bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale for Children (WPTAS-C) Aged 4 and 5 Years Old
Authors: Rocca Antonella , Wallen Margaret , Batchelor Jennifer
Published: April 2008

Assessment of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) in young children remains problematic. This article details a version of the Westmead PTA Scale, which was adapted for use with children aged 4 and 5 years, and an evaluation of this scale with typically developing children. The Westmead PTA Scale for Children (WPTAS-C) comprises 2 orientation and 4 memory questions, including 2 items involving remembering pictures of familiar objects. Participants included 55 preschool and kindergarten children aged 4 and 5 years. The scale was administered for 4 consecutive days. Ninety-three per cent of the children achieved a score of 6 out 6 for the final 3 days of the 4-day test period. It is concluded that the WPTAS-C is an appropriate measure of orientation and continuous memory in 4- and 5-year-old typically developing children. Validation of the scale in clinical populations is recommended.
A Simple and Effective Laboratory Test Device for Measuring Tire-Pavement Contact Pressure
Authors: Hu Xiaodi , Sun Lijun , Hu Sheng , Walubita Lubinda F.
Published: April 2008

For most mechanistic response analyses of asphalt pavements, the traffic loading between the tire and the pavement is often modeled as a circular contact area with a uniform stress distribution. In reality, the tire-pavement contact pressure is hardly circular or uniformly distributed. In order to more accurately model the pavement responses under traffic loading, it is necessary to measure the actual tire-pavement contact pressure (TPCP) and then use it for pavement mechanistic response analyses. Currently there are a few devices that can be used to measure the TPCP. However, most of these existing devices have some limitations. For example one of the major disadvantages is the fact that the measured data were the pressure between the tire and a steel plate, and not between the tire and the asphalt pavement. For accurate TPCP measurements in this paper, a simple and effective static laboratory test device was developed. One of the features of this device is that the pressure sensors were inserted and suspended within the asphalt slab and the top of the sensors were kept flush with the surface at the interface with the tire. This enabled the true TPCP between the tire and the asphalt surface to be measured. Additionally, the device is relatively easy to set up and conduct the tests. Thus far, the laboratory measured TPCP results with this static test device were reasonably consistent with existing theories and assumptions about modeling the TPCP and pavement mechanistic responses.
Mensch-Roboter Interaktion in Rettungseinsätzen (Human-Robot Interaction in Rescue Operations)
Authors: Driewer Frauke , Sauer Markus , Schilling Klaus
Published: April 2008

In zukünftigen Rettungseinsätzen können mobile Roboter zur Unterstützung von Einsatzkräften eingesetzt werden. Trotz der großen Fortschritte im Bereich Autonomie, die in der Robotik erreicht wurden, werden Roboter den Menschen vorerst nicht komplett ersetzen können. Bevor Rettungsroboter standardmäßig als Unterstützung in Mensch-Roboter Teams eingesetzt werden können, gilt es effiziente Interaktion als eines der Hauptprobleme zu lösen. Hierbei sollen Rettungsroboter zusammen mit den Einsatzkräften vor Ort, durch einen Einsatzleiter koordiniert werden. Die gesammelten Sensordaten und andere Informationen müssen angemessen aufgearbeitet und in einer entsprechenden Benutzungs-schnittstelle visualisiert werden. Auf Basis einer Nutzeranalyse mit Feuerwehrkräften werden die Anforderungen für ein entsprechendes System erläutert. Die experimentelle Auswertung wird vorgestellt, die unterschiedlichen Erfahrungen und entsprechende Vorschläge für zu-künftige Benutzungsschnittstellen werden diskutiert.
Mensch-Computer-Interaktionsgestaltung zur Luftlagebewertung (Human-Computer Interaction Design for Air Situation Assessment)
Authors: Schmidt Ludger , Ley Daniel
Published: April 2008

Dieser Beitrag beschreibt die modellbasierte Gestaltung der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion an militärischen Arbeitsplätzen zur Luftlagebewertung. Die Interaktion wird zunächst allgemein anhand eines erweiterten Semiotischen Modells auf vier Ebenen (pragmatisch, semantisch, syntaktisch und physikalisch) charakterisiert. Daraus werden die entsprechenden Ges-taltungsbereiche abgeleitet und kurz beschrieben. Als exemplarische Umsetzung wird dann anhand eines Prototyps die Gestaltung einer Benutzungsschnittstelle für die Luftlagebewertung dargestellt.
Analyse von Fahrer- und Pilotenfehlern mit integrierten Mensch-Maschine-Umgebung Modellen (Analysis of Driver and Pilot Errors Using Integrated Man-Machine-Environment Models)
Authors: Lüdtke Andreas
Published: April 2008

In diesem Beitrag wird ein Ansatz zur Analyse sicherheitskritischer Assistenzsysteme im Flugzeug oder Automobil unter Verwendung integrierter Mensch-Maschine-Umgebung Modellen vorgestellt. Dabei wird ein kognitives Modell zur ablauffähigen Simulation des menschlichen Verhaltens aufgebaut, um eine frühe Bewertung von Assistenzentwürfen aus Sicht der späteren Anwender zu ermöglichen. Es wird gezeigt, wie kognitive Modelle gezielt auf zu analysierende Phänomene des menschlichen Verhaltens abgestimmt werden können. Am Beispiel der Analyse „gelernter Sorglosigkeit” werden die Prinzipien des Ansatzes verdeutlicht.
Eye-Tracking zur Unterstützung der Verdachtsmarkierung in der Videoüberwachung (Eye Tracking for the Assistance of Suspicion Indications in Video Based Surveillance)
Authors: Fischer Peter , Geisler Jürgen
Published: April 2008

