bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase I Study of ON 01910.Na, a Novel Modulator of the Polo-Like Kinase 1 Pathway, in Adult Patients With Solid Tumors
Authors: Jimeno Antonio , Li Jing , Messersmith Wells A. , Laheru Daniel , Rudek Michelle A. , Maniar Manoj , Hidalgo Manuel , Baker Sharyn D. , Donehower Ross C.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

We conducted a first-in-man (to our knowledge) phase I study to determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), characterize the pharmacokinetic profile, and document any antitumor activity of ON 01910.Na, a new chemical entity that arrests cancer cells in G2/M by modulating mitotic regulatory pathways including polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1).

Patients and Methods

Patients had solid tumors refractory to standard therapy. ON 01910.Na was administered as a 2-hour infusion on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, and 18 in 28-day cycles. The starting dose was 80 mg, and an accelerated titration schedule (single-patient cohorts) was used for escalation. Pharmacokinetics were studied on days 1 and 15 of cycle 1.

Results

Twenty patients (11 women and nine men; age 46 to 73 years) were enrolled onto the study. Dose levels of 80, 160, 320, 480, 800, 1,280, 2,080, and 3,120 mg were evaluated in single-patient cohorts. A DLT and additional grade 2 toxicities made the 4,370-mg dose (n = 6) not tolerable, and the next lower dose cohort (3,120 mg) was expanded to six assessable patients. Toxicities were skeletal, abdominal, and tumor pain; nausea; urge to defecate; and fatigue. Hematologic toxicity was infrequent and mild. ON 01910.Na pharmacokinetics were characterized by a rapid distribution phase (distribution half-life, 1 hour) and a relatively slow elimination phase (elimination half-life, 27 hours). A refractory ovarian cancer patient had an objective response after four cycles and remained progression free for 24 months.

Conclusion

ON 01910.Na showed a distinct but moderate toxicity pattern. The recommended phase II dose of ON 01910.Na with this schedule of administration is 3,120 mg. Single-agent activity was documented in an ovarian cancer patient.
Phase I/II Trial of Erlotinib and Temozolomide With Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme: North Central Cancer Treatment Group Study N0177
Authors: Brown Paul D. , Krishnan Sunil , Sarkaria Jann N. , Wu Wenting , Jaeckle Kurt A. , Uhm Joon H. , Geoffroy Francois J. , Arusell Robert , Kitange Gaspar , Jenkins Robert B. , Kugler John W. , Morton Roscoe F. , Rowland Kendrith M. , Mischel Paul , Yong William H. , Scheithauer Bernd W. , Schiff David , Giannini Caterina , Buckner Jan C.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common occurrence and is associated with treatment resistance. Erlotinib, a selective EGFR inhibitor, was combined with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) in a phase I/II trial.

Patients and Methods

Adults not taking enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants after resection or biopsy of GBM were treated with erlotinib (150 mg daily) until progression. Erlotinib was delivered alone for 1 week, then concurrently with TMZ (75 mg mg/m2 daily) and RT (60 Gy), and finally, concurrently with up to six cycles of adjuvant TMZ (200 mg/m2 daily for 5 days every 28 days). The primary end point was survival at 1 year.

Results

Ninety-seven eligible patients were accrued with a median follow-up time of 22.2 months. By definition, the primary end point was successfully met with a median survival time of 15.3 months. However, there was no sign of benefit in overall survival when comparing N0177 with the RT/TMZ arm of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/National Cancer Institute of Canada trial 26981/22981 (recursive partitioning analysis [RPA] class III, 19 v 21 months; RPA class IV, 16 v 16 months; RPA class V, 8 v 10 months, respectively). Presence of diarrhea, rash, and EGFRvIII, p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), combination EGFR and PTEN, and EGFR amplification status were not predictive (P > .05) of survival.

Conclusion

Although the primary end point was successfully met using nitrosourea-based (pre-TMZ) chemotherapy era historic controls, there was no sign of benefit compared with TMZ era controls. Analyses of molecular subsets did not reveal cohorts of patients sensitive to erlotinib. TMZ chemotherapy combined with RT resulted in improved outcomes compared with historical controls who received nitrosourea-based chemotherapies.
A study of the relationship between job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intention among hospital employees
Authors: Mosadeghrad Ali Mohammad , Ferlie Ewan , Rosenberg Duska
Published: October 2008

The purpose of this descriptive, co-relational and cross-sectional study was to gain a better understanding of the relationships between job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees, and their impact on turnover intention at Isfahan Hospitals, Isfahan, Iran, in 2005. Data were collected by the distribution of two questionnaires among 629 employees of these hospitals through a stratified random sampling method. The results of the paper indicate that hospital employees are moderately satisfied with their jobs and committed to their organization. Employees' job satisfaction and organizational commitment were closely inter-related and correlated with turnover intention ( P < 0.001). The positive correlation between the two was expected, but there was also unexpected correlation with turnover intention. This may be due to external factors, such as job market conditions, which may influence perceived opportunities for career advancement elsewhere. The impact of such external factors is outside the scope of this study, but will have to be investigated in further research. As job satisfaction and organizational commitment have strong correlation with turnover, it is very important to reinforce them by applying the right human resource policies.
The relationship of health-care managers' spirituality to their self-perceived leadership practices
Authors: Strack James Gary , Fottler Myron D , Kilpatrick Ann Osbourne
Published: October 2008

