bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy efficiency in the water industry, a Global Research Project
Authors: Brandt Malcolm , Middleton Roger , Wheale Gordon , Schulting Frans
Published: May 2012

After manpower, energy is the highest operating cost item for most water and wastewater companies. Over the last decade, energy consumption by the sector has increased considerably as a consequence of the implementation of new technologies to meet new potable water and effluent treatment quality standards. The price of energy has also increased substantially in the same period.

These increases will be compounded by the need to meet future changes to regulations and standards that will require additional energy intensive processes to achieve more exacting requirements. High energy consumption will affect the water industry world wide and is inextricably linked to the issue of Climate Change.

This international research project has focused on identifying current energy efficient best practices and technologies in the efficient design and operation of water industry assets for the whole water cycle from abstraction to discharge, including water treatment and distribution, wastewater conveyance and treatment; water reuse; sludge treatment and disposal and water conservation. Opportunities have also been identified for hydraulic energy recovery from turbines and generation from waste and sludge through CHP technology.

The study output is a Compendium of global best practices covering the water cycle matrix and includes variations between regions and continents, large urban and small rural systems and complex high and simple low technical solutions. International case studies are used to illustrate best practices.

On behalf of Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) partners world-wide as represented by four Continental Coordinators in the US, Europe, Singapore and Australasia, and South Africa, the project was managed by UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR).

This presentation will give the background to the project and use case studies to illustrate the study findings and future opportunities to help deliver both incremental improvements in energy efficiency through optimisation of existing assets and operations and more substantial improvements in energy efficiency from the adoption of novel but proven technologies.
Lacks and needs of R&D on wastewater treatment in small populations
Authors: Aragón C. A. , Salas J. J. , Ortega E. , Ferrer Y.
Published: May 2012

Wastewater treatment in small communities, with less of 2,000 population equivalent, is one of the priorities of the new Spanish National Plan for Water Quality: Sanitation and Purification (2007-2015). Due to the peculiarities of the small agglomerations, the treatment solutions used in medium and large cities usually do not give satisfactory results if they are implanted directly into those communities. It is therefore necessary to adapt these technologies to the small towns or to search for new treatment solutions. In this regard, R&D activities play a key role. In fact, many research groups address their activities to the study of sanitation and treatment of small populations. In relation to the technologies studied there is a wide range that includes both extensive and intensive technologies. In the case of Spain, as in other countries, constructed wetlands seem to be the most studied technology in the recent years to sewage treatment in small settlements. However, there are still areas of study to be promoted in order to solve the current problems of sanitation and wastewater treatment in small settlements.
Implementation of a Full-Scale Anammox-Based Facility to Treat an Anaerobic Digestion Sidestream at the Alexandria Sanitation Authority Water Resource Facility
Authors: Daigger Glen T. , Sanjines Paula , Pallansch Karen , Sizemore James , Wett Bernhard
Published: May 2012

The 204,000 m3/day Alexandria Sanitation Authority (ASA) Water Resource Facility (WRF) is currently being upgraded to meet an annual average total nitrogen (TN) waste load based on a concentration of 3 mg/L at its current design capacity. The State-of-the-Art-Nutrient-Upgrade-Program (SANUP) includes a system to treat the high nitrogen solids handling sidestream from dewatering anaerobically digested solids. The centrate pretreatment (CPT) system is being implemented as a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) capable of operating in three modes: (1) nitrification/denitrification, (2) nitritation/denitritation, and (3) partial nitritation/Anammox according to the “Universal Tank” concept. The design concept and basis for the facility are presented, along with the physical layout. It is being implemented using a conventional design-bid-build approach. Design is complete and construction is currently in the bid phase. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2011 and to be complete by December 2012. The estimated construction cost is $US 14.1 million. The design incorporates a number of innovations, including: (1) accounting for variations in process loading and anticipated operating modes over the life of the facility, (2) provision of a 10 percent capacity daughter reactor to facilitate process optimization and testing, and (3) inclusion of a cyclone to selectively retain the slow growing Anammox bacteria. It is anticipated that the facility will start up in the nitritation/denitritation mode, while the daughter reactor is used to acclimate biomass and finalize the operating strategy for the partial nitritation/Anammox mode.
Grey water treatment concept integrating water and carbon recovery and removal of micropollutants
Authors: Hernández-Leal L. , Zeeman G. , Temmink H. , Buisman C. J. N.
Published: May 2012