„Online”-Bildauswerter in der polizeilichen und militärischen Aufklärung müssen neben Ihrer Haupttätigkeit der Auswertung des Videodatenstroms ebenfalls die Aufgabe des Markierens auffälliger Objekte zur Kommunikation an den „Offline”-Bildauswerter erfüllen. Eine textliche oder sprachliche Form ist hierbei unbefriedigend, da diese beide Auswerter in nicht unerheblichem Maße kognitiv belastet. Hier bietet sich als Alternative der Einsatz von Blickbewegungsregistrierung zur Minimierung dieser kognitiven Zusatzbelastung an. Die Markierung könnte durch den „Online”-Bildauswerter mittels Tastendruck geschehen. Ein Rahmen wird um die aktuelle Blickposition gezeichnet und das so entstandene Bild an den „Offline”-Bildauswerter weitergeleitet. Die Blickdaten bilden hier also den Kommunikationskanal für die wichtige Markierungsinformation. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt eine Versuchsumgebung zur Ermittlung der örtlichen und zeitlichen Präzision eines solchen Ansatzes und stellt bezüglich letzterer ausgehend vom „Model Human Processor” (Card, Moran und Newell 1983) eine Hypothese zu deren Vorhersage auf.
Modellierung sicherheitskritischer Kommunikation in Aufgabenmodellen (Modelling Safety-Critical Communication within Task Models)
Authors: Mistrzyk Tomasz , Szwillus Gerd
Published: April 2008

Die Spezifikation von Aufgabenmodellen für sozio-technische Systeme bekommt besondere Bedeutung, wenn es um sicherheitskritische Systeme geht. Probleme bei der Kommunikation innerhalb derartiger Systeme wurden inzwischen als Hauptursache für das Entstehen sowohl kritischer Situationen als auch von Unfällen erkannt. In einem Forschungsprojekt haben wir eine Aufgabenmodellierungsumgebung entwickelt, die die speziellen Bedürfnisse derartiger Systeme ausdrück-lich berücksichtigt. Das Modell erlaubt die Spezifikation von Risikofaktoren, Barrieren und insbesondere auch des Informationsflusses zwischen einzelnen Aufgaben. In diesem Artikel stellen wir den Ansatz vor, mit spezieller Betonung der Kommunikationsvorgänge in Aufgabenmodellen. Wir zeigen auf, wie Kommunikation als orthogonale Struktur explizit formuliert werden kann, so dass deutlich wird, wie Kommunikation zur erfolgreichen Durchführung kooperativer Aufgaben beiträgt.
Random cluster tessellations
Authors: Matzutt Kai
Published: April 2008

This article describes, in elementary terms, a generic approach to produce discrete random tilings and similar random structures by using point process theory. The standard Voronoi and Delone tilings can be constructed in this way. For this purpose, convex polytopes are replaced by their vertex sets. Three explicit constructions are given to illustrate the concept.
Gallium substitution in the alumosilicate framework: synthesis and structural studies of hydro sodalites
Authors: Murshed M. Mangir , Gesing Thorsten M.
Published: April 2008

A series of hydro sodalites of composition Na6[Al1−yGaySiO4]6(H2O)8 (0 ≤ y ≤ 1) have been prepared from Na6+x[Al1−yGaySiO4]6(OH · H2O)x(H2O)8−4x sodalites by NaOH/H2O exchange methods carried out in acidic aqueous media. One of the end members (y = 1) Na6[GaSiO4]6(H2O)8 is obtained from Na8[GaSiO4]6I2 by a hydrothermal transformation process. The polycrystalline samples are characterized by Rietveld refinements using X-ray powder diffraction data. The cell parameter fluctuates slightly from the [AlSiO4]6 to the [GaSiO4]6 framework with an average value of 884.8 pm. The occurrence of an almost constant cell parameter has been explained as a combined effect of hydrogen bonding between the oxygen atoms of the entrapped water (or the occluded [Na3□(H2O)4]3+ complex in the β-cage as a whole), and the framework together with six-ring window deformation. During XRD refinements both aluminium and gallium atoms have been converged to a single crystallographic site. The Al/Ga—O bond distance therefore indicates the mean of Al—O and Ga—O distances, which increases with increasing gallium content in the framework. However, the Si—O distance remains almost constant at 162.9 pm at any Ga/Al ratio. The coupled twisting of the (Al,Ga)O4 and SiO4 tetrahedra confirms the increase of tilt angles and decrease of six-ring pore dimension upon aluminium replacement by gallium in the framework. Results of 1H and 29Si MAS NMR as well as FTIR spectroscopy are also discussed in terms of successive gallium incorporation in the alumosilicate hydro sodalite frameworks.
Metalophosphates with mixed-polyhedral framework structures: syntheses and characterization
Authors: Bieniok Anna , Brendel Uwe , Lottermoser Werner , Amthauer Georg
Published: April 2008