This exploratory survey examines the relationship between selected dimensions of spirituality and self-perceived effective leadership practices of health-care managers. Kouzes and Posner's Leadership Practices Inventory and Beazley's Spiritual Assessment Scale were administered to a sample of health-care managers. Significant statistical relationships were found between and among the dimensions of both subscales. Analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference in three effective leadership practices by ‘more spiritual than non-spiritual’ managers. The confirmatory factor analysis of our theory-based model revealed a moderately positive correlation between spirituality and leadership ( r = 0.50). The paper concludes with a conceptual theory postulating a rationale for the relationship between spirituality and effective leadership.
Lights and shades in the managerialization of the Italian National Health Service
Authors: Lega Federico
Published: October 2008

After fifteen years from the first of a series of reforms that introduced managerial paradigms and techniques into the Italian National Health System (INHS), it is possible to provide a critical assessment of the outcomes of such changes.

The aim of this paper is to assess how these reforms have changed the INHS, to what extent they concurred to improve the system, where they failed and which issues are still in agenda. To do so we run through the recent history of the INHS and propose an interpretative framework to understand the grounds for its light and shade results.

The basis for the analysis is triple. The study draws from researches, literature review, action-researches and field investigations conducted over the last 10 years in the INHS.
Influences on the career commitment of health-care managers
Authors: Myrtle Robert C , Chen Duan-Rung , Liu Caroline , Fahey Daniel
Published: October 2008

The health-care field is undergoing rapid and significant transformation. This transformation has led to the breakdown of traditional career paths for managers in the patient care segment of the industry. To our knowledge, there has not been a systematic examination of how these changes have impacted on the career commitment of managers in this segment of the industry. Building on previous research, we examine the effects of employment-related conditions and career experiences on the career commitment of these managers while controlling for the influence of individual characteristics. Specifically we assess the relationship between employment-related conditions, such as job security, position tenure, industry segment, management level and the extent to which their current position meets their career expectations, and their career experiences, including moving from a non-health-care management position, moving from a different health-care sector, their career stage, career patterns and their satisfaction with their career progression. We found that measures associated with the different employment-related experiences had a more significant influence on career commitment than those measures associated with different career experiences.
Standardized care processes to improve quality and safety of patient care in a large academic practice: the Plummer Project of the Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Authors: Wood Douglas L , Brennan Michael D , Chaudhry Rajeev , Chihak Anthony A , Feyereisn Wayne L , Woychick Naomi L , Hagen Philip T , Curtright Jonathan W , Naessens James M , Spurrier Barbara R , LaRusso Nicholas F
Published: October 2008

There are opportunities to improve quality and safety of care provided to adult patients. The Plummer Project of the Department of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) is an initiative to redesign outpatient practice. We used multidisciplinary teams to standardize the tasks essential to improve patient care. With the initiative to standardize the rooming process, patient care and safety improved with greater accuracy of the medication list. The standardization also improved physician efficiency because trained clinical assistants helped address the needs of the patient. Physicians were satisfied by the new process and the technology enhancements. Clinical assistants were also highly satisfied by the training process. The quality and safety of patient care can be significantly improved by practice redesign. This practice redesign was satisfying for all, especially the patients, physicians and support team in our practice.
Claudin-1, −2, −3, −4, −5, and −7 in Usual Interstitial Pneumonia and Sarcoidosis
Authors: Kaarteenaho-Wiik Riitta , Soini Ylermi
Published: October 2008

The aim of this study was to study the expression of various claudins in sarcoidosis, usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and normal human lung. The expression and cell-specific localization of claudin-1, −2, −3, −4, −5, and −7 was analyzed by IHC. Bronchiolar epithelial cells showed mostly strong expression for claudin-1, −2, −3, −4, and −7 and mainly weak expression for claudin-5 in UIP, sarcoidosis, and normal lung. Three claudins, claudin-3, −4, and −7, were expressed in normal alveolar epithelium, mainly in type II pneumocytes. Claudin-5 was expressed strongly in endothelium of normal lung, and its staining was extremely intense in endothelium of UIP. Moderate or strong expression for claudin-1, −2, −3, −4, and −7 was observed in metaplastic alveolar- and bronchiolar-type epithelium in UIP and also in metaplastic alveolar-type epithelium in sarcoidosis. Expression of claudin-5 was mainly weak in metaplastic alveolar- and bronchiolar-type epithelium in UIP. We conclude that claudin-1, −2, −3, −4, −5, and −7 are expressed in UIP and sarcoidosis, and furthermore, the most prominent enhancement of staining is localized in metaplastic alveolar- and bronchiolar-type epithelium in UIP compared with the healthy lung.
Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Levels in the Extracellular Matrix of Lung, Kidney, and Eye Increase With Age
Authors: Macgregor Anne M. , Eberhart Charles G. , Fraig Mostafa , Lu Jie , Halushka Marc K.
Published: October 2008

Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) is an important regulator of matrix metalloproteinase activity in many types of disease, including atherosclerosis, neoplasia, and inflammatory conditions. Among TIMPs, TIMP-3 uniquely binds the extracellular matrix (ECM). We performed IHC staining on 17 tissue microarrays containing >1500 samples to determine the location of ECM TIMP-3 staining in a variety of predominantly vascular tissues. We found a unique pattern of TIMP-3 staining in the ECM of renal arterioles, small pulmonary vessels and parenchyma, and Bruch's membrane in the retina. There was no staining in larger caliber arteries including coronary and internal mammary arteries. TIMP-3 protein accumulation was found to be an age-dependent phenomenon, with staining appearing in all three tissues in early adulthood and becoming more robust among the elderly. These findings may help to explain the late onset of the TIMP-3-associated ocular diseases Sorsby fundus dystrophy and age-related macular degeneration and suggest a similar phenomenon could be at work in other age-related conditions.
Technology and the servicelisation of labour: from immateriality to innovative uncertainty
Authors: de Almeida Paulo Pereira
Published: October 2008

This article discusses the concepts of servicelisation of labour and innovation in complex organisational contexts. We consider that, at the present stage of societal development, the expansion of services itself represents the course from one industrial model to another, i.e. to a
set of ways or methods of producing that are different. It is thus possible to speak of a configuration of users. In a service economy, the service products are global and are not generally decomposable, so that it is the customer/user who assesses the satisfaction involved in consuming them,
even being able to intervene in their production. Besides, technology and immateriality are now fundamental to the service logic. This article also proposes some alternative ways for analysing the organisational structures dealing with such new phenomena.
The first portuguese Art Agency: a case study
Authors: Cameira Emanuel
Published: October 2008

At a time when new places for art are emerging, the search for a critical reflection on agents and dealership processes is extremely relevant, in an attempt to attain something new that is sociologically significant and also able, perhaps, to contribute to an understanding of certain
features of the present context of the Portuguese contemporary art space. The general questions at the base of this article are as follows: appearing in December 2003, what did the Vera CortsArt Agency model bring to the space of contemporary art? How is it to be understood within that same
panorama? An art agency not taken in a merely descriptive sense but as an immersion zone, in an attempt to unveil a nexus of reciprocal interactions, i.e. by creating a dialogue between the configuration of the artistic field and the singularity of the case-study and then seeing how they question
each other, and how both question the paradigms and the sociological corpus relating to art.
Intra-testicular injection of adenoviral constructs results in Sertoli cell-specific gene expression and disruption of the seminiferous epithelium
Authors: Hooley R P , Paterson M , Brown P , Kerr K , Saunders P T K
Published: October 2008

Spermatogenesis is a complex process that cannot be modelledin vitro. The somatic Sertoli cells (SCs) within the seminiferous tubules perform a key role in supporting maturation of germ cells (GCs). Progress has been made in determining what aspects of SC function are critical to maintenance of fertility by developing rodent models based on the Cre/LoxP system; however, this is time-consuming and is only applicable to mice. The aim of the present study was to establish methods for direct injection of adenoviral vectors containing shRNA constructs into the testis as a way of inducing target-selective knock-downin vivo. We describe here a series of experiments using adenovirus expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene. Injection via the efferent ductules resulted in SC-specific expression of GFP; expression levels paralleled the amount of infective viral particles injected. At the highest doses of virus seminiferous tubule architecture were grossly disturbed and immune cell invasion noted. At lower concentrations, the expression of GFP was variable/negligible, the seminiferous tubule lumen was maintained but stage-dependent GC loss and development of numerous basal vacuoles was observed. These resembled intercellular dilations of SC junctional complexes previously described in rats and may be a consequence of disturbances in SC function due to interaction of the viral particles with the coxsackie/adenovirus receptor that is a component of the junctional complexes within the blood testis barrier. In conclusion, intra-testicular injection of adenoviral vectors disturbs SC functionin vivoand future work will therefore focus on the use of lentiviral delivery systems.
On Fitting a Model to a Population Time Series With Missing Values
Authors: Barnea Oren , Solow Andrew R. , Stone Lewi
Published: October 2008

Existing methods for fitting a population model to time series data typically assume that the time series is complete. When there are missing values, it is common practice to substitute interpolated values. When the proportion of values that are missing is large, this can lead to bias in model-fitting. Here, we describe a maximum likelihood approach that allows explicitly for missing values. The approach is applied to a long weekly time series of the dinoflagellate Peridinium gatunense in Lake Kinneret, Israel, in which around 35% of the values are missing.
Household characteristics associated with home water treatment: an analysis of the Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Wright Jim , Gundry Stephen W.
Published: October 2008

Objectives: The objective of this study is to understand the characteristics of households who treat their water in the home. In promoting home water treatment, there may be valuable lessons to be learnt from countries with many home water treatment users.

Methods: Responses to the new Demographic and Health Survey question on water treatment were analysed for 21,972 Egyptian households interviewed during 2005. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between home water treatment and household characteristics.