A total treatment concept was developed for grey water from 32 houses in Sneek, The Netherlands. A thorough characterization of COD, nutrients, metals, micropollutants and anions was carried out. Four biological treatment systems were tested: aerobic, anaerobic, combined anaerobic + aerobic and a bioflocculation system. Micropollutants were measured in grey water and effluent from three biological treatment systems. The best performing biological treatment system, the aerobic one showed the highest COD and micropollutant removal at a low sludge yield. The bioflocculation system could concentrate 70% of the COD of grey water into a concentrated stream. Advanced treatment with ozone and activated carbon showed to be effective to remove all micropollutants below limits of quantification. A total treatment system is proposed based on the pre-treatment with a bio-flocculation system, aerobic post-treatment and ozonation as a disinfection and micropollutant removal step.
Fat, oil and grease - Sewer contamination prevention strategies and double-dosage concept for fat traps and pressure mains
Authors: Franke Wolfram , Ettl Marina , Roldan Daniel , Kuhn Guido , Langholm Anne Mette , Amar Mathieu
Published: May 2012

Disposal of fat, oil and grease (FOG) in sewer systems cause blockages, fatal errors of pumping stations, increased maintenance, odours, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emissions and corrosion. Hence, solutions to prevent FOG disposals are desirable. Challenges are prevention of FOG contamination of sewer systems and removal of FOG disposals.

A survey and lab as well as full scale tests were performed. In the first place fat traps and grease inceptors should be installed to prevent FOG contamination what is documented as being very effective. A case study shows that the operation of fat traps may indeed produce further problems, especially H2S emissions, what demands an additional treatment.

Removal of FOG disposals can be handled by applying enzymes to the affected sewer network. It was found that enzymes are preferable towards surfactants to remove FOG disposals. It appears to be a solution to have one dosing site that is equipped with separately controlled dosing pumps for conditioners for H2S removal as well as FOG removal.
The design & operation of a very large vertical sub-surface flow engineered wetland to treat spent deicing fluids and glycol-contaminated stormwater at Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Authors: Higgins J. , Wallace S. , Minkel K. , Wagner R. , Liner M. , Meal G.
Published: May 2012

An advanced type of constructed wetland (CW) called an engineered wetland (EW) has been developed which allows more efficient removals of contaminants from wastewaters and stormwaters at rates in many cases an order of magnitude higher than those achievable with ordinary CWs. In one type of advanced aerobic EW, the wastewater being treated flows sub-surface (SSF) beneath an aggregate substrate which is aerated mechanically from below. This ecotechnology allows very much higher removals (>95%) of those wastewater contaminants amenable to aerobic treatment (e.g., BOD, ammonia). A large 1.9 ha EW system treating glycol-contaminated water is now operating at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BNIA) in upper New York State, USA. This system, which is successfully treating glycol-contaminated stormwater runoff and spent glycol from cold weather aircraft deicing activities, involves four very large aerated EW cells and is capable of treating up to 4,620 m3/d of glycol-contaminated water containing up to 4,535 kg/d of BOD (the BOD-equivalent of a city of 50,000 people), even in the coldest weather.
Preliminary research on efficiency of organic substances removal from wastewater in selected constructed wetlands
Authors: Pawęska K. , Malczewska B.
Published: May 2012

Protection of ground water is one of basic purposes of suitable development strategy. The technical infrastructure is one of examples of this strategy realization. However, in rural regions, that are characterized by housing dispersion, it is difficult to construct conventional sewage system. This problem has to do with violent changes of wastewater discharge and effluent concentration as well as economic resources. Constructed wetlands could be a good solution for rural regions. They enable waste treatment and protecting receiving water. Constructed wetlands work like a marsh and they act as biofilters removing environmental effluents from wastewater. They can be a solution for rural regions and allow rational and inexpensive method of wastewater treatment.

The main purpose of this research was to determine efficiency of decontamination of organic pollution, expressed as BOD5 and COD. The data was collected from constructed wetlands in Kletno and Brzezno in order to extract design criteria for BOD5 and COD removal. The research was executed on two object assigned to popular touristic places.

Constructed wetlands keep high pollutant removal efficiency on the same level all year round. The research was conducted in 2008. Constructed wetlands do not ensure high efficiency of treatment. Unsuitable exploitation is the primary reason for decreasing efficiency. Proper exploitation of settler (septic tanks) in constructed wetlands is responsible for high wastewater treatment efficiency.
Analysis of the reclamation treatment capability of a constructed wetland for reuse
Authors: Pedrero F. , Albuquerque A. , Amado L. , Marecos do Monte H. , Alarcón J.
Published: May 2012

A research project was conducted during 2008-2009 in Portugal to evaluate the potential of reclaimed water from constructed wetlands for irrigation reuse. A 21 month monitoring campaign was set up in a Filtralite-based horizontal subsurface flow bed. Results showed a significant fluctuation of the hydraulic loading rate that has influenced the hydraulic retention time and the wastewater characteristics over time and, therefore, the removal efficiencies for BOD5, COD, TSS, nitrogen and phosphorus were lower than the reported values for CW performance. If the hydraulic loading rate could be properly controlled the treatment performance, as well as the quality of the reclaimed water, can be improved considerably. The effluent concentrations of conductivity (EC), BOD5, COD, TN, K, Ca, Mg and phytotoxic elements (Na, Cl and B), showed a suitable quality for irrigation reuse according to different international standards, although it is necessary to improve the removal of phosphorous and a final disinfection must be implemented to decrease the pathogenic content.
Towards sustainable waste water treatment with Dutch Nereda® technology
Authors: van der Roest H. F. , de Bruin L. M. M. , Gademan G. , Coelho F.
Published: May 2012