Three new microporous compounds with octahedral-pentahedral-tetrahedral framework structures (so called OPT materials) with metalophosphate composition were prepared under solvothermal conditions and characterized by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Ironalumino- and irongallophosphates are violet and brown-violet crystals with NH4[Fe1.15Al1.85P3O12](H2O)2 and NH4[Fe1.05Ga1.95P3O12] (H2O)2 composition. Nickelgallophosphate NH4[Ni1.0Ga2.0P3O12](H2O)2 forms light yellow lozenges. All products have isotype crystal structures in space group C2/c. The framework structures are built of corner- and edge-sharing distorted octahedra, trigonal bipyramids and phosphate tetrahedra. Iron occurs in two different valence states and occupies different polyhedra types in the structures, confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The compounds have three-dimensional channel systems which are filled by ammonium groups and water molecules, forming a strong hydrogen bonding system. Upon heating, the frameworks collapse during deammonization at temperatures below 573 K. A deformation analysis of the different coordination polyhedra in comparable compounds was performed and the structural relationship to a similar ammonium gallophosphate is discussed.
The high pressure crystal structures of tin sulphate: a case study for maximal information recovery from 2D powder diffraction data
Authors: Hinrichsen Bernd , Dinnebier Robert E. , Liu Haozhe , Jansen Martin
Published: April 2008

Our recently proposed method for automatic detection, calibration and evaluation of Debye–Scherrer ellipses using pattern recognition techniques and advanced signal filtering was applied to 2D powder diffraction data of tin sulphate in dependence on pressure. Three phase transitions towards higher pressure could be identified, and their respective crystal structures have been determined. The high pressure behaviour of the stereoactive lone pair of Sn2+ was investigated. At ambient conditions, SnSO4 crystallizes in a strongly distorted Barite structure type in space group Pnma (phase I). In the pressure range between P = 0.15 and P = 0.2 GPa, it exhibits a displacive second order phase transition into a structure with space group P1121/a (phase II at P = 0.2 GPa: a = 8.7022(9) Å, b = 5.3393(5) Å, c = 7.0511(6) Å, γ = 89.90(1)°). A second displacive phase transition occurs between P = 4.40 and P = 5.07 GPa into another structure with space group P-1 (phase III at P = 13.5 GPa: a = 8.067(3) Å, b = 5.141(2) Å, c = 6.609(2) Å, α = 90.56(3)°, β = 90.65(2)°, γ = 89.46(2)°). A third displacive phase transition towards another crystal structure in space group P-1 occurs between P = 13.6 and P = 15.3 GPa (phase IV at P = 20.5 GPa: a = 7.889(5) Å, b = 5.028(3) Å, c = 6.462(3) Å, α = 90.99(3)°, β = 91.01(3)°, γ = 89.89(4)°).). A non-linear compression behaviour over the entire pressure range is observed, which can be described by three Vinet relations in the ranges from P = 0.21 to 4.4 GPa, from P = 5.07 to 13.55 GPa and from P = 15.26 to 20.5 GPa. The extrapolated bulk moduli of the high-pressure phases were determined to K
0 = 48(1) GPa for phase II, K
0 = 56(2) GPa for phase III, and K
0 = 51(13) GPa for phase IV. The crystal structures of all phases are refined against X-ray powder diffraction data measured at several pressures between 0.15 and 20.5 GPa. The structural phase transitions of SnSO4 are mainly characterized by a reorientation of the SO4 tetrahedra, in order to optimize crystal packing. With increasing pressure, the lone pair which is localized at Sn2+ increasingly adopts pure s-character.
Compounds of glycine with halogen or metal halogenides: review and comparison
Authors: Fleck Michel
Published: April 2008

The large family of glycine halogenides and metal halogenides encompasses a high variety of different crystal structures. The role of the glycine molecule as a structural unit as a mono-, bi- or tridentate ligand, of the halogenide ions as well as the composition and condensation of the cationic polyhedra is discussed. With respect to the connectivity of the building units, five different structure families of glycine halogenides and glycine-metal halogenides can be distinguished. Parameters such as symmetry, ionic radii, electronegativity of cation and anion and their difference, charge, coordination number, hydration states, stoichiometric ratios and connectivity were weighed against each other in order to see if any correlations exist. The data suggest that cations with high electronegativities seem to promote formation of structures with a low grade of connectivity, i.e., isolated units, and vice versa.
What is a co-crystal?
Authors: Zukerman-Schpector Julio , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: April 2008

What might very well be classified as a revolution in chemical crystallography is the emergence of crystal engineering as a discipline and the pivotal role X-ray crystallography plays in this [1]. Although dating back to the 1950's, the field has exploded in the last decade or so, and now is at the forefront of contemporary chemical and cognisant research. One of the areas in crystal engineering of greatest potential impact relates to the pharmaceutical industry – drug formulation and intellectual property – where issues relating to crystallisation, polymorphism, etc. are paramount [2]. A focus of these crystal engineering studies relates to the preparation of multi-component crystals, often referred to as co-crystals, where, for example utilizing hydrogen bonding synthons, active pharmaceutical ingredients are co-crystallised with other molecules [2]. The motivation for such studies is to improve stability (e.g. shelf-life), bioavailability (e.g. solubility), etc. [3].
Expression of genes involved in early cell fate decisions in human embryos and their regulation by growth factors
Authors: Kimber S J , Sneddon S F , Bloor D J , El-Bareg A M , Hawkhead J A , Metcalfe A D , Houghton F D , Leese H J , Rutherford A , Lieberman B A , Brison D R
Published: April 2008

