bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Neural Network for Flow Estimation in Sewer Systems During Wet Weather
Authors: Shen Jun , Shen Wei , Chang Jian , Gong Ning
Published: February 2006

Estimation of the water flow from rainfall intensity during storm events is important in hydrology, sewer system control, and environmental protection. The runoff‐producing behavior of a sewer system changes from one storm event to another because rainfall loss depends not only on rainfall intensities, but also on the state of the soil and vegetation, the general condition of the climate, and so on. As such, it would be difficult to obtain a precise flowrate estimation without sufficient a priori knowledge of these factors. To establish a model for flow estimation, one can also use statistical methods, such as the neural network STORMNET, software developed at Lyonnaise des Eaux, France, analyzing the relation between rainfall intensity and flowrate data of the known storm events registered in the past for a given sewer system. In this study, the authors propose a fuzzy neural network to estimate the flowrate from rainfall intensity. The fuzzy neural network combines four STORMNETs and fuzzy deduction to better estimate the flowrates. This study's system for flow estimation can be calibrated automatically by using known storm events; no data regarding the physical characteristics of the drainage basins are required. Compared with the neural network STORMNET, this method reduces the mean square error of the flow estimates by approximately 20%. Experimental results are reported herein.
Biohydrogen Production in Continuous‐Flow Reactor Using Mixed Microbial Culture
Authors: Khanal Samir Kumar , Chen Wen‐Hsing , Li Ling , Sung Shihwu
Published: February 2006

The goal of the proposed project was to develop an anaerobic fermentation process that converts negative‐value organic wastes into hydrogen‐rich gas in a continuous‐flow reactor under different operating conditions, such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), heat treatment, pH, and substrates. A series of batch tests were also conducted in parallel to the continuous study to evaluate the hydrogen conversion efficiency of two different organic substrates, namely sucrose and starch. A heat shock (at 90°C for 15 minutes) was applied to the sludge in an external heating chamber known as a sludge activation chamber, as a method to impose a selection pressure to eliminate non‐spore‐forming, hydrogen‐consuming bacteria and to activate spore germination. The experimental results showed that the heat activation of biomass enhanced hydrogen production by selecting for hydrogen‐producing, spore‐forming bacteria. The batch feeding at a shorter HRT of 20 hours (or higher organic loading rate) favored hydrogen production, whereas, at a longer HRT of 30 hours, methane was detected in the gas phase. The major organic acids of hydrogen fermentation were acetate, butyrate, and propionate. Up to 23.1% of influent chemical oxygen demand was consumed in biomass synthesis. Batch tests showed that the hydrogen‐production potential of starch was lower than sucrose, and better conversion efficiency from starch was obtained at a lower pH of 4.5. However, addition of sucrose to starch improved the overall hydrogen‐production potential and hydrogen‐production rate. This study showed that sustainable biohydrogen production from carbohydrate‐rich substrates is possible through heat activation of settled sludge.
Comparison of Techniques for the Detection of Helminth Ova in Drinking Water and Wastewater
Authors: Maya C. , Jimenez B. , Schwartzbrod J.
Published: February 2006

Many countries use wastewater for irrigation. The World Health Organization established, as reuse guidelines, a maximum value of 1 helminth ovum/L for irrigation. Various techniques for enumerating helminth ova in water have been published. To determine the most adequate method for Mexico, four techniques were compared: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), membrane‐filter, Leeds I, and Faust. Two types of water were used: drinking water and municipal wastewater effluent. Sensitivity, discrimination coefficients, precision, recovery efficiency, and cost were determined. In addition, several unseeded wastewater samples were analyzed. For drinking water, U.S. EPA and the membrane‐filter techniques demonstrated comparable results; however, when wastewater was used, the membrane technique showed some deficiencies. Because the U.S. EPA technique may be used for samples with both high and low solids content, allows for the recovery of helminth ova with different specific gravities, and has the lowest total cost, it was selected as the best technique.
Effect of Seeding Materials and Mixing Strength on Struvite Precipitation
Authors: Wang Jun , Burken Joel G. , Zhang Xiaoqi (Jackie)
Published: February 2006

Struvite precipitation has increasing interest as a technology for removing and recovering phosphorus from wastewater streams. Many chemical factors have been studied, such as optimum pH values and component‐ion molar ratios, yet, understanding of physical aspects is lacking. Two physical parameters were tested: (1) seeding material addition and (2) mixing. Objectives were to evaluate three seeding materials and to optimize mixing conditions for struvite‐crystal precipitation, growth, and subsequent sedimentation. Results confirm that mixing strength and proper seeding materials increase crystal size and improve settleability. For unseeded solutions, optimum phosphorus removal was achieved at a mixing strength of G = 76 s −1. Struvite crystals that were added as the seeding material provided the best performance with respect to phosphorus removal and crystal‐size distribution. Overall, this study provided information to improve the practical application of struvite precipitation as a phosphorous‐treatment technology for wastewaters, while generating a marketable slow‐release fertilizer as a product.
Aerobic and Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Baek Seung H. , Pagilla Krishna R.
Published: February 2006