In the period 2003 to date, in the Netherlands an extensive research has been conducted for the development of a new breakthrough waste water technology. This Nereda® technology is based upon aerobic granular sludge and distinguishes itself from traditional activated sludge systems by a significant lower energy and chemical consumption, much less space requirements and lower costs. The STOWA, University of Delft, DHV and six Dutch water boards participate in a Dutch Nereda® development program. At five WWTPs in the Netherlands pilot research focused on granulation and nutrient removal and was supported by fundamental research. The achievements resulted in demonstration plants in South Africa and Portugal. The first full scale applications will be realized in the Netherlands. Currently world's first full scale plant at Epe, The Netherlands is under construction and will be started up in 2011. This article summarizes the results of the pilot scale investigations, executed in The Netherlands at five different municipal waste water treatment plants.
Collaboration platforms in water management
Authors: Hidaka C. E. , Kolar H. R. , Williams R. P. , Hartswick P. G. , Foong S. B.
Published: May 2012

In many parts of the world, management of water resources and infrastructures is fragmented between agencies at multiple levels – state, provincial, and local – and sometimes between functions within individual agencies. Consequently it is often impossible to take a holistic view of the issues at hand to enable effective management of the resource or infrastructure – either because of the overhead of managing the coordination required, and/or because of politics between the different stakeholders. In their work for IBM, the authors created a concept of an information technology (IT)-enabled “collaboration platform” that integrates different water data sources with IT tools to enable multiple entities to maintain and share a “common operating picture.” This greatly assists with coordination and reduces politics to manageable levels. In this paper, the authors describe the collaboration platform and its benefits by reference to examples of such platforms in use, and propose a reference technical architecture for creating collaboration platforms.
Complete sulphate removal from neutralised acidic mine drainage with barium carbonate
Authors: Swanepoel H. , de Beer M. , Liebenberg L.
Published: May 2012

The most widespread method used for the treatment of acidic mine drainage (AMD) is neutralisation through the addition of lime to the effluent in order to raise the pH. As a result, dissolved metals precipitate as metal hydroxides while partial sulphate removal is achieved. However, further treatment is required in order to reduce the sulphate concentration to below 500 mg/ℓ, which is the required concentration for discharge into waterways. The CSIR developed and patented the ABC (alkali-barium-calcium) Desalination process which uses barium salts to further reduce the sulphate concentration to acceptable levels with the added advantage that sulphate removal can be controlled due to the low solubility of BaSO4. This paper reports on the results of an investigation to demonstrate the performance of this sulphate removal reaction. Laboratory results that draw attention to the conditions required for BaSO4 precipitation are presented. A number of parameters, including temperature, initial sulphate concentration, barium-to-sulphate molar ratio and different BaCO3 sources were considered. The results were also tested and verified on industrial process water. The results clearly demonstrate that the reactor temperature, initial sulphate concentration, and molar ratio of barium to sulphate have a positive influence on sulphate removal.
Nitrogen compounds removal by membrane filtration in water treatment plant for small communities: full-scale start-up
Authors: Valentukeviciene Marina , Albrektiene Ramune
Published: May 2012

The aims of the work and research question deals with the removal of two natural nitrogen compounds, ammonium and nitrate and an organic compounds from groundwater in the sensitive aquatic area (Curonian Spit, Lithuania). The effects of both ammonium presence and nitrate compounds were studied using natural groundwater in the water treatment plants. Organic compounds were studied at Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), Color (Pt scale) and UV methods. The amines were varied in the range of 0.11–0.32 μg L−1. At ammonium concentration of 790 μg L−1, the amines formations were close to 0.66 μg L−1 maximum obtained in the groundwater. The highest ammonium removals were obtained at water treatment plants of approximately 15 mg L−1 TOC. Continuous tests showed a linear relationship between TOC and DOC concentration rates. The conclusions drawn that the most biodegradable compound was the ammonium. The TOC/DOC rates increased with the decreased of ammonium concentrations. Optimal process conditions in this work were obtained at the TOC and DOC of approximately 16 and 14 mg L−1, respectively, with high efficient of ammonium removal, as well as minimum amines formation rate.
Industrial wastewater treatment by on-site pilot static granular bed reactor (SGBR)
Authors: Park Jaeyoung , Oh Jin Hwan , Evans Eric A. , Lally Michael F. , Hobson Keith L. , Ellis Timothy G.
Published: May 2012