Little is understood about the regulation of gene expression in human preimplantation embryos. We set out to examine the expression in human preimplantation embryos of a number of genes known to be critical for early development of the murine embryo. The expression profile of these genes was analysed throughout preimplantation development and in response to growth factor (GF) stimulation. Developmental expression of a number of genes was similar to that seen in murine embryos (OCT3B/4,CDX2,NANOG). However,GATA6is expressed throughout preimplantation development in the human. Embryos were cultured in IGF-I, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF), all of which are known to stimulate the development of human embryos. Our data show that culture in HBEGF and LIF appears to facilitate human embryo expression of a number of genes:ERBB4(LIF) andLIFRandDSC2(HBEGF) while in the presence of HBEGF no blastocysts expressedEOMESand when cultured with LIF only two out of nine blastocysts expressedTBN. These data improve our knowledge of the similarities between human and murine embryos and the influence of GFs on human embryo gene expression. Results from this study will improve the understanding of cell fate decisions in early human embryos, which has important implications for both IVF treatment and the derivation of human embryonic stem cells.
What can we learn from gene expression profiling of mouse oocytes?
Authors: Hamatani Toshio , Yamada Mitsutoshi , Akutsu Hidenori , Kuji Naoaki , Mochimaru Yoshiyuki , Takano Mitsuko , Toyoda Masashi , Miyado Kenji , Umezawa Akihiro , Yoshimura Yasunori
Published: April 2008

Mammalian ooplasm supports the preimplantation development and reprograms the introduced nucleus transferred from a somatic cell to confer pluripotency in a cloning experiment. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of oocyte competence remain unknown. Recent advances in microarray technologies have allowed gene expression profiling of such tiny specimens as oocytes and preimplantation embryos, generating a flood of information about gene expressions. So, what can we learn from it? Here, we review the initiative global gene expression studies of mouse and/or human oocytes, focusing on the lists of maternal transcripts and their expression patterns during oogenesis and preimplantation development. Especially, the genes expressed exclusively in oocytes should contribute to the uniqueness of oocyte competence, driving mammalian development systems of oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Furthermore, we discuss future directions for oocyte gene expression profiling, including discovering biomarkers of oocyte quality and exploiting the microarray data for ‘making oocytes’.
Expression of genes involved in prostaglandin E2 and progesterone production in bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes during in vitro maturation and fertilization
Authors: Nuttinck Fabienne , Guienne Brigitte Marquant-Le , Clément Laetitia , Reinaud Pierrette , Charpigny Gilles , Grimard Bénédicte
Published: April 2008

Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and progesterone appear to be critical mediators of cumulus expansion and the resumption of oocyte meiosis. The aim of this study was to identify the types of prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES) expressed in the bovine cumulus–oocyte complex (COC), to characterize their temporal expression during the periconceptional interval using anin vitromodel of maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF), and to compare their expression with the level of steroidogenic gene expression. Real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that enzymes related to the PGE2biosynthesis pathway were mainly expressed during IVM. Transcripts encoding PTGES1–3 were detected in bovine COCs. Only the expression of PTGES1 significantly increased during IVM whereas that of PTGES2 and PTGES3 remained unchanged. The induction of PTGES1 expression paralleled the induction of prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 (PTGS2) expression and the amounts of PGE2secreted by maturing COCs. Concomitantly, cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450 expression was significantly upregulated in maturing COCs and the high level of expression persisted in fertilized COCs. The expression of the StAR protein remained constant during IVM and then decreased significantly during IVF. Expression of the progesterone catabolic-related enzyme, 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase significantly decreased throughout the periconceptional interval. This was associated with a rising level of progesterone released by COCs in the culture media. In conclusion, our results suggest that the periconceptional differentiation of the bovine COC includes the transient induction of PGE2biosynthetic activity via the PTGS2/PTGES1 pathway during the maturation period and the increasing ability to produce progesterone from the immature to the fertilized stages.
The interactions between cysteamine, cystine and cumulus cells increase the intracellular glutathione level and developmental capacity of goat cumulus-denuded oocytes
Authors: Zhou Ping , Wu Yan-Guang , Li Qing , Lan Guo-Cheng , Wang Gang , Gao Da , Tan Jing-He
Published: April 2008

To improvein vitromaturation (IVM) of denuded oocytes (DOs), we observed the interactive effects of cysteamine, cystine and cumulus cells on the glutathione (l-γ-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine; GSH) level and developmental capacity of goat IVM oocytes. Cysteamine supplementation increased the GSH level and blastocyst rates of both cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) and DOs, while the addition of cystine increased the GSH level and blastulation only in the presence of cumulus cells (COCs or DOs co-cultured on a cumulus cell monolayer). Simultaneous supplementation of cysteamine and cystine increased the GSH content and blastulation of co-cultured DOs to a level similar to that of COCs matured without thiol supplementation. Co-culture without thiol supplementation improved DOs' GSH synthesis but not blastulation. The results suggest that DOs cannot utilize cystine for GSH synthesis unless exogenous cysteamine is supplied by either cumulus cells or supplementation. Thus, while the addition of cystine alone is enough to improve IVM of COCs, improvement of DOs requires supplementation of both cystine and cysteamine. Synergic actions between cysteamine, cystine and cumulus cells restore the GSH level and developmental capacity of goat DOs.
Preliminary Evaluation of Gulf Sturgeon Production and Sustainability of a Zero-Discharge Pond Water Recirculating Tank System
Authors: Lazur Andrew M , Pouder Deborah B , Hill Jeffrey E
Published: April 2008