An aerobic bioreactor and an anaerobic bioreactor, each coupled with a microfiltration membrane filter (MBR), were operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) with primary effluent from the City of Elmhurst, Illinois, municipal‐wastewater‐treatment plant. The soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal performance of the anaerobic MBR system was similar to that of the aerobic MBR under the same operational conditions, without the added cost of aeration. The results indicated that the solids deposition rate on the membrane surface was lower in the case of anaerobic MBR compared to the aerobic MBR, indicating possible lower loss in water‐flux rates. This research found that an anaerobic MBR is a feasible and economical option for municipal‐wastewater‐treatment plants seeking COD removal by a biological process followed by a separate nitrification and denitrification system.
Sustainable Oil and Grease Removal from Synthetic Stormwater Runoff Using Bench‐Scale Bioretention Studies
Authors: Hong Eunyoung , Seagren Eric A. , Davis Allen P.
Published: February 2006

One of the principal components of the contaminant load in urban stormwater runoff is oil and grease (O&G) pollution, resulting from vehicle emissions. A mulch layer was used as a contaminant trap to remove O&G (dissolved and particulate‐associated naphthalene, dissolved toluene, and dissolved motor oil hydrocarbons) from a synthetic runoff during a bench‐scale infiltration study. Approximately 80 to 95% removal of all contaminants from synthetic runoff was found via sorption and filtration. Subsequently, approximately 90% of the sorbed naphthalene, toluene, oil, and particulate‐associated naphthalene was biodegraded within approximately 3, 4, 8, and 2 days after the event, respectively, based on decreases in contaminant concentrations coupled with increases of microbial populations. These results indicate the effectiveness and sustainability of placing a thin layer of mulch on the surface of a bioretention facility for reducing O&G pollution from urban stormwater runoff.
Biological Decolorization of Reactive Anthraquinone and Phthalocyanine Dyes Under Various Oxidation–Reduction Conditions
Authors: Lee Young H. , Matthews Rosalyn D. , Pavlostathis Spyros G.
Published: February 2006

The decolorization of two anthraquinone dyes (Reactive Blue 4 [RB4] and Reactive Blue 19 [RB19]) and two phthalocyanine dyes (Reactive Blue 7 [RB7] and Reactive Blue 21 [RB21]) was investigated at an initial dye concentration of 300 mg/L using an unacclimated, enrichment culture. The culture was fed a mixture of organic compounds and maintained initially under aerobic conditions, and then progressively developed anoxic/anaerobic conditions. Biotransformation‐related decolorization of the dyes did not take place under aerobic conditions, but use of the feed organic mixture and biomass production by the enrichment culture were not affected. Complete ammonia removal occurred in the control and all dye‐amended cultures. The development and extent of nitrification were much lower in the latter cultures, in which ammonia removal via air stripping was the dominant mechanism. Prolonged incubation of the culture under anoxic/anaerobic conditions with multiple carbon source additions resulted in a high decolorization extent of anthraquinone dyes (over 84%) and only partial decolorization of phthalocyanine dyes (49 to 66%). Development of significant methanogenic activity took place in the control and, to a lesser extent, in the two phthalocyanine dye‐amended cultures, but the anthraquinone dyes severely inhibited the development of methanogenic activity. The RB4 and RB19 decolorization was attributed to nonreversible, microbially mediated dye transformation(s), demonstrated by the accumulation of decolorization products with absorbance maxima in the 420‐ to 460‐nm region. The decolorization of RB4 and RB19 followed Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. At an initial dye concentration of 300 mg/L, the observed maximum decolorization rate per unit biomass was 9.1 and 37.5 mg dye/mg volatile suspended solids·day for the RB4 and RB19, respectively. Thus, partial decolorization of reactive phthalocyanine dyes and extensive biological decolorization of reactive anthraquinone dyes is feasible only under anoxic/anaerobic conditions.
Thermophilic‐Anaerobic Digestion to Produce Class A Biosolids: Initial Full‐Scale Studies at Hyperion Treatment Plant
Authors: Iranpour R. , Cox H.H.J. , Oh S. , Fan S. , Kearney R.J. , Abkian V. , Haug R.T.
Published: February 2006