The on-site pilot-scale Static Granular Bed Reactor (SGBR) was used to treat the dairy processing wastewater at the Tulare Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP). A pilot unit with approximately 42.5 m3 of active volume was operated for 7 months on a continuous basis with a range of 9 to 48 h HRT condition at ambient temperature. Throughout the whole study, COD and BOD5 removal was consistently over 90% under a broad range of organic loading conditions ranging from 0.63 to 9.72 kg/m3/d. TSS removal was also greater than 80% on average. In terms of organic removal, the SGBR system was robust to the temperature variations ranging from 10 to 29 °C. The adequate periodic backwashing consistently provided the maintenance of a head loss and the wastewater level in the reactor. Based on these results, the SGBR seems to be an excellent alternative for the required pretreatment system from the Tulare IWTP. Several benefits for IWTP could be provided by a full scale application of SGBR due to its simple design and operational advantages over conventional high rate anaerobic systems.
Side effects of cultured bacteria addition in wastewater collection system on plant operations – a case study
Authors: Liu Yanjin , Eugenio Giraldo
Published: May 2012

Cultured bacteria addition is one of the technologies used for odor control and FOG (fat, oil, and grease) removal in wastewater collection systems. This study investigated the efficiency of bacterial addition on wastewater odor control by conducting a set of full scale trials in a 60,000 cubic meter per day system for a period of two years. The objectives of this study were: (i) to identify factors that could impact wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operations due to the effect of bacterial addition in the collection system, (ii) to estimate/understand the level of those impacts, and (iii) to present some interesting findings from the completed case study. The plant operation data before and during the bacterial addition were reviewed. The application of the cultured bacteria presented in the study was found to have significant impacts on the operation of the WWTP in terms of influent biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) loading, primary settling, sludge production, energy use, dissolved sulfides concentration, and methane production.
Overall estimation of mesophilic high-rate anaerobic sludge digestion in internal circulation anaerobic digester integrated with sewage source heat pump
Authors: Jiang Y. , Wu J. , Tian L. , Shi L. , Cao Z. P.
Published: May 2012

Sewage source heat pump was integrated with internal circulation anaerobic digester (ICAD) to decrease the treatment cost of waste activated sludge. In the experiment, mesophilic digestion in ICAD was combined with thermal treatment at 60 °C with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 day as pretreatment. The heat pump supplied heat recovering from the effluent of the wastewater treatment plant. The energy consumed by the heat pump was 39.2 and 48.6% less than the gas boiler and coal boiler respectively at a given amount of supplied heat. When the HRT of digestion was 10 days, the average total VSS removal and biogas yield rates of the system were 58.8% and 1.33 m3 · kgVSS−1 respectively. The integration of ICAD and sewage source heat pump offers a low-cost sludge treatment process with satisfactory organic removal.
Energy Footprint Modelling: a tool for process optimisation in Large Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Rosso D. , Jiang L.-M. , Sobhani R. , Wett B.
Published: May 2012

In wastewater treatment modelling, energy information is not always immediately available. More detailed energy information on a unit process level can be used to calibrate energy balance models serving for quantification of larger energy savings. Modelling energy footprint has lower uncertainty than other greenhouse gas equivalent footprint models, and is the prime candidate for minimising costs and environmental impact. Due to their magnitude, and their larger number of equipment units, large wastewater treatment plants are associated with the largest margin for improvement.
Water harvesting and better cropping systems for the benefit of small farmers in watersheds of the East India Plateau
Authors: Croke B. , Cornish P. , Choudhry K. , Kharmakar D. , Chakraborty A. , Islam A. , Khan M. A.
Published: May 2012

This paper discusses an integrated approach for water resource management to improve rural livelihoods in the East India Plateau. This has involved linking hydrological, agronomic and social aspects to increase access to water, improve water use efficiency and develop capacity within the villages for better decision making regarding use of the available resources. To this end, the research adopted a participatory, action-learning approach, with villagers joining in developing research questions, executing experiments, collecting data and sharing in their interpretation, as well as planning intervention work designed to improve access to water, particularly in the early dry season. The focus of this paper is on the integration of the different aspects of water resource management, with particular emphasis on the social issues. This included working with women's self-help groups and village watershed committees, and specific efforts to engage women in research and related development activities. The result has been an improved capacity within the village for managing water resources, including improved self-perceptions as farmers (especially women), better understanding of the potential resources and any constraints (e.g. soil fertility) and knowledge of how to manage the constraints (e.g. fertilisers), as well as a better understanding of the social capacities within the village.
Sustainable sanitation in the Philippine context
Authors: Lapid D. G.
Published: May 2012