Given increasing interest in zero-discharge aquaculture systems, we conducted a preliminary 17-month production study of Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi in a recirculating pond water (RPW) system and a traditional flow-through well water (FTW) system. Both systems had three 6.1-m-diameter tanks stocked with 400 fish (7 g/fish). In the RPW system, water was pumped from a baffled pond containing aquatic macrophytes into the culture tanks and was then gravity discharged back to the pond. Production and feed conversion ratio were better in the FTW system (778 kg/tank and 1.8) than in the RPW system (494 kg/tank and 2.0). Survival was not significantly different between systems (>93%). The RPW tanks had more extreme fluctuations in temperature (7–34°C) than did FTW tanks (19–23°C). The baffled pond seemed beneficial in increasing dissolved oxygen and decreasing ammonia concentrations relative to the RPW tank water. In addition, the RPW system had the advantage of zero discharge. For the FTW system, total loading was 251.4 kg of nitrogen and 19.8 kg of phosphorus; during the same period, 1,683.4 kg of total suspended solids were released. Although the RPW system had benefits, its low production relative to that of the FTW system makes economic feasibility unlikely in commercial sturgeon culture.
New Nitrogen Fertilization Recommendations for Bluegill Ponds in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Boyd Christopher A , Penseng Puan , Boyd Claude E
Published: April 2008

A nitrogen fertilization experiment was conducted in 33-year-old ponds at the Auburn University Fisheries Research Unit, Auburn, Alabama, after sediment removal and renovation. Twelve ponds were treated with 3 kg P2O5 (1.3 kg P)/ha, and ammonium nitrate was applied to give a range of nitrogen application rates (0–14 kg/ha). The maximum production of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus was achieved at 6 kg N/ha. The optimum fertilizer application rate for ponds from which sediment had been removed was 6 kg N with 3 kg P2O5 (1.3 kg P)/ha, which implies the following ratios: N:P2O5 = 2:1 and N:P = 4.6:1. This fertilization rate should be more appropriate than the commonly used rate of 9 kg N with 9 kg P2O5 (3.9 kg P)/ha for new ponds in the southeastern United States.
Operational results of an agricultural biogas plant equipped with modern instrumentation and automation
Authors: Wiese J. , Kujawski O.
Published: April 2008

Agricultural biogas plants based on energy crops gain more and more importance because of numerous energetic, environmental and agricultural benefits. In contrast to older biogas plants, the newest generation of biogas plants is equipped with modern ICA equipment and reliable machines/engines. In this paper, the authors present technical details and operational results of a modern full-scale agricultural biogas plant using energy crops.
Treatment of textile dyes in two-phase and single-phase anaerobic bio-treatment systems
Authors: Bhattacharyya D. , Singh K. S.
Published: April 2008

This research integrates two different concepts of anaerobic biotechnology- two-phase anaerobic treatment and anaerobic granular sludge bed technology, in treatment of colored wastewaters from textile industries. Four anaerobic reactors based on upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) technology were used as acid reactors and an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor was used as a methane reactor. A conventional single-phase anaerobic reactor, working on EGSB technology was run in parallel to compare the performances of the two systems. Reactors were operated at different hydraulic retention times. The results from the study, which span over a period of 400 days, indicated that the two-phase system produces a higher quality of effluent in terms of color, COD and suspended solids than single-phase anaerobic treatment when operated under similar conditions. Alkalinity requirement of two-phase system was also observed to be lower than that of single-phase system which is important regarding design consideration.
Evaluation of state variable interface between the Activated Sludge Models and Anaerobic Digestion Model no 1
Authors: Yasui H. , Komatsu K. , Goel R. , Li Y. Y. , Noike T.
Published: April 2008

For plant wide modelling of wastewater treatment, it is necessary to develop a suitable state variables interface for integrating state of the art models of ASM and ADM1. ADM1 currently describes such an interface, however, its suitability needs to be experimentally evaluated. In this study, we characterised activated sludge under aerobic and anaerobic conditions to obtain representative state variables for both models. ASM state variables of XS, XH and XI (as obtained from aerobic tests) and ADM1 state variables of XC and XI (as obtained from anaerobic tests) were then correlated to assess the suitability of current interface. Based on the seven datasets of this study and seven datasets from literatures, it was found that in general ASM state variables were well correlated to the state variables of ADM1. The ADM1 state variable of XC could be correlated to the sum of state variables of XS and XH, while XI in both the models showed direct correspondence. It was also observed that the degradation kinetics of XC under anaerobic condition could be better described by individual degradation kinetics of XS and XH. Therefore, to establish a one to one correspondence between ASM and ADM1 state variables and better description of degradation kinetics in ADM1, replacing the composite variable of XC by the state variables of XS and XH is recommended.
Inhibition of sulfide generation by dosing formaldehyde and its derivatives in sewage under anaerobic conditions
Authors: Zhang L. , Mendoza L. , Marzorati M. , Verstraete W.
Published: April 2008

