bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Spiritalismus vincit Mundum’ Dutch spiritualism and the beginning of psychical research
Authors: Kloosterman Ingrid
Published: October 2015

The science of psychical research and parapsychology stemmed, among other things, from wonder about the phenomena of spiritualism: manifestations of the deceased through mediums in séances. In the Netherlands, academic psychical research emerged in 1919, when the Studievereeniging voor Psychical Research (SPR) was founded. In this paper, it is argued that a revival of the popularity of spiritualism during the war contributed to the emergence of the Dutch SPR shortly after the First World War had ended. Mass bereavement does not suffice as an explanation for the growth of the spiritualistic movement in the neutral Netherlands in the war years. It is demonstrated that in the writings of spiritualists about the First World War persistent fin-de-siècle themes can be distinguished. Before and during the First World War Dutch spiritualism was dominated by ‘ideologically’ inclined spiritualists and their more ‘critical-scientific’ counterparts were a minority. This had hindered the development of Dutch psychical research. After the war spiritualists shared their hopeful and optimistic perspective of the human soul with scholars leaning towards psychoanalytical and psychomonist ideas. This eventually led to a joint foundation of the Dutch SPR. This alignment between ideological and critical-scientific spiritualists would not last; opinions on how to handle the research subjects (i.e. mediums) remained too distinct.
Consolation amidst the Suffering The Great War and its place in the history of Dutch neo-Calvinist theology
Authors: Striekwold Robbert
Published: October 2015

This article looks at how neo-Calvinist theologians, Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck in par- ticular, dealt with theological problems posed by the First World War. These included, most notably, the question of how to reconcile Christianity with the idea of war, and how to give war meaning in a Christian worldview. Here I will argue that the first of these two questions did not present a problem, as neo-Calvinist orthodoxy had ready answers for it. The second, however, was much more difficult and indeed proved to be intractable. I will argue that some of the hardships the Dutch churches faced during and after the war were due to their failure to formulate a convincing answer for this problem, as their theology required them to defend the idea of war against the pacifists. This failure led to a general belief that the traditional theological answers the churches had to offer no longer sufficed.
Elektrische apparaten van de ‘Nederlandsche Optiek- en Instrumentenfabriek Dr. C.E. Bleeker’
Authors: Ruitenbeek Kees
Published: October 2015

Bleeker’s Electrical Instruments Mrs. Dr. C.E. Bleeker (1897–1985) led a company in optical and electrical instruments since 1932. While her optical instruments – including Prof. Frits Zernike’s Nobel Prize-winning phase contrast microscope – are well known, she also made a name in electrical devices. In addition to a series of highly accurate resistors – normal resistors, precision resistors and resistor banks – a range of electrical instruments were developed, such as Wheatstone bridges and compensators. In 1963, Dr Bleeker retired, but her firm continued until 1978, when nearly all activities ceased. Only the interests in Bleeker’s range of resistors continued. The current manufacturer still refers to ‘Bleeker’s principle’ in rela- tion to the quality of the resistors.
Qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de Cordia americana coletadas na planta e no solo
Authors: Walker Clair , Mezzomo Ricardo , Maciel Caciara Gonzatto , Muniz Marlove Fátima Brião , Araujo Maristela Machado
Published: October 2015

A guajuvira é uma espécie florestal nativa amplamente distribuída no território brasileiro e possui demanda de pesquisas quanto à qualidade de suas sementes. Este trabalho teve como objetivos, avaliar a qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de guajuvira, coletadas na planta e após sua dispersão no solo em diferentes períodos. As variáveis analisadas foram: teor de água das sementes, matéria seca, germinação, vigor e sanidade de sementes. A qualidade sanitária foi determinada pela identificação dos microorganismos associados às sementes, dentre os quais foram identificados: Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp., Colletotrichum sp., Aspergillus sp. e Penicillium sp. As sementes oriundas de frutos extraídos na planta atingiram valores superiores de germinação e vigor e a ocorrência de Fusarium sp. foi maior pois a associação do fungo pode ocorrer durante a maturação dos frutos.
Análise da precipitação pluvial de Pombal-PB relacionada com sistemas atmosféricos atuantes
Authors: Alves Maria de Fátima Araújo , Alves Lígia Rejane Araújo , Sarmento Erica Bento , Lima Gêanny Alves de , Crispim Diêgo Lima
Published: October 2015