During the past several decades, the word sanitation in Philippine context has meant different things to different stakeholders. For sanitation professionals, sanitation refers to any and all measures that protect human health from pathogens be it water borne, air borne or from other sources. To the water supply and sanitation service providers, it refers specifically to septage management. The MDGs and the 2008 International Year of Sanitation inspired all of us to reduce poverty by increasing access to sanitation, interpreted largely as increasing access to safe toilets. Today, the emerging definition of sanitation in the Philippines points to the hygienic and proper management, collection, disposal/reuse of human excreta (feces and urine) and domestic wastewater to safeguard the health of individuals and communities. This new definition resonates well with the new science of sustainable sanitation being promoted by a global expert group called the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance. The SuSanA defines sustainable sanitation as systems that protect and promote human health, do not contribute to environmental degradation and/or depletion of the resource base, and are technically and institutionally appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable. This paper will trace the evolution and underpinnings of the concept Sustainable Sanitation in the Philippines context.
Effects of Special E-Learning Program on Hearing-Impaired Learners' Achievement and Perceptions of Basic Geometry in Lower Primary Mathematics
Authors: Kiboss Joel Kipkemboi
Published: May 2012

Achievement in mathematics is an issue of great concern not only to students and parents but also to employers and researchers in Kenya. This is because the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has continuously reported dismal results in this area, and especially in geometry. Also, KNEC indicates that it presents difficulties to both the teachers and learners during instructional sessions. In an extension of research demonstrating causal effects of electronic learning environments on special education learners' achievement and perceptions of mathematics instruction, the present study experimentally examined the effectiveness of a special electronic learning program (SELP) to improve hearing-impaired learners' achievement of basic geometry and their perception of the Geometry learning environment. Sixty-six hearing-impaired learners from four special education schools situated in Rift Valley province were sampled purposively on the basis of the school's accessibility to participate in the study. The study employed the Solomon-Four Group Design research method. The specific dependent measures were the learners' achievement in geometry and their perception of the classroom learning environment. Measurement of achievement and perception were conducted using two instruments: (i) the Geometry Achievement Test (GAT), and (ii) the Special Learners Classroom Environment Questionnaire (SLCEQ). GAT's reliability was computed using K-R20 formula yielding a reliability of 0.78. On the other hand, SLCEQ reliability was determined using Cronbach alpha yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.82. The study established that SELP was modestly effective in improving the achievement of hearing-impaired learners on geometry and their perception of the classroom environment. The study concludes that teachers can arrest the special learners' problem of poor performance in geometry through the use of electronic learning programs.
An Examination of the Reciprocal Relationship of Loneliness and Facebook Use among First-Year College Students
Authors: Lou Lai Lei , Yan Zheng , Nickerson Amanda , McMorris Robert
Published: May 2012

College students are using social network sites such as Facebook to communicate with their families and friends. However, empirical evidence is needed to examine whether there exists a reciprocal relationship between students' use of social network sites and their psychological well-being. The present study focused on two reciprocally-related research questions: (a) Is there an impact of loneliness on Facebook intensity and motive for using Facebook among first-year college students? (b) Is there an impact of Facebook intensity and motive for using Facebook on loneliness? Data were collected from a sample of 340 first-year college students and were analyzed through structural equation modeling. No reciprocal relationship was found in the study: Facebook intensity had a positive impact on loneliness and, motive for using Facebook did not have any impact on loneliness, whereas loneliness influenced neither Facebook intensity nor motive for using Facebook.
Exploratory Study of the Relations between Spatial Ability and Drawing from Memory
Authors: Czarnolewski Mark Y. , Eliot John
Published: May 2012

Test scores of 119 students, attending either a public four-year college or a technical school, were related to their proportionality and detail drawing scores on the Memory for Designs Test. In regression models, the ETS Maze Tracing, Eliot-Price Mental Rotations, and Bender-Gestalt tests were consistent predictors of proportionality scores, with the latter two tests uniquely related to these. The ETS Shapes Memory Test and the Form Board Test were the strongest predictors for detail accuracy scores. The Shapes test predicted proportionality when the CTY Visual Memory Test BB was excluded. The models then provided support for the hypothesis that drawing designs from memory, a critical skill in drawing, regardless of whether one focuses on accuracy for proportionality scores or for detail scores, is jointly related to the measures of recognition, production, and traditional spatial ability measures. This study identified multifaceted skills in drawing from memory.
Proofreading for Word Errors
Authors: Pilotti Maura , Chodorow Martin , Agpawa Ian , Krajniak Marta , Mahamane Salif
Published: May 2012

Proofreading (i.e., reading text for the purpose of detecting and correcting typographical errors) is viewed as a component of the activity of revising text and thus is a necessary (albeit not sufficient) procedural step for enhancing the quality of a written product. The purpose of the present research was to test competing accounts of word-error detection which predict factors that may influence reading and proofreading differently. Word errors, which change a word into another word (e.g., from → form), were selected for examination because they are unlikely to be detected by automatic spell-checking functions. Consequently, their detection still rests mostly in the hands of the human proofreader. Findings highlighted the weaknesses of existing accounts of proofreading and identified factors, such as length and frequency of the error in the English language relative to frequency of the correct word, which might play a key role in detection of word errors.
Bounded region with closed time-like curves in T-dual pp-waves backgrounds
Authors: Gusin Paweł
Published: May 2012