Hydrogen sulfide emission in sewers is associated with toxicity, corrosion, odor nuisance and a lot of costs. The possibility to inhibit sulfide generation by formaldehyde and its derivatives (paraformaldehyde and urea formaldehyde) has been evaluated under anaerobic conditions. The impact of formaldehyde on an activated sludge system and an appraisal of the economic aspects are also presented. The optimum dosage to inhibit sulfide generation in sewage was 12–19 mg L−1 formaldehyde. The dosages of 32 mg L−1 paraformaldehyde or 100 mg L−1 urea formaldehyde were not capable of inhibiting sulfide generation in sewage. The impact of 19 mg L−1 formaldehyde on activated sludge system was negligible in terms of COD removal, nitrification rate and oxygen uptake rate.
Urban versus regional – how public attitudes to recycled water differ in these contexts
Authors: Hurlimann A. C.
Published: April 2008

This paper reports findings from a comparative study which investigated public attitudes to recycled water in two Australian locations both in the state of Victoria: the capital city, Melbourne, and Bendigo, an urban regional centre. Two commercial buildings were used as case studies, one at each location. These buildings will soon be using recycled water for non-potable uses. The study was facilitated by an on-line survey of future occupants of both buildings to gauge their attitudes to recycled water use. Specifically the paper reports on happiness/willingness to use recycled water for various uses and attitudinal factors which were found to influence this. The circumstances for potable water availability and recycled water use differ in Melbourne and Bendigo, making this study a significant contribution to understanding public acceptance of recycled water use in these different contexts. No significant difference in happiness to use recycled water was found between locations. However, prior experience (use) of recycled water was found to be a significant and positive factor in facilitating happiness/willingness to use recycled water, particularly for closer to personal contact uses such as showering and drinking. Various attitudinal and demographic variables were found to influence happiness to use recycled water. Results indicate it is not just the locational context of water availability that influences happiness to use recycled water, but a person's experience and particular perceptions that will facilitate greater willingness to use recycled water.
Fate and transport of faecal contamination microbial indicators, pathogenic protozoa and Campylobacter in the artificially recharged fractured aquifer of Salento, Italy
Authors: La Mantia R. , Masciopinto C. , Levantesi C. , Tandoi V.
Published: April 2008

The study investigates the fate and transport of microorganisms introduced by artificial groundwater recharge at the Nardò fractured aquifer in Salento, Italy. Microbial indicators of faecal contamination, parasitic protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and pathogenic bacteria (Campylobacter spp.), were monitored into injected water and groundwater to test the efficiency of the “natural disinfection” into the fractured aquifer. A remarkable decrease of microbial indicators and pathogens was observed suggesting that pathogens removal or inactivation may be possible during water flow in fractured aquifer. The recently described PNA probe CJE195 (Lehtola et al. 2005) was utilised for the rapid and specific detection of Campylobacter spp. by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) after enrichment. FISH results were consistent with those of traditional cultural method (ISO 17995) applied in parallel: time required for Campylobacter identification was reduced of 4 days.
Framework for assessment of performance of soil aquifer treatment systems
Authors: Sharma S. K. , Harun C. M. , Amy G.
Published: April 2008

Removal of organic matter is a critical parameter in soil aquifer treatment (SAT) as it governs and influences the removal of other contaminants by biodegradation namely trace organics, nitrogen species and microbes. A framework for analysis and prediction of the performance of SAT systems with respect to removal of organic matter under different water quality and process conditions was developed based on an extensive literature review and data analysis. Guidelines were developed to make preliminary estimates of the removal of organic matter during SAT using primary, secondary and tertiary effluents from wastewater treatment plants. These guidelines can be used as a quick tool to analyze the performance of existing SAT systems and serve as a decision support tool for feasibility studies and to save time for further detailed experimentation and design of SAT systems. Furthermore, effects of soil type and redox conditions on organic matter removal during SAT were also analyzed.
Use of nanofiltration for potable water from an aquifer recharged with wastewater
Authors: Aguilar A. , Jiménez B. , Becerril J. E. , Castro L. P.
Published: April 2008

This paper presents the comparison of nine nanofiltration membranes to treat water coming from an aquifer recharged with wastewater and used as municipal supply in the Tula Valley, Mexico. The comparison was made based on (a) the amount of water produced; (c) the capability to produce a <1 mg TOC/L effluent without entirely eliminating salts, (b) the removal of specific organic and microbiological pollutants, and (c) the reduction of toxicity and mutagenicity from water. From the tested membranes, only four produce an effluent with <1 TOC mg/L, and three totally retained dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate and hydroxytoluene butylate. Influent mutagenicity (Ames test) was negative but these was a certain degree of toxicity when Tetrahymena pyriformis was used as indicator. Toxicity was partially reduced by some of the NF membranes. The best membrane had a flux of 95 L m−2h−1 and removal efficiencies of 98% for TOC, 92% for AUV254, and 92% for TDS. The permeate had a final hardness of 76 mg/L and an alkalinity of 124 mg/L. Additionally, this membrane removed totally specific organic compounds, total and fecal coliforms and almost all the somatic coliphages.
Microbial challenge-testing of treatment processes for quantifying stormwater recycling risks and management
Authors: Davies C. M. , Petterson S. M. , Kaucner C. , Ashbolt N. J. , Mitchell V. G. , Taylor G. D. , Lewis J.
Published: April 2008