Results: 5.9% (CI 5.2–6.7%) of households used home water treatment, mostly either home filtration or letting water stand to settle. Filtration use was significantly related to educational attainment and wealth, whilst letting water stand to settle was related to use of stoneware water vessels, groundwater sources, and water supply disruptions.

Discussion: The Egyptian data suggest that 4.5 million people use home water treatment and confirm some water handling behaviours reported elsewhere. Because of limited detail in the DHS data about the technologies used and their effectiveness, it is unclear whether this behaviour reduces waterborne disease. Further research should consider how such data can be augmented with additional information to address this question.
A study of ecological sanitation as an integrated urban water supply system: case study of sustainable strategy for Kuching City, Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Seng Darrien Mah Yau , Putuhena Frederik Josep , Said Salim , Ling Law Puong
Published: October 2008

A city consumes a large amount of water. Urban planning and development are becoming more compelling due to the fact of growing competition for water, which has lead to an increasing and conflicting demand. As such, investments in water supply, sanitation and water resources management is a strong potential for a solid return. A pilot project of greywater ecological treatment has been established in Kuching city since 2003. Such a treatment facility opens up an opportunity of wastewater reclamation for reuse as secondary sources of water for non-consumptive purposes. This paper aims to explore the potential of the intended purposes in the newly developed ecological treatment project. By utilizing the Wallingford Software model, InfoWorks WS (Water Supply) is employed to carry out a hydraulic modeling of a hypothetical greywater recycling system as an integrated part of the Kuching urban water supply, where the greywater is treated, recycled and reused in the domestic environment. The modeling efforts have shown water savings of about 40% from the investigated system reinstating that the system presents an alternative water source worth exploring in an urban environment.
Application of Helminth ova infection dose curve to estimate the risks associated with biosolid application on soil
Authors: Navarro I. , Jiménez B. , Lucario S. , Cifuentes E.
Published: October 2008

Helminth ova (HO) are the main biological concern when reusing sludge for agricultural production. Worldwide sludge regulations consider a permissible range of 0.25–1 HO/gTS. Such limits are unaffordable to most developing countries, due to high helminth ova content in sludge, and the lack of viable technology to inactivate them as needed. The quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a useful tool to estimate the risk of treated sludge, considering feasible and viable limits. QMRA, however, has not been applied before for HO because no dose-infection curve was available. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are: to build up a risk-based model designed for untreated wastewater exposure (i.e., land irrigation) using Ascaris lumbricoides eggs as indicators for HO, and apply the results to assess health risk (i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides infection) associated with consumption of crops grown on biosolid-enriched soil. Data showed that it may be feasible to update HO threshold in biosolids from developing countries without significantly increasing risks. To reduce health risk from HO, it may be wiser to achieve feasible and evidence-based standards, than to set unaffordable limits in these countries. QMRA data suggested additional protection measures, such as biosolid application rates, crop restriction, and produce better washing practices.
Use of faecal pollution indicators to estimate pathogen die off conditions in source separated faeces in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Sherpa Anjali Manandhar , Byamukama Denis , Shrestha Roshan R. , Haberl Raimund , Mach Robert L. , Farnleitner Andreas H.
Published: October 2008

As the introduction and promotion of dehydrating toilets progresses, the safety of handling and reuse of their biosolids remains a question. A detailed study to understand the storage conditions and the fate of selected faecal indicators was conducted on four urine diverting dehydrating toilet units, using ash as a major additive, in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Presumptive Escherichia coli, total coliforms, enterococci and different fractions of Clostridium perfringens were investigated under field storage conditions. In addition, chemo-physical and chemical (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous content) parameters were investigated. Observed temperature was low in all the four toilets with a median of 24.0°C, which was in the same range as the ambient temperature. pH was below the desired range of >9 and moisture level was very high (>60%). No single factor of the studied chemo-physical and chemical parameters could be found by statistical analysis to have accounted for the reduction of the indicators in any of the toilets. By time series analysis of the investigated strata in the faecal heaps (n=96), the determined reduction rate showed increasing persistence characteristics for E. coli, coliforms and enterococci with respective average log10 reduction of −0.4, −0.3 and −0.2 per month (p<0.001). No significant reduction was observed for the different fractions of C. perfringens determined for the non-pasteurised and pasteurised fraction at 60°C and 85°C. 72% of randomly selected and analysed samples (n=36) were found to contain helminthes eggs. The used 6 months storage time did not prove sufficient to reach appropriate safety levels for handling and reuse of the biosolids.
Behaviors of physiologically active bacteria in water environment and chlorine disinfection
Authors: Sawaya K. , Kaneko N. , Fukushi K. , Yaguchi J.
Published: October 2008