In the 10-dimensional pp-waves background we have found using T-duality a 4-dimensional space-time in which closed time-like curves appear in the region bounded by two coaxial elliptic cylinders. This 4-dimensional space-time is similar to the Gödel-type space-time only in this region. Outside of this region the causal pathology does not appear.
Pelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1960) (Nematoda, Onchocercidae) in Amazona vinacea (Aves, Psittaciformes) from Argentina: morphological details and clinical findings
Authors: Diaz Julia , Nucci Dante , Falzone Martín , Demergassi Natalia , Fernanda Lois M. , Zalazar Raúl , Navone Graciela , Gachen Gustavo
Published: May 2012

Pelecitus tercostatus (Molin, 1860) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a Vinaceous-breasted Parrot Amazona vinacea (Aves, Psittaciformes) from Misiones, Argentina. The present report enlarges the host distribution of the species and represents the first record of any nematode in A. vinacea. The macroscopic lesions produced in the bird are also described.
Gyrodactylus malalai sp. nov. (Monogenea, Gyrodactylidae) from Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and Redbelly tilapia, Tilapia zillii (Gervais) (Teleostei, Cichlidae) in the Lake Turkana, Kenya
Authors: Přikrylová Iva , Radim Blažek , Gelnar Milan
Published: May 2012

Gyrodactylus malalai sp. nov. is described from the fin surface of cichlid fishes Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and Tilapia zillii (Gervais) caught in Lake Turkana (Kenya). The new species morphologically resembles Gyrodactylus nyanzae Paperna, 1973, but can be readily distinguished by the shape of the marginal hook sickles and the size of its hamuli. The sequence data of rDNA spanning partial 18S, internal transcribe spacer 1 and 2 and the 5.8S gene is unique within GenBank. Genetically, as most similar Gyrodactylus ergensi Přikrylová, Matějusová, Musilová et Gelnar, 2009 was found (97.5%). Moreover, a specimen of G. cichlidarum from O. niloticus, and a specimen G. ergensi from Sarotherodon galilaeus (L.) were collected during sampling in Kenya. Likewise, additional sampling of O. niloticus from the Blue Nile in Sudan revealed the presence of the newly described species. These findings represent the first records of gyrodactylids in both African countries.
Phylogenic analysis of Chinese Leishmania isolates based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 7 spliced leader RNA (7SL RNA)
Authors: Guan Wang , Cao De-Ping , sun Ke , Xu Jia-nan , Zhang Jun-rong , Chen Da-Li , Chen Jian-Ping
Published: May 2012

The leishmaniases are zoonotic diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmaniases are still endemic in China, especially in the west and northwest froniter regions. To revalue the preliminary phylogenetic results of Chinese Leishmania isolates, we amplified partial fragment of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 7 spliced leader RNA (7SL RNA), then tested the phylogenetic relationships among Chinese Leishmania isolates and their relatives by analyzing SSU rRNA gene sequences and 7SL RNA gene sequences. 19 SSU RNA sequences and 9 7SL RNA sequences were obtained in our study, then analyzed with 42 SSU RNA sequences and 32 7SL RNA sequences retrieved from Genbank, respectively. In the Bayesian analysis of the SSU RNA gene, the isolate MHOM/CN/93/GS7 and the isolate IPHL/CN/77/XJ771 are members of Leishmania donovani complex, while the isolate MHOM/CN/84/JS1 clustered with Leishmania tropica. The other 11 Chinese Leishmania isolates (MHOM/CN/90/WC, MCAN/CN/90/SC11, MHOM/CN/80/XJ801, MHOM/CN/85/GS4, MHOM/CN/84/SD1, MCAN/CN/86/SC7, MHOM/CN/54/#3, MHOM/CN/83/GS2, MHOM/CN/90/SC10H2, MHOM/CN/89/GS6 and MHOM/CN/ 89/GS5) form an unclassified group, defined as Leishmania sp., and the most relative species to this group is L. tarentolae. In the Bayesian analysis of the 7SL RNA gene, 9 Chinese Leishmania isolates also formed an unclassified group with L. tarentolae, including canine isolate 10, MHOM/CN/85/GS4, MHOM/CN/84/SD1, MCAN/CN/86/SC7, MHOM/CN/54/#3, MHOM/ CN/83/GS2, MHOM/CN/90/SC10H2, MHOM/CN/89/GS6 and MHOM/CN/89/GS5. We concluded that: (1) Chinese Leishmania isolates are non-monophyly group; (2) an unclassified group may exist in China, and the most relative species to this group is L. tarentolae; (3) MHOM/CN/84/JS1, which was previously assigned as L. donovani, was most genetically related to L. tropica strain MHOM/SU/74/K27.
Presence of Stenoponia tripectinata (Tiraboschi, 1902) (Siphonaptera, Ctenophtalmidae) in murine (Rodentia) from the Canary Islands
Authors: Vicente Santiago , Gómez López Maria
Published: May 2012