Pathogenic microorganisms have been identified as the main human health risks associated with the reuse of treated urban stormwater (runoff from paved and unpaved urban areas). As part of the Smart Water initiative (Victorian Government, Australia), a collaborative evaluation of three existing integrated stormwater recycling systems, and the risks involved in non-potable reuse of treated urban stormwater is being undertaken. Three stormwater recycling systems were selected at urban locations to provide a range of barriers including biofiltration, storage tanks, UV disinfection, a constructed wetland, and retention ponds. Recycled water from each of the systems is used for open space irrigation. In order to adequately undertake exposure assessments, it was necessary to quantify the efficacy of key barriers in each exposure pathway. Given that none of the selected treatment systems had previously been evaluated for their treatment efficiency, experimental work was carried out comprising dry and wet weather monitoring of each system (for a period of 12 months), as well as challenging the barriers with model microbes (for viruses, bacteria and parasitic protozoa) to provide input data for use in Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment.
Treatment of petroleum production wastewater for reuse in secondary oil recovery
Authors: Mijaylova Nacheva P. , Ramírez Camperos E. , Sandoval Yoval L.
Published: April 2008

Petroleum production wastewater is highly saline and contains large amounts of Ca, Mg, sulphides and hydrocarbons. The reuse of this wastewater in the secondary oil recovery can provide pollution prevention and water conservation benefits. Injection of water to the oil deposits is a frequently used method for secondary oil recovery. This operation is performed at high pressures and temperatures, because of which a suitable water quality is required to avoid deposit formation, scaling and clogging effects. The objective of this study was to select the best treatment system for the oil production wastewater, generated in one of the Mexican oil extraction facilities, for the implementation of this kind of reuse by injecting the treated water to sand formations with 12–15% porosity. A complete characterization of the petroleum production wastewater was done. Based on laboratory tests, three basic treatment options were suggested and evaluated in a pilot plant. The most suitable treatment was determined by injecting the different treated waters in samples of the real formations. The selected system consists in softening, followed by oxidation, decarbonation and filtration. This train allowed 99.8% hardness removal, a complete S2− removal, as well as 99% TSS, 78% TOC, 98% Sr, 86% Ba, 51% Si and 17% Fe removals.
The combined performance of UV light and chlorine during reclaimed water disinfection
Authors: Montemayor M. , Costan A. , Lucena F. , Jofre J. , Muñoz J. , Dalmau E. , Mujeriego R. , Sala L.
Published: April 2008

The combined effects of disinfectant agents on the microbiological quality of reclaimed water produced by two full-scale water reclamation plants in Catalonia, Spain, were examined in this work. All the disinfectant treatments tested led to the absence, or near absence, of E. coli in 100 mL samples of water, with log reductions of more than 3 log u. Hypochlorite reduced the bacterial concentrations. However, ultraviolet light was more effective than hypochlorite at reducing the concentrations of bacteriophages, viruses and pathogenic protozoa such as Cryptosporidium spp. We conclude that a combination of these two disinfectant agents is effective in protecting public health, as each agent acts to a different degree against the different groups of microorganisms studied. Further studies should investigate the combined action of disinfectant agents at water reclamation plants with ultraviolet light equipment in more favourable working conditions in order to assess their capacity to inactivate microorganisms.
Demographics and disturbance history of a boreal old‐growth Picea abies forest
Authors: Fraver Shawn , Jonsson Bengt Gunnar , Jönsson Mari , Esseen Per‐Anders
Published: April 2008

Question:

To what extent do tree growth, mortality, and long‐term disturbance patterns affect stand structure and composition of an old‐growth Picea abies forest?

Location:

Boreal Sweden.

Methods:

We linked data from three 50 m × 50 m permanent plots established in 1986 with dendrochronology data to evaluate tree growth and mortality over an 18‐year period and to describe a several‐hundred‐year disturbance history for this forest type.

Results:

Averaged over all diameters, P. abies trees had an annual mortality rate of 0.60%; however, diameter had a striking effect on both growth and mortality, with trees of intermediate diameters (ca. 20–30 cm) showing faster growth and lower mortality. Their increased vigor gave rise to a diameter distribution resembling the ‘rotated sigmoid’(not reverse‐J) proposed for such conditions, and it led to a deficit of snags of intermediate diameters. Slow‐growing trees had an increased likelihood of dying. Although recruitment occurred in most decades over the past 400 years, two prominent recruitment peaks occurred (mid 1700s and 1800s), neither of which appeared to cause a shift in tree species composition. The lack of fire evidence suggests that fire was not responsible for these recruitment peaks.

Conclusions:

Taken together, these results depict a rather impassive system, where canopy trees die slowly over decades. Field observations suggest that fungal infections, mediated by wind, account for much of the mortality during these periods of relative quiescence. However, these periods are at times punctuated by moderate‐severity disturbances that foster abundant recruitment.
An Overview and Analysis of Theories Employed in Telemedicine Studies
Authors: Johannessen L. K. , Sørensen T. , Wynn R. , Whitten P. , Gammon D.
Published: April 2008

Objectives:
This study asks: What theories are employed in telemedicine studies? How might they be categorized in ways that help distinguish the knowledge base of telemedicine?

Methods:
Theories in use were identified from a database of telemedicine-related publications between 1990 and 2005. Eighty-three (5% of 1615) articles referred to a theoretical concept. Grounded Theory procedures were used to analyze and categorize theories, while descriptive statistics were used for supplementary information.