Uma das principais características do semiárido nordestino é a baixa disponibilidade pluvial. Diante do exposto, o objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar a variação da precipitação pluvial de Pombal/PB entre os anos de 1994 a 2010 verificando os sistemas atmosféricos que são responsáveis pelas as precipitações e depois comparar as chuvas desse período com as dos últimos quatros anos. Utilizou-se de dados de chuvas mensais de Pombal/PB, correspondente ao período de 1994 a 2010para uma análise das chuvas entre eles e após isso foi comparado às chuvas desse período com as de 2011 a 2014. Ambos os dados foram obtidos dos registros pluviométricos da Agência Executiva de Gestão das Águas do Estado da Paraíba (AESA). Nota-se que quanto mais distante do período chuvoso, mais seco ficam os meses. Isso ocorre devido a ZCIT se deslocar mais para o norte a partir de junho em virtude dos movimentos de rotação da terra provocando seca no semiárido. Constata-se que o regime pluviométrico de Pombal/PB é caracterizado por irregularidades, e os episódios de chuvas são associados a ZCIT.
Produção e avaliação da qualidade das barras de cereais elaborada com farinha de facheiro
Authors: Deodato J. N. V. , Araújo A. S. , Severo D. S. , Silva C. C. M. , Alves G. S.
Published: October 2015

As cactáceas constituem um importante elemento da paisagem, apresentando caules suculentos, cobertos por espinhos de diversas formas, tamanhos e dimensões, junto a outras espécies de cactáceas, formam a paisagem típica da região semiárida do Brasil. O facheiro é uma cactácea xerófila, robusta, pouco ramificada, de cor verde-escura, armada de espinhos agudos; com flores grandes isoladas e altas. A proposta do trabalho foi elaborar barras de cereais com farinhas da casca e da polpa do facheiro e determinar as características microbiológicas e físico-químicas. Foram preparadas quatro formulações (5, 10, 15 e 20%) de cada farinha, variando-se a quantidade adicionada à formulação básica das barras de cereais. Os resultados das análises microbiológicas atenderam aos padrões exigidos pela legislação vigente, apresentando resultados negativos para coliforme a 45° C e Salmonella sp. Nos resultados físico-químicos apresentaram baixos valores de umidade e cinzas, elevado teores de lipídeos e sólidos solúveis totais, quantidades razoáveis de proteínas. Dessa forma, as barras de cereais com adição de farinha do facheiro é um alimento que pode ser ingeridos pela população.

Production and evaluation of the quality of cereal bars made with flour of facheiro

Abstract: The cacti are an important element of the landscape, with succulent stems, covered with spines of different shapes, sizes and dimensions, along with other cactus species, form the typical landscape of the semi-arid region of Brazil. The facheiro is a cactaceous xerófila, rugged, sparsely branched, dark green color, armed with sharp thorns; with large isolated and tall flowers. The purpose of this study was to develop cereal bars with flour peel and facheiro pulp and determine the microbiological and physico-chemical characteristics. Four formulations (5, 10, 15 and 20%) for each meal, varying the amount added to the basic formulation of the cereal bars. The results of the microbiological analyzes met the standards required by law, with negative results for coliform bacteria at 45 ° C and Salmonella sp. The physicochemical results showed low values of moisture and ash, high levels of lipids and total soluble solids, reasonable amounts of protein. Thus, the cereal bars with facheiro flour added is a food that can be eaten by the population.
Association of Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP) and Adiponectin with Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Among Obese Non Diabetic Males
Authors: Lina Yani , Lawrence Gatot Susilo , Wijaya Andi
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent years. It is commonly associated with type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. White adipose tissue (WAT) is a major site of energy storage and is important for energy homeostasis. WAT has been increasingly recognized as an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of biologically active “adipokines”. The resultant higher FFA, FABP4, FABP5 concentration; and lower concentration of adiponectin is known to be correlated with inflammation. The aim of this study was to observe the correlation between FFA, FABP4, FABP5 and adiponectin with TNF-α and Interleukin-6 as markers of inflammation.METHOD: The study was observational with a cross sectional design. The analysis was done on 69 male subjects aged 30-60 years with non diabetic abdominal obesity which is characterized by waist circumference (WC) 98.7±6.5 cm and fasting blood glucose 87.1±9.7 mg/dL. FFA testing was performed by enzymatic colorimetric assay; whereas FABP4, FABP5, TNF-α, adiponectin and IL-6 were performed by ELISA. All statistical calculations were performed with the SPSS 11.5 statistical software package. We used the Pearson or Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient to assess the correlation between various anthropometric and biochemical measures. We also used path analysis Lisrel 8.30 for Windows.RESULT: This study revealed that there was no correlation between FFA, FABP4 and adiponectin with TNF-α and Interleukin-6, whereas there was correlation between FABP5 with TNF- and Interleukin-6. This study also showed there were correlations between WC and hsCRP (r=0.314, p=0.000), WC and IL-6 (r=0.276, p=0.022), FFA and FABP4 (r=0.263, p=0.029), FABP4 and WC (r=0.249, p =0.039), FABP4 and BMI (r=0.311, p=0.009), FABP5 and TNF- (r=0.408, p=0.000), FABP5 and FABP4 (r=0.296, p=0.014), FABP5 and Interleukin-6 (r=0.248, p=0.04), Adiponectin and HDL-Cholesterol (r=0.301, p=0.012).CONCLUSION: Abdominal obesity might contribute to inflammation in obese nondiabetic males. This study indicated that in abdominal obesity, FFA may induce inflammation through FABP4 and FABP5. Advancing our understanding of the function and measurement of FABP4 and FABP5 serum concentration will give insight into the clinical diagnosis of obesity-related metabolic disorders.KEYWORDS: Obesity, Waist Circumference, Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP), Adiponectin, TNF-α, Interleukin-6, Inflammation
O Ensino de Leitura em Bloomfield e na Análise do Comportamento
Authors: Da Conceição Djenane Brasil , Passos Maria De Lourdes R. F. , De Rose Júlio César C.
Published: October 2015