This article reports the geographical and host distribution of the flea Stenoponia tripectinata on the Canary Islands. S. tripectinata is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa as a parasite of Muridae rodents. To date, Gran Canaria is the only island of the archipelago where S. tripectinata had been found. In this report, S. tripectinata has appeared parasitizing 116 specimens of Mus musculus out of a total of 660, and only 2 Rattus rattus of 215 captured. All the trapped Muridae hosts found to be parasitized by S. tripectinata came from humid biotopes. The results showed that S. tripectinata is present on all the western Canary Islands and on one of the eastern islands, Gran Canaria, the only island already reported. The detection of S. tripectinata on El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Tenerife represents the first records of this flea species on those Canary Islands.
The dynamics of professional identity of university teachers: reflecting on the ideal university teacher
Authors: Haamer Anu , Lepp Liina , Reva Elina
Published: May 2012

The dynamics of professional identity of university teachers: reflecting on the ideal university teacher

Current paper investigates development of professional identity of university teachers, observed through reflective exercises which enabled participants' to focus on their perception of the ideal university teacher. Images of the ideal university teacher were studied from two aspects: first - before the participants started teaching, and second - after they had been teaching for some time. This paper focused on how images of the ideal university teacher have changed over time, and discussed the reasons that brought about changes. There is a tendency that ideals are adapted in accordance with teaching experience. Ideals are regarded as unstable phenomena, influenced by the surrounding environment. Current paper made use of a qualitative design of reflective writing exercises and focus group interviews. The sample comprised an aggregate of 42 participants, university teachers and PhD students, and 4 focus groups. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study shows that after some teaching experience, didactic knowledge and communicative skills come to the forefront of the ideal university teacher identity. The study opens the way for further and deeper discussion of images of an ideal university teacher.
Repeated Measurements of Arm Joint Passive Range of Motion After Stroke: Interobserver Reliability and Sources of Variation
Authors: de Jong Lex D. , Dijkstra Pieter U. , Stewart Roy E. , Postema Klaas
Published: May 2012

Background

Goniometric measurements of hemiplegic arm joints must be reliable to draw proper clinical and scientific conclusions. Previous reliability studies were cross-sectional and based on small samples. Knowledge about the contributions of sources of variation to these measurement results is lacking.

Objective

The aims of this study were to determine the interobserver reliability of measurements of passive range of motion (PROM) over time, explore sources of variation associated with these measurement results, and generate smallest detectable differences for clinical decision making.

Design

This investigation was a measurement-focused study with a longitudinal design, nested within a 2-arm randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Two trained physical therapists assessed 7 arm movements at baseline and after 4, 8, and 20 weeks in 48 people with subacute stroke using a standardized protocol. One physical therapist performed the passive movement, and the other read the hydrogoniometer. The therapists then switched roles. The relative contributions of several sources of variation to error variance were explored with analysis of variance.

Results

Interobserver reliability coefficients ranged from .89 to .97. The PROM measurements were influenced by error variance ranging from 31% to 50%. The participant × time interaction made the largest contribution to error variance, ranging from 59% to 81%. Smallest detectable differences were 6 to 22 degrees and were largest for shoulder movements.

Limitations

Verification of shoulder pain and hypertonia as sources of error variance led to a substantial number of unstable variance components, necessitating a simpler analysis.

Conclusions

The assessment of PROM with a standardized protocol, a hydrogoniometer, and 2 trained physical therapists yielded high interobserver reliability indexes for all arm movements. Error variance made a large contribution to the variation in measurement results. The resulting smallest detectable differences can be used to interpret future hemiplegic arm PROM measurements with more confidence.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Measurement Properties of the Italian Version of the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) Questionnaire
Authors: Cacchio Angelo , Necozione Stefano , MacDermid Joy C. , Rompe Jan Dirk , Maffulli Nicola , di Orio Ferdinando , Santilli Valter , Paoloni Marco
Published: May 2012

Background

The Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire is a tool designed for self-assessment of forearm pain and disability in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET). However, an Italian version of this questionnaire has not been available.

Objective

The aims of this study were: (1) to translate and cross-culturally adapt the PRTEE questionnaire into Italian and (2) to evaluate its measurement properties.

Design

This was a longitudinal, observational measurement study.