The highest quality of biosolids is called exceptional quality. To qualify for this classification, biosolids must comply with three criteria: (1) metal concentrations, (2) vector‐attraction reduction, and (3) the Class A pathogen‐density requirements. The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation Hyperion Treatment Plant (HTP) (Playa del Rey, California) meets the first two requirements. Thus, the objective of this study was to ensure that HTP's biosolids production would meet the Class A pathogen‐reduction requirements following the time–temperature regimen for batch processing (U.S. EPA, 1993; Subsection 32, Alternative 1). Because regulations require the pathogen limits to be met at the last point of plant control, biosolids sampling was not limited to immediately after the digesters, i.e., the digester outflows. The sampling extended to several locations in HTP's postdigestion train, in particular, the last points of plant control, i.e., the truck loading facility and the farm for land application.     A two‐stage, thermophilic‐continuous‐batch process, consisting of a battery of six egg‐shaped digesters, was established in late 2001 for phase I of this study and modified in early 2002 for phase II. As the biosolids were discharged from the second‐stage digesters, the Salmonella sp. (pathogen) and fecal‐coliform (indicator) densities were well below the limits for Class A biosolids, even though the second‐stage‐digester temperatures were a few degrees below the temperature required by Alternative 1. Salmonella sp. densities remained below the Class A limit at all postdigestion sampling locations. Fecal‐coliform densities were also below the Class A limit at postdigestion‐sampling locations, except the truck‐loading facility (phases I and II) and the farm for final use of the biosolids (phase II). Although federal regulations require one of the limits for either fecal coliforms or Salmonella sp. to be met, local regulations in Kern County, California, where the biosolids are land‐applied, require compliance with both bacterial limits. Additional work identified dewatering, cooling of biosolids after the dewatering centrifuges, and contamination as possible factors in the rise in density of fecal coliforms. These results provided the basis for the full conversion of HTP to the Los Angeles continuous‐batch, thermophilic‐anaerobic‐digestion process. During later phases of testing, this process was demonstrated to produce fully disinfected biosolids at the farm for land application.
Comparison between Direct Microscopy and Flow Cytometry for rRNA‐Based Quantification of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis in Activated Sludge
Authors: Perez‐Feito Rafael , Peccia Jordan , Noguera Daniel R.
Published: February 2006

A comparison of the quantification of a specific microbial group in activated sludge by fluorescent in‐situ hybridization, coupled with either direct microscopic counting or flow cytometry, was performed using an enhanced‐biological‐phosphorus‐removal, sequencing‐batch reactor. The population dynamics of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis (Cand. A. phosphatis) was evaluated during two separate runs of the reactor. With the operational conditions used, Cand. A. phosphatis was enriched until a failure in the pH controller eliminated its ecological advantage. As a result, the comparison of quantification techniques included Cand. A. phosphatis concentrations as low as 11% and as high as 96% of the total cells in the samples. The analysis demonstrated that, regardless of the particular limitations of each technique, both provided similar results when the activated‐sludge flocs were easily dispersed. However, when the activated‐sludge samples contained flocs that were difficult to disperse, flow cytometry failed to provide quantitative results.
A Rapid, Direct Measurement of Bacterial Growth Rate in Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Pollard Peter C.
Published: February 2006

Reliable design and operation of biological wastewater treatment systems demand robust models of biological degradation processes. However, methods to directly measure key bacterial growth kinetics have not been readily available. Those methods that are available rely on the classic measurement of aerobic respiration using oxygen uptake take rates. This paper shows how the thymidine assay can be used as a rapid and direct measurement of bacterial specific growth rates (μ) in situ for an anaerobic treatment process, independent of aerobic respiration. A filtration‐based assay is applied and evaluated a dispersed‐phase high‐rate anaerobic treatment process, with results obtained in less than an hour. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) biomass in the reactor was 0.52 kg COD m −3 and the specific growth rate of these anaerobic bacteria was 0.8 ± 0.2 d −1. It took the bacterial populations 21.6 hours to double. This is an important advancement from existing methods that use aerobic respiration as a pseudo measurement of bacterial specific growth rates. The method allows rapid and direct measures of microbial growth rates for anaerobic treatment processes. Water Environ. Res.,
Biological Phosphate Uptake and Release: Effect of pH and Magnesium Ions
Authors: Wu Qingzhong , Bishop Paul L. , Keener Tim C.
Published: February 2006

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is based on poly‐phosphate accumulating organisms' (PAOs) unique features of “luxury” phosphate uptake during aerobic conditions and phosphate release in anaerobic conditions. It is believed that poly‐phosphate accumulation is accompanied by the uptake and accumulation of potassium ions (K +) and magnesium ions (Mg 2+). The release of phosphate under anaerobic conditions is also accompanied by the release of both cations. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of pH and Mg 2+ on the biological phosphate uptake and release behavior of activated sludge mixed liquor during aeration and sedimentation. Research results indicate that Mg 2+, supplied either by magnesium chloride (MgCl 2) or magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH) 2], stimulated phosphate uptake during the aeration period, while pH increase, caused by the application of Mg(OH) 2, enhanced phosphate release during the sedimentation period. It is also noted in our experiments with MgCl 2 that Mg 2+ slightly inhibited anaerobic phosphate release. Water Environ. Res.,
Bioleaching of Zinc and Copper from Anaerobically Digested Swine Manure: Effect of Sulfur Levels and Solids Contents
Authors: Foulkes Brian , Khanal Samir Kumar , Sung Shihwu
Published: February 2006