Leonard Bloomfield foi um dos mais importantes linguistas do século XX, era behaviorista e influenciou muitos aspectos da obra de B. F. Skinner. Na década de 1930, Bloomfield elaborou um método de ensino de leitura, culminando na publicação de “Let’s Read,” em 1961. O procedimento de ensino básico consiste em apresentar pares de palavras que contrastam em apenas uma ou algumas letras e no planejamento cuidadoso da apresentação das relações grafema-fonema regulares, semirregulares e irregulares nestas palavras. As concepções de leitura de Bloomfield e de Skinner são muito semelhantes e o método bloomfieldiano para seu ensino é compatível com os procedimentos de ensino utilizados em análise do comportamento. Ambos consideram que um repertório básico de leitura, a emissão das respostas verbais vocais correspondentes ao texto impresso, que Skinner chama de comportamento textual, é pré-requisito para a leitura com compreensão, e defendem a elaboração de métodos de ensino que promovam a aprendizagem sem erros. Este artigo consiste numa análise do método do ensino de leitura de Bloomfield, à luz da análise comportamental, e em uma comparação entre estas perspectivas. A adaptação do método à língua portuguesa e sua combinação com princípios e procedimentos de instrução programada têm grande potencial para participar da solução do problema dos altos índices de analfabetismo funcional no Brasil.
Análise da interação terapeuta-cliente em sessões iniciais de atendimento
Authors: Tozze Karina Ferraz , Silva Alessandra Turini Bolsoni , Garcia Vagner Angelo , Nunes Patricia Luiza
Published: October 2015

A interação terapêutica é apontada, na literatura, como um fator fundamental para os processos de mudança em sessões de psicoterapia. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar e analisar a frequência e a duração de comportamentos de terapeutas e clientes em sessões iniciais. Participaram da pesquisa dez estagiários e vinte clientes. As sessões foram gravadas em áudio e categorizadas por dois observadores que utilizaram o Eixo Verbal Vocal do Terapeuta e do Cliente do Sistema Multidimensional para a Categorização de Comportamentos da Interação Terapêutica (SiMCCIT). Os resultados foram agrupados em termos de frequência e duração das categorias e foram realizadas análises de correlação (Teste Spearman’s Rho) entre as categorias. Facilitação e Solicitação de relato foram as categorias mais frequentes para o terapeuta e Relato foi a categoria mais frequente para o cliente. Solicitação de relato (terapeuta) e Relato (cliente) tiveram, também, maior duração. Houve correlações positivas entre as categorias Informações/Relações, Informações/Solicitação, Interpretação/Concordância e Aprovação/Metas. Entre as correlações negativas estão Empatia/Melhora; Empatia/Solicitação e Informações/Relato. Os resultados parecem confirmar o esperado para as primeiras sessões de intervenção, em que o objetivo, sobretudo, é acolher e colher dados, sendo a Facilitação e a Solicitação de Relato os principais manejos. Discute-se implicações para pesquisas futuras.
The Savvy Separator Series: Part 3. Scrubber Debottlenecking
Authors: Chin Robert W. , van Asperen Victor , Riesenberg J. M. , McVinnie Graham
Published: October 2015