Methods

The PRTEE questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted to Italian according to established guidelines. Ninety-five individuals (41 women, 54 men) with unilateral, imaging-confirmed, chronic LET were selected consecutively to assess the measurement properties of the PRTEE questionnaire. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness were estimated.

Results

The Italian version of the PRTEE displayed a high degree of internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .95. The test-retest reliability was high for both short-term and medium-term, with intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) of .95 and .93, respectively. The PRTEE exhibited a strong correlation (r=.77–.91, P<.0001) with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) at the baseline and a moderate correlation (r=.58–.74, P<.0001) at discharge. The responsiveness was higher for the PRTEE than for the DASH.

Limitations

A methodological limitation of the study is that due to the small sample size, a factor analysis was not performed to assess convergent validity.

Conclusions

The Italian version of the PRTEE questionnaire is internally consistent, demonstrates expected correlations with other measures, and is more responsive than the DASH in Italian patients with chronic LET.
Quantifying Physical Activity Levels of Survivors of Intensive Care: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Denehy Linda , Berney Sue , Whitburn Laura , Edbrooke Lara
Published: May 2012

Background

Promotion of increased physical activity is advocated for survivors of an intensive care unit (ICU) admission to improve physical function and health-related quality of life.

Objective

The primary aims of this study were: (1) to measure free-living physical activity levels and (2) to correlate the measurements with scores on a self-reported activity questionnaire. A secondary aim was to explore factors associated with physical activity levels.

Design

This was a prospective cohort study.

Methods

Nested within a larger randomized controlled trial, participants were block randomized to measure free-living physical activity levels. Included participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days during waking hours at 2 months after ICU discharge. At completion of the 7 days of monitoring, participants were interviewed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire. Factors associated with physical activity were explored using regression analysis.

Results

The ICU survivors (median age=59 years, interquartile range=49–66; mean Acute Physiologic Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE II] score=18, interquartile range=16–21) were inactive when quantitatively measured at 2 months after hospital discharge. Participants spent an average of 90% of the time inactive and only 3% of the time walking. Only 37% of the sample spent 30 minutes or more per day in the locomotion category (more than 20 steps in a row). Activity reported using the PASE questionnaire was lower than that reported in adults who were healthy. The PASE scores correlated only fairly with activity measured by steps per day. The presence of comorbidities explained one third of the variance in physical activity levels.

Limitations

Accelerometer overreading, patient heterogeneity, selection bias, and sample size not reached were limitations of the study.

Conclusions

Survivors of an ICU admission greater than 5 days demonstrated high levels of inactivity for prolonged periods at 2 months after ICU discharge, and the majority did not meet international recommendations regarding physical activity. Comorbidity appears to be a promising factor associated with activity levels.
A new strategic neurosurgical planning tool for brainstem cavernous malformations using interactive computer graphics with multimodal fusion images
Authors: Kin Taichi , Nakatomi Hirofumi , Shojima Masaaki , Tanaka Minoru , Ino Kenji , Mori Harushi , Kunimatsu Akira , Oyama Hiroshi , Saito Nobuhito
Published: May 2012

Object

In this study, the authors used preoperative simulation employing 3D computer graphics (interactive computer graphics) to fuse all imaging data for brainstem cavernous malformations. The authors evaluated whether interactive computer graphics or 2D imaging correlated better with the actual operative field, particularly in identifying a developmental venous anomaly (DVA).

Methods

The study population consisted of 10 patients scheduled for surgical treatment of brainstem cavernous malformations. Data from preoperative imaging (MRI, CT, and 3D rotational angiography) were automatically fused using a normalized mutual information method, and then reconstructed by a hybrid method combining surface rendering and volume rendering methods. With surface rendering, multimodality and multithreshold techniques for 1 tissue were applied. The completed interactive computer graphics were used for simulation of surgical approaches and assumed surgical fields. Preoperative diagnostic rates for a DVA associated with brainstem cavernous malformation were compared between conventional 2D imaging and interactive computer graphics employing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

The time required for reconstruction of 3D images was 3–6 hours for interactive computer graphics. Observation in interactive mode required approximately 15 minutes. Detailed anatomical information for operative procedures, from the craniotomy to microsurgical operations, could be visualized and simulated three-dimensionally as 1 computer graphic using interactive computer graphics. Virtual surgical views were consistent with actual operative views. This technique was very useful for examining various surgical approaches. Mean (± SEM) area under the ROC curve for rate of DVA diagnosis was significantly better for interactive computer graphics (1.000 ± 0.000) than for 2D imaging (0.766 ± 0.091; p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test).

Conclusions

The authors report a new method for automatic registration of preoperative imaging data from CT, MRI, and 3D rotational angiography for reconstruction into 1 computer graphic. The diagnostic rate of DVA associated with brainstem cavernous malformation was significantly better using interactive computer graphics than with 2D images. Interactive computer graphics was also useful in helping to plan the surgical access corridor.