Anaerobically digested swine manure (ADSM) generally contains high concentrations of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). These metals levels exceed the land application regulations of municipal biosolids of many European countries and are on the borderline of exceptional quality in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 40 CFR part 503 standards. From this perspective, a series of batch tests were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of bioleaching of Zn and Cu from ADSM so that the produced biosolids could safely be applied to land. The effect of different substrate levels (sulfur) and total solids content (as high as 9%) on metal solubilization was investigated. The results showed that metal solubilization efficiency for both Zn and Cu declined significantly with an increase in total solids from 3 to 6% and then to 9% at the same substrate level. Metal solubilization increased proportionately with increases in substrate concentration up to 6% of total solids content. However, at 9% total solids content, metal solubilization was insignificant at all substrate levels tested. At a 6% total solids level and 10 000 mg/L of substrate, 94% of Zn and 72% of Cu were solubilized. Bioleaching was also found to be effective in destruction of pathogens with approximately 2.5 log‐scale reduction. The residual biosolid was found to meet the Class A biosolids standands of U.S. EPA 40 CFR part 503.
Enhanced Anaerobic Biodegradability and Inactivation of Fecal Coliforms and Salmonella spp. in Wastewater Sludge by Using Microwaves
Authors: Pino‐Jelcic Sergio A. , Hong Seung Mo , Park Jae K.
Published: February 2006

During continuous operation of three mesophilic‐anaerobic digesters, the effect of microwave irradiation, as sludge thermal pretreatment (60 to 65°C), was studied. The fecal coliforms log inactivation for microwaved/digested sludge was 4.2 ± 0.4, whereas for conventionally heated/digested sludge and control were 2.9 ± 0.5 and 1.5 ± 0.5, respectively. In the case of Salmonella spp., no colonies were detected in 85% of the microwaved/digested samples. Considering the detection limit, the log inactivation of these samples was greater than 2.0 ± 0.3. The conventionally heated/digested sludge and control showed log inactivations of 1.9 ± 0.2 and 1.1 ± 0.3, respectively.     At the 95% confidence level, microwaved/digested sludge increased the biogas production by 16.4 ± 5.6% and 6.3 ± 2.4%, as compared to control and conventionally heated/digested sludge, respectively. When thermally treated sludge was analyzed for soluble chemical oxygen demand, microwaved waste‐activated sludge showed considerable solubilization between 37 and 60°C.    Microwaved/digested sludge showed a reduction of capillary suction times by 11.1 ± 5.9% and 10.7 ± 5.6%, as compared to control and conventionally heated/digested sludge, respectively.
Product Quality and Market Size: Price Competition Between a Large and Small Country
Authors: Highfill Jannett K , Scott Robert C
Published: February 2006

In a two-country world for a product which in the absence of trade is provided by a monopoly in each country, opening trade effectively creates a world duopoly rather than two separate country monopolies. Suppose the goods produced in the competing countries differ in quality because the firm's home market sizes differ and quality is chosen before trade opens. Our results suggest that consumers benefit in free trade both from the choice of qualities and from the price competition. Social surplus for both countries is higher in trade than autarky—and although normally firms lose due to the increased competition, occasionally one of the firms may actually gain in trade. The competition between firms means that the trade price is less than the autarky price, but sales increase, sometimes enough to offset the price effects.
Trust, Confidence and Reliance: Reflections of a Linguist
Authors: Desportes Yvon
Published: February 2006

The author, a linguist, explores how "trust," "confidence," and "reliance" underlie global trade and finance.

To do this, he demonstrates the contribution that linguistic research has made to the understanding of the meaning of these words, in referring particularly to the work of the French Sanskrit specialist Emile Benvéniste.

Recalling the archeology of the images and representations that former civilizations have associated with these words, the author undertakes a detailed semantic history.

The analysis that theologians and philosophers have performed on these notions is the occasion to show that the inquiry into the question of confidence is related to someone else's philosophy. Just as there is no more an objective knowledge of others any more than there is an objective knowledge of God, the convictions acquired relative to others or to God are of a different order than that of pure reason. Thus the notion of confidence implies by nature the notion of risk.

The author aims to show that if the contemporary problematics are of a different nature than those whose words represent the vestige, nothing however in these problematics is foreign to the human experience that these words convey: only the fields of application and the reasons of the inquiry have changed with time.