Direct microscopic methods using several fluorescent staining were applied to estimate the proportion of physiologically active bacteria in the water environment and evaluate the efficacy of disinfection with chlorine. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) was used to determine total bacterial numbers, and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) was chosen for direct detection of respiring bacteria. BacLightTM kit was used to assess bacterial membrane integrity. Bacteria with growth potential were enumerated using the DVC method and microcolony technique. The total bacterial number in river was 8 × 106∼3 × 1010 cells/mL, and colony forming units on R2A medium were 1 × 104∼4 × 105 cfu/mL. In the case of wastewater treatment plant, 1 ∼ 10% of total bacterial cells could form colonies. Physiologically active bacteria in river and wastewater treatment plant determined by fluorescent staining were much higher than those obtained by plate counting. The effect of chlorine on the physiological viability of Escherichia coli was also investigated. Microscopic viable bacteria were even more chlorine resistant than culturable bacteria. The inactivation rate coefficients of direct viable bacteria were one-second to third those of culturable bacteria.
Color and organic compounds removal from secondary effluent of landfill leachate with a novel inorganic polymer coagulant
Authors: Sang Y. M. , Gu Q. B. , Sun T. C. , Li F. S.
Published: October 2008

Emerging contaminants in landfill leachate are causing environmental concerns due to their adverse impacts on the aquatic environment. The most popular biological process is mostly the first stage in combination with additional physical-chemical process. Current post-treatments are limited by high operating costs, low treatment efficiencies, or sensitive operating conditions. Poly-aluminium(III)-magnesium(II)-sulfate (PMAS in brief) is used to remove color and organic compounds in secondary effluent of landfill leachate. More than 40 kinds of organic matters in the secondary effluent are identified and 10 of them belong to the Black List of environmental preferred controlled pollutants considered by EPA of USA or China. Removals of COD, BOD5, UV254 and color by coagulation with PAMS can reach above 60%, 55%, 85% and 85% respectively under the optimum conditions. The species of alkyl, alkene, acyclic alcohol and acyclic acyl amine are efficiently removed (about 85%), with some of them removed completely, while the species of acid, ester and ketone are mostly removed (about 65%) and such matters with benzene ring as aromatic hydrocarbon, hydroxybenzene, aromatic alcohol, aromatic acyl amine are partially removed (about 50%). Organic pollutants in the secondary effluent are greatly removed with high efficiency here, which greatly weakens its pollution extent.
Use of microaerobic conditions for the improvement of anaerobic digestion of solid wastes
Authors: Jenicek P. , Keclik F. , Maca J. , Bindzar J.
Published: October 2008

The treatment of solid wastes containing slowly biodegradable compounds or high level of sulphur compounds was carried out. In both cases the application of microaerobic conditions (that means controlled dosing of small amount of air or oxygen into digester) was an efficient tool to increase the biodegradability of treated material and/or to increase the activity of methanogenic bacteria by removal of their inhibitor.
Methanogens in biogas production from renewable resources – a novel molecular population analysis approach
Authors: Bauer C. , Korthals M. , Gronauer A. , Lebuhn M.
Published: October 2008

The population structure of thermo- and mesophilic biogas reactors digesting maize silage as the sole substrate was investigated employing a novel, highly degenerated PCR-primer pair targeting mcrA/mrtA coding for the key enzyme of methanogens. No sequence affiliating with Methanococcales, Methanopyrales, ANME-, rice or fen soil clusters was detected. Direct MeA PCR-cloning results indicated that Methanobacteriales were the most important methanogens in the thermophilic reactors. 57% and 80% of the analysed sequences affiliated with this order, 14% and 20% with Methanosarcinaceae and 0% and 29% with Methanomicrobiales. Methanomicrobiales dominated in the mesophilic reactors at the given conditions, 69% and 84% of the sequences recovered from direct MeA primed cloning affiliated with this order, 31% and 0% with Methanosarcinaceae and 0% and 16% with Methanobacteriales. No sequence affiliating with Methanosaetaceae was found. MeA primed PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism indicated that population fluctuations occurred. According to sequence analysis of excised bands, Methanosarcinaceae dominated and Methanobacteriales were significantly represented in the thermophilic fermenter. Only 1 Methanosaetaceae sequence was found. Hydrogenotrophs appear to have a much higher and obligate acetoclastic methanogens a much lower importance than previously thought in biogas production from renewable resources.
Rheology as a tool for measurement of sludge shear
Authors: Örmeci Banu
Published: October 2008

Shear intensity, shear time, and polymer dose are the main parameters that determine the dewaterability of wastewater sludge. Polymer dose required to condition the sludge increases with the increase of shear intensity (G) and shear time (t). Therefore, in order to minimize the polymer demand during conditioning and dewatering, shear should be optimized. Optimization of shear can be achieved if the total shear that the sludge network is exposed to during conditioning and dewatering can be measured and quantified. This is quite a challenge since total shear includes unintended shear introduced during piping and pumping, and currently there is no direct or indirect technique that can measure this unintended shear. Unintended shear increases the polymer demand and shifts the optimum polymer dose to a higher dose, which in turn decreases the cake solids concentration and the efficiency of the dewatering process. Thus, quantification of the unintended shear and adjustment of the polymer dose accordingly are essential for the optimization of dewatering processes. The main objective of this study was to develop a method for sludge shear measurement based on the rheological characteristics of sludge and illustrate its possible applications at treatment plants. The results of this study indicate that the rheological characteristics of sludge can be used to estimate an unknown amount of shear that sludge network is exposed to, and to match the jar-test mixing conditions to that of the full-scale mixers employed at treatment plants.
Prediction of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge
Authors: Phothilangka P. , Schoen M. A. , Huber M. , Luchetta P. , Winkler T. , Wett B.
Published: October 2008