Results:
The proportion of studies with theory was 3% in 1999 and 7% in 2005. The 83 articles were dispersed among 48 of the in total 795 different journals in the original sample. Identified theories were grouped into two main categories; ‘shared’ (used in two or more studies) and ‘lone ranger’. All of the shared theories are social science theories employed without notable adjustments to any uniquely defining features of telemedicine; diffusion, technology acceptance, health behavior, science and technology studies (STS), and economics. Theoretical concepts within the lone ranger category may well address unique features of telemedicine, but have yet to attract the attention of colleagues.

Conclusion:
The theories identified as ‘shared’ play an important role, but are inadequate in illuminating any unique features of telemedicine. The future of telemedicine as a field will need to identify its underlying theo - retical components. Frameworks employed in the field of evaluation may aid in identifying the types of theo - ries worth articulating in telemedicine.
Automatically Created Concept Graphs Using Descriptive Keywords in the Medical Domain
Authors: Diederich J. , Balke W.-T.
Published: April 2008

Objectives:
Besides keyword search, navigational search is an important means to find relevant information in digital object collections. Such navigation is often supported by categorization systems or thesauri, which provide a hierarchical view on a particular domain and allow for browsing digital collections. Existing categorization systems, however, require large and expensive efforts for the manual creation and maintenance. Our Semantic GrowBag algorithm fully automatically creates concept graphs, i.e. directed graphs similar to categorization systems but without strong subsumption semantics. This article sketches our algorithm and evaluates it for the medical domain.

Methods:
Our Semantic GrowBag algorithm uses descriptive keywords and exploits higher-order cooccurrences between them to create concept graphs (so-called GrowBag graphs) from annotated object collections. In this study, we have automatically created more than 2000 GrowBag graphs based on the Medline data set to show the applicability of our algorithm in the medical domain. For the evaluation, we first compared our algorithm to a baseline algorithm that does not take higher-order co-occurrences into account, and then compared the resulting GrowBag graphs systematically against the manually crafted MeSH thesaurus.

Results:
Our experiments revealed that the Semantic GrowBag approach essentially increases the number of relevant relationships in comparison to a baseline approach by about 50%. Furthermore, the identified relations usually correspond to and hardly ever contradict to relationships as stated by MeSH.

Conclusions:
The Semantic GrowBag algorithm allows creating concept graphs fully automatically. While it does not systematically exploit specifics of a domain (such as the fundamental separation between ‘drugs’ and ‘therapy’ in MeSH), the resulting GrowBag graphs are nevertheless well-suited to support navigation in digital object collections. Moreover, they can also be used to help maintaining existing categorization systems based on the actual usage of categories.
Pervasive Healthcare as a Scientific Discipline
Authors: Bardram J. E.
Published: April 2008

Objective:
The OECD countries are facing a set of core challenges; an increasing elderly population; increasing number of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases; expanding scope of what medicine can do; and increasing lack of medical professionals. Pervasive healthcare asks how pervasive computing technology can be designed to meet these challenges. The objective of this paper is to discuss ‘pervasive healthcare’ as a research field and tries to establish how novel and distinct it is, compared to related work within biomedical engineering, medical informatics, and ubiquitous computing.

Methods:
The paper presents the research questions, approach, technologies, and methods of pervasive healthcare and discusses these in comparison to those of other related scientific disciplines.

Results:
A set of central research themes are presented; monitoring and body sensor networks; pervasive assistive technologies; pervasive computing for hospitals; and preventive and persuasive technologies. Two projects illustrate the kind of research being done in pervasive healthcare. The first project is targeted at home-based monitoring of hypertension; the second project is designing context-aware technologies for hospitals. Both projects approach the healthcare challenges in a new way, apply a new type of research method, and come up with new kinds of technological solutions. ‘Clinical proof-of-concept’ is recommended as a new method for pervasive healthcare research; the method helps design and test pervasive healthcare technologies, and in ascertaining their clinical potential before large-scale clinical tests are needed.

Conclusion:
The paper concludes that pervasive healthcare as a research field and agenda is novel; it is addressing new emerging research questions, represents a novel approach, designs new types of technologies, and applies a new kind of research method.
Electrode Position Optimization for Facial EMG Measurements for Human-computer Interface
Authors: Hannula M. , Narra N. , Hyttinen J. , Nöjd N.
Published: April 2008

Objectives:
The aim of this work was to model facial electromyography (fEMG) to find optimal electrode positions for wearable wireless human-computer interface. The measurement system is a head cap developed in our institute and with it we can measure fEMG and electro-oculogram (EOG). The signals could be used to control the computer interface: gaze directions move the cursor and muscle activations correspond to clicking.

Methods:
A very accurate 3D model of the human head was developed and it was used in the modeling of fEMG. The optimal positions of four electrodes on the forehead measuring the activations of frontalis and corrugator muscles were defined. Calculations were based on reciprocity theorem and lead field concept.

Results:
A new accurate model is now in our use for modeling purposes. It has high spatial accuracy and number of inhomogeneities providing a good platform for various simulations. The best measurement sensitivity is achieved by placing the electrodes parallel to the muscle cells. Anyway, better separating capability for frontalis and corrugator activation is achieved by placing the electrodes more orthogonally.

Conclusions:
The developed model and the tools utilized are powerful methods to optimize the electrode positions of a wearable gaze and EMG-based user interface system. The modeling results provide direct feedback for developing next generation wearable head cap with optimized electrode locations.