15th Presidential Address, presented at international conference, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2005.
Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth: A Time-Series Approach
Authors: Ghosh Roy Atrayee , Van den Berg Hendrik F
Published: February 2006

Research has often focused on how foreign direct investment (FDI) transfers technology from developed economies to less developed economies. Most FDI occurs between developed economies, however, and the country receiving the greatest inflow of FDI is the United States. This paper examines whether such FDI inflows have stimulated growth of the U.S. economy. We apply time-series data to a simultaneous-equation model (SEM) that explicitly captures the bi-directional relationship between FDI and U.S. economic growth. FDI is found to have a significant, positive, and economically important impact on U.S. growth. Also, our SEM estimates reveal that FDI growth is income inelastic. These results imply that: (1) even a technologically advanced country such as the U.S. benefits from FDI, (2) the gains from FDI are very substantial in the long run, and (3) the sustainability of the U.S. current account deficit is enhanced by FDI's positive effect on productivity but undermined by the income inelasticity of FDI. Overall, the results suggest that U.S. policies should focus on keeping the country attractive to foreign direct investors.
Holding Company Cost Economies in the Global Advertising and Marketing Services Business
Authors: Silk Alvin J. , Berndt Ernst R.
Published: February 2006

We assess size and scope-related economies in the global advertising and marketing services business. A translog cost function is employed wherein a firms costs vary according to its scale and two dimensions of the scope of its operations. One dimension of firm scope relates to how its output is distributed across the global markets it serves (domestic vs. overseas) and the other to how its output is distributed across the line of services it offers (advertising-related vs. other marketing services). Parameters of the model are estimated via three stage least squares using annual data (1989-2001) for an unbalanced panel consisting of the eight largest holding companies in this industry.A firms total variable costs are affected by its scale, scope (mix of services and markets served), and by the interaction of the two dimensions of scope. The latter effect suggests that cost economies may accompany the dual diversification strategy of jointly offering advertising and marketing services globally. Estimates indicate that the industrys long-run cost function is subject to very slight economies of scale, i.e., total variable costs increase less than proportionally as outputs increase. Consistent with the presence of modest global scale economies, product-specific diseconomies of scale accompany growth in volume obtained by extending either breadth of service offerings or market coverage. Scope economies arise when cost savings can be realized by a single firm jointly producing several services or jointly serving multiple markets as compared to splitting up the firm into smaller, stand-alone entities, each one producing just one service or serving a single market. A small cost advantage, typically of approximately two percent, is uniformly associated with joint production of services for both the domestic and overseas markets. Cost savings of a similar magnitude arise consistently from the joint production of advertising as well as other marketing services.
Measurement Context Effects in Telephone-Survey-Based Tests of Causal Models
Authors: Agarwal Sanjeev , Teas R. Kenneth
Published: February 2006

The purpose of this research is to examine the issue of measurement context effects in survey-based tests of attitudinal and related models. The specific issue examined concerns the degree to which the measurement process affects the objects of measurement (i.e., various attitudinal and related concepts). Based upon the memory accessibility-diagnosticity theory specified by Feldman and Lynch (1988) and the concept of spreading activation (Tourangeau and Rasinski 1988; Anderson 1978, 1983; Collins and Loftus 1975), the effects of context questionnaire items on answers to, and estimated relationships among, target questionnaire items in a study involving measures of antecedents and consequences of attitudes are examined. The findings indicate some measurement context effects in an equation predicting blood donation intentions. First, the findings suggest that measuring expectations prior to measuring intentions, when compared to measuring expectations after measuring intentions, caused the intentions scores to be higher. Since the respondents had generally favorable attitudes toward blood donation, this supports the Feldman and Lynch (1988) argument that context survey questions can result in activated beliefs that are diagnostic for answers to subsequent questions. Second, the findings suggest that measuring expectations prior to (after) measuring intentions resulted in a statistically significant increase (decrease) in the association between expectations and intentions. Third, the findings produced evidence that buffer questions that separate expectations (i.e., context) measures from other target measures reduced the context effects associated with the expectations measurement. An implication of this finding is that the use of intervening questionnaire items to separate questions that are likely to be influenced by measurement context effects may reduce context effects.
Connecting: Perceptions of Becoming a Faculty Mentor
Authors: Kostovich Carol T. , Thurn Kay E.
Published: February 2006

The school of nursing faculty at a liberal arts university created an innovative group-mentoring course to support students' progression through the undergraduate nursing program. The foundation of the mentoring program is the dynamic relationship between novice and expert.Students are enrolled in this one-hour course for each of their four semesters in the upper division nursing curriculum. Group membership (faculty and students) is consistent throughout this time. The mentoring course requires faculty to lead a process-oriented group. Faculty are confident in teaching courses that are content-driven but have struggled with the unstructured nature of facilitating a process-oriented group. Therefore, the role of group mentor has been identified by faculty as very challenging.The purpose of this study was to explore faculty members' perceptions of assuming the role of a group mentor. Eight subjects participated in audio-taped interviews guided by open-ended questions. Four themes emerged including uncertainty, evolution, mutuality, and milieu.
Integrative Health Care: a Need for Change?
Authors: Leach Matthew J
Published: February 2006