Thermal hydrolysis is known for an efficient sludge disintegration capability to enhance biogas potential—but to which extent? Obviously, residual VSS concentration in digested sludge gives not sufficient information to predict additional biogas potential. In this paper, different types of waste activated sludge (WAS) were pre-hydrolysed by a full-scale Thermo-Pressure-Hydrolysis Process (Thermo-Druck-Hydrolyse, TDH) and break-down mechanisms on specific organic compounds were investigated. The IWA Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) has been used for a systematic analysis of monitoring data gained from experimental work. The TDH process combined with anaerobic digestion can be well described by a modified ADM1 model that includes an XP-fraction (inactivated aerobic biomass and their decay products). More rapid and more complete degradation of TDH-treated sludge is represented by calibrated disintegration rate and disintegration factors, while biokinetic parameters of acetogenesis and methanogenesis show no sensitivity. TDH process impacts mainly biomass and decay products while inerts Xi already contained in the raw wastewater are hardly converted. Final concentration of soluble inerts in digestion effluent has been increased from 2% to 9% of influent COD due to thermal hydrolysis. An increase in biogas generation (ca. +80%) and in ammonia release (ca. +75%) can be explained by complete degradation of cell mass.
Phosphate removal and sulfate reduction in a denitrification reactor packed with iron and wood as electron donors
Authors: Yamashita Takahiro , Yamamoto-Ikemoto Ryoko
Published: October 2008

Phosphorus removal and denitrification using iron and wood as electron donors were examined in a laboratory-scale biological filter reactor. Phosphorus removal and denitrification using iron and wood continued for 1,200 days of operation. Wood degradation by heterotrophic denitrification and iron oxidation by hydrogenotrophic denitrification occurred simultaneously. In the biofilm inside the wood, not only heterotrophic denitrification activity but also sulfate reduction and sulfur denitrification activities were recognized inside the wood, indicating that a sulfur oxidation-reduction cycle was established. Sulfate reduction and denitrification were accelerated with the addition of cellulose. Microbial communities of sulfate-reducing bacteria by PCR primer sets could be amplified in the biofilm in the reactors. The dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene and the 16S rRNA gene of six phylogenetic groups of SRB in the reactors were analyzed. Some SRB group-specific primers-amplification products were obtained inside the wood and around iron.
Development of a groundwater biobarrier for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, BTEX, and heterocyclic hydrocarbons
Authors: Tiehm A. , Müller A. , Alt S. , Jacob H. , Schad H. , Weingran C.
Published: October 2008

A full scale funnel-and-gate biobarrier has been developed for the removal of tar oil pollutants at an abandoned tar factory site near the city of Offenbach, Germany. Laboratory and on-site column studies were done to determine the operation parameters for microbiological clean-up of the groundwater polluted with 12,000 μg/L mono- aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and the xylenes, 4,800 μg/L polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene and acenaphthene, and 4,700 μg/L heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzofuran and benzothiophene. In the laboratory study, a residence time of approx. 70 h proved to be sufficient for aerobic pollutant biodegradation. Up to 180 mg/L H2O2 were added and did not lead to any toxic effects to the degrading bacteria. The feasibility of the concept was confirmed in an on-site pilot study performed with a sedimentation tank (removal of ferric iron) and two bioreactors. In the bioreactors, >99.3% of the pollutants were degraded. Biodegradation activity corresponded to a significant increase in numbers of pollutant degrading bacteria. In the bioreactors, a fast dissociation of H2O2 was observed resulting in losses of oxygen and temporary gas clogging. Therefore, a repeated addition of moderate concentrations of H2O2 proved to be more favourable than the addition of high concentrations at a single dosing port. The full scale biobarrier consists of three separated bioreactors thus enabling extended control and access to the reactors. The operation of the funnel-and-gate biobarrier started in April 2007, and represents the first biological permeable reactive barrier with extended control (EC-PRB) in Germany.
Paying for Shelf Space: An Investigation of Merchandising Allowances in the Grocery Industry
Authors: Rennhoff Adam
Published: October 2008

Merchandising allowances are fees paid by manufacturers to retailers in order to encourage the allocation of in-store promotional activities to the manufacturers' brand. I use a three-stage game framework to formulate a vertical structural model, which endogenizes manufacturer, retailer, and consumer decisions in the presence of merchandising allowances. The model allows for non-linear vertical pricing contracts using merchandising allowances paid to retailers. This differs from previous work which has focused on franchise fees paid to manufacturers. The model is estimated using store-level weekly data from the ketchup industry. In addition to estimates of consumer taste parameters, the model also yields predictions of wholesale prices and the size (dollar value) of the merchandising allowances. Counterfactual simulations reveal that merchandising allowances lead to an increase in retail profits, a decline in manufacturer profits, a decline in consumer surplus, and reduction in total welfare.
A Representation Index: Measuring the Representation of Minorities in the Income Distribution
Authors: Pendakur Krishna , Pendakur Ravi , Woodcock Simon D.
Published: October 2008