The SPE Separations Technology Technical Section's series of articles on separator design, lessons learned, and solutions for separation problems continues with the decription of an underperforming scrubber that was suffering from too much oil carry-over. The consequences of this carry-over for the processing system are explained, a brief analysis of the scrubber design is presented, and the potential causes for the underperformance are listed. Several options for resolving the problem are discussed, and the selected option is summarized along with a comparison of the separation performance data obtained before and after the modification.
Innovative Assessments for Selecting Offshore-Platform-Decommissioning Alternatives
Authors: Truchon Stephen P. , Brzuzy Louis P. , Fawcett Deborah , Fonseca Mark
Published: October 2015

Hard substrates associated with offshore oil and gas platforms can contribute to the productivity of marine ecosystems, thereby generating local and regional economic benefits. These benefits form the basis for incorporating the platform into a rigs-to-reefs program when it is retired or for selecting some other type of removal option. There are many options for reefing platforms, each differing in environmental impact associated with dismantling and transport of the platform structure (deck, jacket, and other subsea structures). The use of science-based decision making in exploring platform-removal options can be beneficial for all stakeholders in the context of regulatory environment, complex ecosystem, and human interactions across multiple scales. Accommodating these complexities in a decisionmaking process is the foundation of an ecosystem-based-management (EBM) approach. EBM is an environmental-management approach that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem services in isolation (Christensen et al. 1996; McLeod et al. 2005; Altman et al. 2011).

The focus of this study is on one of Shell's former deepwater assets in the Gulf of Mexico. The fixed-jacket platform has been in operation for more than 35 years and extends to more than 1,000 ft of water depth off the coast of Louisiana. Few studies have been published on the ecology of marine life inhabiting deepwater platforms such as these. To begin to understand the specific contribution of this platform as an artificial reef, a stratified (across depth down the platform) study was performed by use of routinely collected remotely-operated-vessel (ROV) video footage to assess fish and sessile biotic communities. The ROV study revealed clear depth-related patterns of visually conspicuous epibiota (surface-dwelling organisms such as Lophelia pertusa) and numerous species of reef and pelagic fishes. These data were used to construct a matrix to rank the ecosystem services of several decommissioning alternatives, including complete removal of the deck and jacket; removal of the deck, topping the jacket 85 ft below the waterline, and leaving the remainder in place; and removal of the deck and transfer of the entire jacket to a rigs-to-reef location. This portion of the assessment provided a strategic framework for identifying and evaluating sensitive ecosystem services in association with both human and environmental drivers to provide realistic (actionable) guidance in the selection of these decommissioning options. The preliminary ranking illustrated that a high level of ecosystem services could be maintained by decommissioning alternatives that leave the jacket in place or transfer the jacket elsewhere as part of a rigs-to-reefs program.
Performance Testing of an Inline Electrocoalescer Device With Medium and Heavy Crudes
Authors: Grave Edward Jesus , Olson Michael David , Menchaca Arturo E. , Westra Remko W. , Akdim M. Reda
Published: October 2015

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company (EMURC) recently completed a subsea technology development and qualification program that included performance testing of an inline electrocoalescer device supplied by FMC Technologies (FMC). This paper will summarize the results from these performance tests.

Although heavy oil has been processed onshore successfully for many decades, processing heavy oil in deepwater, subsea, or Arctic fields is extremely challenging. One key challenge is oil/water separation, in which physical separation is constrained by the high viscosity of the crude and the narrow density difference between oil and water. Installing conventional electrostatic coalescers or dehydrators is often not economical or is impractical at remote locations. As part of ExxonMobil's subsea program, several different separation technologies have been investigated and tested that could enable development of these fields. One example of such a technology is an inline electrocoalescer device.

An inline electrocoalescer device enhances the coalescence of water droplets dispersed in emulsified oils. This technology has the potential to improve the performance of the downstream oil/water separator considerably. By applying an electrical field to an oil/water mixture, the dispersed water droplets become polarized and reorient themselves in the electrical field. As these water droplets approach one another, attractive forces between the individual water droplets lead to coalescence. Larger water droplets that can be separated faster and more easily in the downstream separation equipment are formed. Such a device can be used to increase the throughput, performance, and reliability of existing oil-processing systems, while reducing the energy consumption and/or use of chemical demulsifiers. In new processing systems, either subsea or topside, deployment of such a device has the potential to significantly reduce the size and weight of the downstream separation equipment, thereby lowering the overall capital expenditure.