Integrative medicine is a comprehensive and holistic approach to health care in which all health care professionals work collaboratively, in an equal and respectful manner, to better meet the needs of the patient and community. Despite concerns about clinical evidence, practitioner competence and health care philosophy, such an approach is likely to increase health care choice, improve treatment outcomes, and allow patients to more effectively navigate through the range of available treatment options. An integrative health care model may also be of benefit in addressing the many limitations of the current health care system.
Randomized clinical trial of the effects of abdominal drainage after elective hepatectomy using the crushing clamp method
Authors: Sun H-C , Qin L-X , Lu L , Wang L , Ye Q-H , Ren N , Fan J , Tang Z-Y
Published: February 2006

Background

Abdominal drainage is a standard procedure after hepatectomy, but this practice has been challenged recently.

Methods

Between September 2004 and March 2005, 120 consecutive patients who had undergone hepatic resection by the same surgical team were randomly allocated into drainage and no drainage groups (60 in each group). Patient characteristics, preoperative liver function, presence of cirrhosis, resection-related factors and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

Results

The groups were comparable in terms of demographics, indications for surgery, preoperative liver function test results, presence of cirrhosis, extent of hepatectomy, intraoperative blood loss and requirement for blood transfusion. Symptomatic subphrenic collection and pleural effusion occurred in four patients (7 per cent) who had abdominal drainage and three (5 per cent) who did not. Local wound complications occurred in 17 (28 per cent) and two (3 per cent) patients respectively (P < 0·001). The postoperative hospital stay was similar in the two groups. Multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of cirrhosis and abdominal drainage were independently related to the development of postoperative wound complications.

Conclusion

Routine abdominal drainage is unnecessary after elective hepatectomy using the crushing clamp method.
Randomized clinical trial of bowel preparation with a single phosphate enema or polyethylene glycol before elective colorectal surgery
Authors: Platell C , Barwood N , Makin G
Published: February 2006

Background

A recent meta-analysis has questioned the value of bowel preparation in patients undergoing colorectal resection. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate whether a single phosphate enema was as effective as oral polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution in preventing anastomotic leakage.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive either a single phosphate enema or 3 litres of oral PEG solution before surgery. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 weeks to detect anastomotic leakage.

Results

There were 147 patients in each group and the groups were evenly matched for putative risk factors at baseline. Patients in the enema group had more anastomotic leaks requiring reoperation than those in the PEG group (4·1 versus 0 per cent, P = 0·013; relative risk 2·04 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1·82 to 2·30)). The mortality rate was higher in the PEG group (2·7 versus 0·7 per cent, P = 0·176; odds ratio 1·62 (95 per cent c.i. 0·45 to 36·98)).

Conclusion

Bowel preparation with a phosphate enema was associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leakage requiring reoperation compared with oral PEG. These results do not support the routine use of a phosphate enema in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
Alkaline phosphatase reduces hepatic and pulmonary injury in liver ischaemia–reperfusion combined with partial resection
Authors: van Veen S Q , Dinant S , van Vliet A K , van Gulik T M
Published: February 2006

Background

Lipopolysaccharides mediate inflammation in liver ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) and partial liver resection (PHX). Bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase (BIAP) detoxifies lipopolysaccharides by dephosphorylation and reduces inflammation in models of sepsis. This study examined the protective effects of BIAP administration in models of partial (70 per cent) liver I/R with or without partial resection of all non-ischaemic lobes during ischaemia (30 per cent).

Methods

Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: I/R + BIAP, I/R + saline, I/R + PHX + BIAP and I/R + PHX + saline, PHX only or sham laparotomy only. A single dose of BIAP (0·5 units/g) or vehicle (saline) was administered 5 min before reperfusion. Inflammatory response, and hepatic and pulmonary injury were assessed during 24 h of reperfusion.

Results

I/R, with or without PHX, increased all markers of inflammation, and hepatic and pulmonary damage (P < 0·050 versus sham operation). I/R + PHX significantly increased release of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and hepatic neutrophil influx compared with I/R only (P < 0·050). BIAP treatment decreased hepatic wet/dry ratios, neutrophil influx and histopathological damage after I/R with or without PHX (P < 0·050), and also AST, ALT and interleukin (IL)-6 production after I/R + PHX (P < 0·050). BIAP treatment reduced the neutrophil influx after I/R, and pulmonary histopathological injury was decreased after I/R with or without PHX.