The existence of glass ceilings and sticky floors suggests that disadvantaged workers will be under-represented in some parts of the income distribution, and over-represented in others. We present a representation index that measures the prevalence of population subgroups in different regions of the income (or any other) distribution. Our representation index is easily generalized to condition on characteristics (such as age, education, etc). Further, it generalizes naturally to an index of the severity (or cost) of under-representation to group members, which is based on dollar-weighted representation. Both representation and severity indices are easily calculated via existing regression techniques. We illustrate the approach using Canadian Census data on the earnings of ethnic minorities.
Characteristics of Securitizations that Determine Issuers’ Retention of the Risks of the Securitized Assets
Authors: Chen Weitzu , Liu Chi-Chun , Ryan Stephen G.
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT: We hypothesize and provide evidence that characteristics of banks’ loan securitizations accounted for as sales determine the extent to which banks retain the risks of the securitized loans. We show that banks retain more risk when: (1) the types of loans have higher and/or less externally verifiable credit risk, (2) the loans are closed-ended and banks retain larger contractual interests in the loans, and (3) the loans are closed-ended and banks retain types of contractual interests that more strongly concentrate the risk of the securitized loans. We show that the magnitude and type of retained contractual interests are not risk-relevant in revolving loan securitizations, because banks have more incentive and ability to provide implicit recourse, a non-contractual interest.
The Effects of Employee Stock Options on Credit Ratings
Authors: Lee Yen-Jung
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT: This paper examines whether outstanding employee stock options (ESOs), which represent the firm’s contractual obligation to deliver shares upon ESO exercise, affect firms’ credit ratings. I hypothesize that outstanding ESOs play two information roles—(1) suggesting equity infusion, and (2) predicting share repurchases—that help credit-rating agencies evaluate the issuing company’s debt service ability. Consistent with these hypothesized roles, results indicate that the present values of expected cash proceeds and tax benefits from ESO exercise have favorable effects on credit ratings. In contrast, the present value of the expected cost of ESO-related share repurchases has an unfavorable effect on credit ratings and this unfavorable effect is more pronounced for firms with a greater tendency to repurchase shares. The after-tax fair value of outstanding ESOs, which summarizes the effects of the above three ESO-related cash flows, is negatively associated with credit ratings. Taken together, these findings are consistent with credit-rating agencies incorporating the information conveyed by outstanding ESOs regarding potential equity infusion and ESO-related repurchases in their credit risk assessments and assigning lower credit ratings to firms with greater values of outstanding ESOs.
Litigation Risk, Audit Quality, and Audit Fees: Evidence from Initial Public Offerings
Authors: Venkataraman Ramgopal , Weber Joseph P. , Willenborg Michael
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT: We use the IPO setting to examine the relation between auditor exposure to legal liability and audit quality and audit fees. With regard to audit quality, we report robust evidence that pre-IPO audited accruals are negative and less than post-IPO audited accruals. In contrast to extant literature, our findings provide scant support for the inference that auditors acquiesce to opportunistic earnings management by issuers in an attempt to increase the offering price. With regard to audit fees, we find auditors earn higher fees for IPO engagements than post-IPO engagements. While inherent differences in auditor responsibilities between IPO audits and post-IPO audits should lead to higher fees for IPOs, a substantial portion of IPO audit fees (in levels and changes) is associated with our proxy for the auditor’s 1933 Act exposure. Overall, our results suggest that both audit quality and audit fees are higher in a higher-litigation regime, consistent with the effects an increase in litigation exposure should have on auditor incentives.
Caligus tenuifurcatus Wilson, 1937 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida), a parasite of centropomid and lutjanid teleosts from a coastal system of the Mexican Pacific
Authors: Suárez-Morales Eduardo , Ho Ju-shey , Santana-Piñeros Ana
Published: October 2008

Specimens of the parasitic siphonostomatoid copepod Caligus tenuifurcatus Wilson, 1937 were collected from the oral cavity of the yellowfin snook, Centropomus robalito Jordan et Gilbert; the white snook, C. viridis Lockington (Perciformes, Centropomidae), and the yellow snapper, Lutjanus argentiventris (Peters) (Perciformes, Lutjanidae), from a Pacific coastal system of Mexico. Infection was most intense on C. viridis. Caligus tenuifurcatus can be distinguished from its closest congener, C. bonito Wilson, by the body proportions and the basal ornamentation of the medial setae of the second exopodal segment of leg 1. Taxonomic illustrations are provided of both female and male. This is the third record of C. tenuifurcatus; hitherto, it was known only as a parasite of the roosterfish Nematistius pectoralis Gill (Perciformes, Nematistiidae) from Panama and the Gulf of California. Hence, the finding of C. tenuifurcatus as a parasite of two species of centropomids and one species of lutjanid represents a significant expansion of the known host range of this copepod in the eastern tropical Pacific.
Myxobolus species infecting the cartilaginous rays of the gill filaments in cyprinid fishes
Authors: Molnár Kálmán , Cech Gábor , Székely Csaba
Published: October 2008

