinska-Paier G. , Lendenfeld T. , Correa K. , Stadler P. , Blaschke A. P. , Mach R. L. , Stadler H. , Kirschner A. K. T. , Farnleitner A. H.
Published: March 2014

The realisation of a novel concept for automated on-line monitoring of enzymatic activities in water was successfully demonstrated by long-term field testing at two remote Austrian ground water resources. The β-d-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity was selected as a representative enzymatic model parameter for the on-line determination. But the device can be adapted for any enzymatic reaction with diagnostic relevance for microbial water quality monitoring, as demonstrated for the β-d-galactosidase activity. Automated filtration of volumes up to 5 litres supports sensitive quantification of enzymatic activities. Internet-based data transfer, using internal control parameters for verification and a dynamic determination of the limit of quantification, enabled robust enzymatic on-line monitoring during a 2-year period. A proportion of 5,313 out of 5,506 GLUC activity measurements (96.5%) could be positively verified. Hydrological (discharge, gauge, turbidity, temperature, pH, electric conductivity, spectral absorbance coefficient at 254 nm) as well as microbiological parameters (Escherichia coli, coliforms) were concurrently determined to characterise the investigated ground water resources. The enzymatic on-line measurements closely reflected the different hydrological conditions and contamination patterns of the test sites. Contrary to expectations, GLUC did not qualify as a proxy-parameter for the occurrence of cultivation-based E. coli contamination and warrants further detailed investigations on its indication capacity as a rapid means for microbial faecal pollution detection in such aquatic habitats. Microbial on-line monitoring is likely to become more important in the future, complementing existing surveillance strategies for water safety management. Further perspectives on the application of such analytical on-line technologies, such as their connection with event-triggered sampling and standardised diagnostics, are discussed.
Influence of yeast and nutrients on quality of apricot brandy
Authors: Urosevic Ivan , Nikicevic Ninoslav , Stankovic Ljubisa , Andjelkovic Boban , Urosevic Tijana , Krstic Gordana , Tesevic Vele
Published: March 2014

Five yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces bayanus (SB,
Top Floral, Top 15, Aroma White, Red Fruit) and two nutrients, diammonium
phosphate and Nutrifermarom, examined for their influence on young apricot
brandies, with a special emphasis on chemical, volatile and sensory
characteristics. Analysis major and minor volatile and sensory analysis of
the apricot brandy shows the important difference between samples. Total
sensory scores of apricot brandies ranged between 16.88 for control sample
to 18.35 for sample produced with SB yeast strain and diamonium phosphate as
nutrient. All the samples of apricot brandies fulfilled EU requirements as
regards their content of methanol and other components such as acetaldehyde,
ethyl acetate, and higher alcohols.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prognosis using molecular approach
Authors: Mazumder Tarikul , Nath Sayantan , Nath Nibendu , Kumar Munish
Published: March 2014

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide. Apart from various known clinicopathogical factors, it is still a major concern as many genetic and epigenetic alterations bring about the possibility of this deadly disease. The aim of this review is to explore the possible role of DNA repair pathways and the polymorphic status of DNA repair genes (XPA, XPC, XPD, XRCC1 and XRCC3) in the onset of HNSCC, along with sequence variations in genes such as Glutathione S-transferases (GSTT1, M1 and P1) that are significantly associated with HNSCC risk. We also focus on the p53 gene mutation induced by various etiological agents and threat factors with its implications towards HNSCC, and emphasise the current therapeutic interventions in treating HNSCC.
Combined pharmacological therapy of the acute radiation disease using a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor and an adenosine A3 receptor agonist
Authors: Hofer Michal , Pospíšil Milan , Dušek Ladislav , Hoferová Zuzana , Komůrková Denisa
Published: March 2014

Combined approaches to the treatment of acute radiation disease are preferred to single-agent therapies due to proven or anticipated better outcomes comprising increased therapeutic efficacy and decreased incidence of undesirable side effects. Our studies on post-exposure treatment of mice irradiated by sublethal or lethal doses of ionizing radiation included testing the effectiveness of meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and IB-MECA, an adenosine A3 receptor agonist. The efficacy of meloxicam and IB-MECA to positively influence the progress of the acute radiation disease has been tested in situations of their combined administration with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or with each other. The results of our studies revealed a significantly improved regeneration of hematopoietic cell populations ranging from the bone marrow progenitor cells to mature blood cells following combined treatments. Also, survival of mice exposed to lethal radiation doses was highest in the animals treated with a combination of the two drugs. It can be inferred from the results that if the drug combinations employed were used in humans, e.g. in the treatment of victims of radiation accidents, a better therapeutic outcome could be expected. Therefore, further studies directed at clinical applications of meloxicam and IB-MECA in radiation victims is recommended.
Biological properties of novel chitosan-based composites for medical application as bone substitute
Authors: Przekora Agata , Ginalska Grażyna
Published: March 2014

Hydroxyapatite is the main inorganic component of bones and teeth. In order to improve mechanical properties and surgical handiness of bioceramics, a plasticizing agent e.g. polysaccharide can be added. Chitosan is a polysaccharide with biological properties that make it an ideal component of bioceramics-based composites for medical application as bone substitute. In this study, biocompatibility of two types of novel krill chitosan-based composites was evaluated. In vitro experiments were carried out using human foetal osteoblast cell line. Cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, and bone ALP activity tests were performed to assess biocompatibility of the composites. Osteoblast growth on composites was observed using confocal microscope. Our results demonstrated that fabricated novel composites are non-toxic, are favorable to cell adhesion and growth, and provoke increase in b-ALP activity with time, thus inducing osteoblast differentiation. Based on this data composites have promising clinical potential as a bone defect filler in regenerative medicine. It is worth emphasizing that our work resulted in fabrication of flexible and surgical handy, bone substitutes that possess absolute biocompatibility with structural and mechanical properties similar to trabecular bone.