Conclusion

BIAP attenuates hepatic and pulmonary injury after partial liver I/R and PHX.
Comparing the constructs of antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy in a sample of incarcerated women
Authors: Warren Janet I. , South Susan C.
Published: February 2006

Our study examines the relationship between Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) and psychopathy among a sample of 137 female offenders. Drawing from a historical review of the evolution of these two concepts, we explore their differential relationship to patterns of criminal behavior, psychological adjustment, co‐morbidity with other personality disorders, victimization, and institutional adjustment. Findings suggest that the two disorders share a common foundation of social norm violations and deception; however, APD is associated with impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible behavior, higher rates of childhood abuse, and greater co‐morbidity with Cluster A PDs, while psychopathy is better characterized by higher rates of property crimes, previous incarceration, and the manifestation of remorselessness. Results contribute to a further understanding of the etiology and phenomenology of these two disorders and suggest different types of treatment and intervention. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gender differences in attitudes toward psychopathic sexual offenders
Authors: Guy Laura S. , Edens John F.
Published: February 2006

Although a considerable amount of research has been conducted examining the validity of psychopathy as a psychological construct, relatively few studies have focused on the effects of using this disorder in “real‐world” settings to influence the attitudes of laypersons who are making life‐altering decisions about offenders. This study attempted to replicate and extend earlier findings (Guy & Edens, 2003) suggesting that there are gender differences in the impact of expert testimony regarding psychopathy. A sample of 599 undergraduates reviewed case facts regarding a hypothetical Sexually Violent Predator trial in which the type of risk assessment testimony provided (clinical opinion, actuarial scale, psychopathy evaluation) and the age of the victims (adult versus child) were manipulated. Consistent with prior research, despite overall high rates of support for commitment in the adult victim condition, men were less prone than women to support civil commitment when the defendant was described as “a psychopath” (62.5 versus 86.5%). No such gender differences were noted in the clinical opinion or actuarial conditions. When the victims were identified as children, type of testimony had no impact because support for commitment was almost unilateral. Finally, ratings of how psychopathic the defendant was perceived to be (regardless of the testimony provided) were significantly associated with support for commitment across most conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychopathy in adolescent female offenders: an item response theory analysis of the psychopathy checklist: youth version
Authors: Schrum Crystal L. , Salekin Randall T.
Published: February 2006

The present study examined the applicability of the PCL:YV items to a sample of detained adolescent girls. Item response theory (IRT) was used to analyze test and item functioning of the PCL:YV. Examination of IRT trace lines indicated that the items most discriminating of the underlying construct of psychopathy included “callousness and a lack of empathy”, “conning and manipulation”, and “a grandiose sense of self‐worth”. Results from the analyses also demonstrated that the items least discriminating in this sample, or least useful for identifying psychopathy, included “poor anger control”, “shallow affect”, or engaging in a “serious violation of conditional release”. Consistent with previous research (Cooke & Michie, 1997; Hare, 2003), interpersonal and affective components of psychopathy provided more information than behavioral features. Moreover, although previous research has also found affective features to provide the most information in past studies, it was interpersonal features of psychopathy in this case, followed by affective features, that provided greater levels of information. Implications of these results are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The aftermath: aspects of recovery described by perpetrators of maternal filicide committed in the context of severe mental illness
Authors: Stanton Josephine , Simpson Alexander I. F.
Published: February 2006

Mentally abnormal maternal filicide is a rare and horrifying event. Clinicians are unlikely to develop broad experience with this and there is little information available about recovery. This paper presents a range of descriptions of recovery experiences derived from a qualitative study of mentally abnormal maternal filicide perpetrators. Transcripts from a qualitative, semi‐structured interview study of six women who committed filicide in the context of major mental illness were reviewed. Descriptions related to rehabilitation issues were grouped and themes extracted. The women described patchy but horrific memories they avoided thinking and talking about. They described intense self‐judgement and self‐hate. They valued ongoing relationships with surviving children and were distressed by perceptions that they might be a danger to other children. Managing illness was not described as a major challenge. Acknowledgement of illness was described as important in coming to terms with what they had done. Surviving children and relationships with family and other support networks were described as important in their rehabilitation. We conclude that optimizing treatment and rehabilitation for mental illness, supporting the woman to acknowledge the role of illness in the offence, maximizing support from personal networks, and enabling her to regain some aspect of the mother role may be more efficacious than debriefing with respect to the offence. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploration of the association between apology and forgiveness amongst victims of human rights violations
Authors: Allan Alfred , Allan Maria M. , Kaminer Debra , Stein Dan J.
Published: February 2006

Forgiving may lead to an improvement of mental health, and from a therapeutic jurisprudence perspective it is important to establish what aspects of judicial procedures can be changed to promote forgiving. The literature suggests that receiving an apology may encourage forgiving. However, there is a dearth of empirical research regarding the association between forgiving and apology in judicial settings. This paper reports the findings of a study that examined the association between forgiving and four restorative situations (i.e. excuse, admission of guilt, apology, and true sorriness) in a group of 134 victims of gross human rights violations who were actual or potential participants in the proceedings of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The best predictors of forgiveness in this sample were gender and whether victims perceived wrongdoers to be truly sorry. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does the mandate make a difference? reporting decisions in emotional abuse
Authors: Carleton Russell A.
Published: February 2006