During a survey on myxosporean parasites of cyprinid fishes in Hungary, Myxobolus infections were found in the cartilaginous rays of the gill filaments in roach (Rutilus rutilus) and bleak (Alburnus alburnus). Myxobolus spp. causing the infections were studied by morphological, histological and molecular methods. Small plasmodia surrounded by chondrocytes contained relatively few spores which differed from each other and from the known Myxobolus spp. both in their morphology and 18S rDNA sequences. Both species, described as M. feisti sp. nov. and M. susanlimae sp. nov., are characterised by a specific cartilaginous histotropism.
Redescription of Bacciger microacetabularis (Martorelli et Suriano, 1983) nov. comb. parasitizing Paralichthys orbignyanus (Pisces, Paralichthyidae) from Argentina
Authors: Alarcos Ana , Etchegoin Jorge , Cremonte Florencia
Published: October 2008

In this paper Steringotrema microacetabularis (Suriano et Martorelli, 1983) is redescribed and transferred to Bacciger Nicoll, 1924 in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926 based on newly collected material from the type-host, Paralichthys orbignyanus Valenciennes, 1839 and the type-locality, Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. A careful re-examination of the new specimens shows that some anatomical characteristics were ignored or incompletely described by the previous authors and they are included herein. The species is tentatively transferred to Bacciger with which it appears to have closest affinity. Despite the anatomical differences detailed in this paper, confirmation of this proposal must await further work, including molecular studies.
Two new species of the genus Quadruspinospora Sarkar et Chakravarty, 1969 (Apicomplexa, Conoidasida) from grasshoppers (Insecta, Orthoptera)
Authors: Modak Biplob , Basu Saugata , Haldar Durga
Published: October 2008

Descriptions of structures and life histories of two new species of septate gregarines (Apicomplexa, Conoidasida) are given. These are: Quadruspinospora cloptoni sp. nov. and Quadruspinospora caudata sp. nov. from the midguts of Oxya hyla hyla Serville and Gesonula punctiformes (Stal.) (Insecta, Orthoptera, Acrididae), respectively. Trophozoites of Q. cloptoni attain a maximum length of 944 μm and their epimerites are either a simple knob or cauliflower-like without any digitiform process; gamonts are solitary and, spherical gametocysts, 390 μm, release ovoid oocysts by a simple rupture, the latter being provided with four characteristic spines, two at each pole. Trophozoites of Q. caudata are much smaller, 578 μm in maximum length, and the epimerite in this gregarine is short and cone like. Spherical gametocysts, 365 μm, also dehisce by a simple rupture releasing ovoid oocysts having four typical spines, characteristic of the genus Quadruspinospora Sarkar et Chakravarty, 1969. The validity of Quadruspinospora as a distinct genus is discussed.
Pseudorhabdosynochus inversus sp. nov. (Monogenea, Diplectanidae) from the halfmoon grouper Epinephelus rivulatus (Perciformes, Serranidae) off New Caledonia
Authors: Justine Jean-Lou
Published: October 2008

Pseudorhabdosynochus inversus sp. nov. is described from three specimens found in a halfmoon grouper, Epinephelus rivulatus, from the external slope of the barrier reef, New Caledonia, South Pacific. The new species is characterised by the structure of its sclerotised vagina, which resembles that of P. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) but has its primary chamber inverted, and by its measurements. The diplectanid fauna of E. rivulatus shows the same pattern as in other groupers, probably belonging to a clade in which fish species harbour both an abundant species of the ‘Pseudorhabdosynochus cupatus group’ (here P. calathus Hinsinger et Justine, 2006) and a rare species (here P. inversus).
Educational Computer Use in Leisure Contexts: A Phenomenological Study of Adolescents’ Experiences at Internet Cafés
Authors: Cilesiz Sebnem
Published: October 2008

Computer use is a widespread leisure activity for adolescents. Leisure contexts, such as Internet cafés, constitute specific social environments for computer use and may hold significant educational potential. This article reports a phenomenological study of adolescents’ experiences of educational computer use at Internet cafés in Turkey. The purposes of the study were to understand and describe the phenomenon in depth and arrive at the essence of adolescents’ experiences with the phenomenon. Data were collected through series of in-depth phenomenological interviews with six adolescents and analyzed using phenomenal analysis. The results include potential benefits of Internet cafés as specific social leisure contexts of educational computer use for adolescent development. Implications for designing and studying computer-based informal learning environments are presented.
Childhood Immunizations in Nepal: Present Situation and Future Directions
Authors: Adhikari N
Published: October 2008

DOI = 10.3126/jnps.v28i1.1395 J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. Vol.28(1) p.1
Breastfeeding: Within One Hour of Birth Can Save One Million Babies
Authors: Shrestha PS
Published: October 2008

DOI = 10.3126/jnps.v28i1.1396 J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. Vol.28(1) p.2