Mandated (N = 57) and non‐mandated (N = 94) reporters were questioned as to their perceptions of the seriousness of 20 vignettes related to child emotional abuse, as well as their willingness to report the actions contained in the vignettes to child protective services. No difference was observed between mandated and non‐mandated reporters on the mean number of vignettes considered reportable. In addition, several psychosocial variables, including perceptions of teasing, political viewpoint, tendencies towards diffuse responsibility, perceptions of child protective services (CPS) and attitude towards helping others, were measured. Separate regression equations for mandated and non‐mandated reporters showed two different models in predicting reporting tendencies. Mandated reporters were most affected by the seriousness of the situation and their willingness to engage in prosocial behaviour, whereas non‐mandated reporters were most motivated by judgements of the seriousness of the abusive situation and their faith in child protective services. Being a male was also observed to be more predictive of reporting for non‐mandated reporters. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Threshold decisions: how social workers prioritize referrals of child concern
Authors: Platt Dendy
Published: February 2006

This paper examines local authority social workers' decision‐making when considering referrals of children, where the concerns are on the margin of child protection procedures. In doing so, it describes the findings of a qualitative research study undertaken in the policy context of attempts to ‘refocus’ social work practice in the late 1990s and early twenty‐first century. Data collection involved interviews with social workers and parents in 23 cases. Conclusions are that referrals were evaluated on the basis of five key factors, specificity, severity, risk, parental accountability and corroboration, the use of which determined whether an initial assessment or an investigation of alleged abuse took place. The analysis builds on previous work in the child protection field, but demonstrates how the application of these factors differs between cases of child concern and cases of child protection. Policy implications concern the complexity of decision‐making in the uncertain context of limited referral information and it is proposed that the simplistic notion of a continuum of abuse is now outdated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emotional harm and neglect: the legal response
Authors: Sheehan Rosemary
Published: February 2006

This paper reports on a study of the extent to which child protection applications brought to the Melbourne Children's Court in Victoria, Australia, were based on emotional/psychological harm or neglect of a child and what factors were presented as evidence of harm or neglect. The study examined records of 208 court‐ordered pre‐trial conferences heard in the court between February and July 2002. What was found was that, although cases involving emotional abuse have increased in terms of child protection applications, they remain cases that are difficult to decide. While in 1998/9 emotional harm was a ground in 25.7% of child protection matters completed in the Family Division of the Children's Court of Victoria, legal decision‐makers are reluctant to make a finding of child abuse in these cases because there is less accuracy in the determination of emotional harm and negligible legal criteria available to guide decision‐making. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lipophilicity Plays a Major Role in Modulating the Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase B by 7‐Substituted Coumarins
Authors: Carotti Angelo , Altomare Cosimo , Catto Marco , Gnerre Carmela , Summo Luciana , De Marco Agostino , Rose Sarah , Jenner Peter , Testa Bernard
Published: February 2006

A series of coumarin derivatives (1–22), bearing at the 7‐position ether, ketone, ester, carbamate, or amide functions of varying size and lipophilicity, were synthesized and investigated for theirin vitromonoamine oxidase‐A and ‐B (MAO‐A and ‐B) inhibitory activities. Most of the compounds acted preferentially as MAO‐B inhibitors, withIC50values in the micromolar to low‐nanomolar range. A structure–activity‐relationship (SAR) study highlighted lipophilicity as an important property modulating the MAO‐B inhibition potency of 7‐substituted coumarins, as shown by a linear correlation (n=20,r2=0.72) between pIC50and calculated logPvalues. The stability of ester‐containing coumarin derivatives in rat plasma provided information on factors that either favor (lipophilicity) or decrease (steric hindrance) esterase‐catalyzed hydrolysis. Two compounds (14and22) were selected to investigate how lipophilicity and enzymatic stability may affectin vivoMAO activities, as assayedex vivoin rat. The most‐potent and ‐selective MAO‐B inhibitor22(=7‐[(3,4‐difluorobenzyl)oxy]‐3,4‐dimethyl‐1‐benzopyran‐2(2H)‐one) within the examined series significantly inhibited (>60%)ex vivorat‐liver and striatal MAO‐B activities 1 h after intraperitoneal administration of high doses (100 and 300 μmol kg−1), revealing its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. At the same doses, liver and striatum MAO‐A was less inhibitedin vivo, somehow reflecting MAO‐B selectivity, as assessedin vitro.In contrast, the metabolically less stable derivative14, bearing an isopropyl ester in the lateral chain, had a weak effect on hepatic MAO‐B activityin vivo, and none on striatal MAO‐B, but, surprisingly, displayed inhibitory effects on MAO‐A in both peripheral and brain tissues.