The results presented in this paper are from performance tests that have been carried out on an inline electrocoalescer device at FMC's testing facilities in the Netherlands, with EMURC's involvement. Extensive testing was executed with both medium and heavy crude oils. The operating temperatures were varied in a range representative for subsea processing applications, where heating of the process fluids is difficult. Thus, the performance of the inline electrocoalescer device was evaluated over a range of oil viscosities. Water-in-oil concentration, flow velocity, upstream shear, and electrical-field strength were also varied to investigate their effects on the performance of the inline electrocoalescer device. The results demonstrate that the unit is able to deliver high preconditioning performance to medium- and heavy-crude-oil emulsions, provided that the appropriate process conditions and electrical settings are used.
Biologically Fixed Nitrogen in Legume Intercropped Systems: Comparison of Nitrogen‐Difference and Nitrogen‐15 Enrichment Techniques
Authors: Ashworth Amanda J. , West Charles P. , Allen Fred L. , Keyser Pat D. , Weiss Stuart A. , Tyler Donald D. , Taylor Adam M. , Warwick Kara L. , Beamer Kenneth P.
Published: October 2015

Biological N2 fixation (BNF) via legume intercrops can provide an alternative to inorganic N fertilizer and thereby minimize the economic and environmental costs of bioenergy feedstock and forage production. The objectives of this study were to (i) verify switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a non‐N2–fixing reference plant for distinguishing between soil‐ and atmosphere‐derived N; (ii) determine BNF levels via the 15N enrichment method for one cool‐season legume (red clover [Trifolium pratense L.]) and three warm‐season legumes ([partridge pea [Chamaecrista fasciculate Michx.], sunn hemp [Crotalaria juncea L.], and pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]) when intercropped into switchgrass and a near relative, guineagrass (Panicum maximum L.); and (iii) evaluate the validity of the N‐difference method by comparing it against the 15N enrichment technique in humid temperate and semiarid tropical climates. The results revealed little difference in the N assimilation rates of legume and non‐N2–fixing reference plants, suggesting that switchgrass is an appropriate reference species. Annual fixation for red clover was greatest, followed by partridge pea, and lastly sunn hemp in temperate systems (87, 84, and 35 kg ha−1, respectively), all of which tended to supply greater amounts of N in subsequent seasons. Considerably greater BNF occurred in tropical intercrop systems (exceeding 240 kg ha−1). Consequently, the BNF of selected legumes approximates or exceeds recommended N fertilizer rates (67 kg N ha−1) in both humid temperate and semiarid tropical pasture and feedstock systems. The N‐difference method did not provide estimates for BNF that were comparable to 15N‐enrichment‐derived values (P > 0.05).
Maize Water Productivity and Its Relationship to Soil Properties under Integrated Cattle Manure and Mineral‐Nitrogen Fertilizer in a Smallholder Cropping System
Authors: Dunjana Nothando , Nyamugafata Philip , Nyamangara Justice , Mango Nelson , Gwenzi Willis
Published: October 2015

Crop water productivity is often regarded as indicating the water use efficiency of crops, an important aspect, particularly under erratic rainfall conditions. This study investigated the effects of cattle manure and mineral‐N fertilizer application on maize (Zea mays L.) water productivity (MWP) on clay and sandy soils in a smallholder farming area of Zimbabwe. Four fields previously exhibiting heterogeneous fertility were managed under the following treatments: control (no amendment) and cattle manure (5, 15, and 25 Mg ha−1) + 100 kg ha−1 mineral‐N fertilizer for 7 yr. Thereafter, the effects of fertility treatment on MWP were expressed as actual maize grain yield produced per unit of seasonal transpiration modeled using AquaCrop. Furthermore, the relationship of MWP to physical soil properties was determined using principal component analysis. The MWP significantly (P < 0.05) improved with an increase in cattle manure plus mineral‐N fertilizer application over control on both soils ranging between 0.5 and 1.7 kg m−3 and between 0.24 and 1.1 kg m−3 on clay and sandy soils, respectively. The MWP was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the steady‐state infiltration rate on the clay soil and with soil organic C on the sandy soil. We concluded that cattle manure and mineral‐N fertilizer application is key to MWP improvement in rainfed smallholder cropping systems and is closely coupled with improvements in physical soil properties on clay soil than sandy soil. Therefore, the observations attest to the importance of site‐specific management that could contribute to efficient resource use in resource‐constrained farming areas.
Field‐Scale Studies Show Site‐Specific Corn Population and Yield Responses to Seeding Depths
Authors: Cox William J. , Cherney Jerome H.
Published: October 2015

Corn (Zea mays L.) seeding depth recommendations typically range from 3.8 to 5.1 cm, but few studies have been conducted in recent years. We conducted field‐scale studies on four farms at four equally spaced seeding depths (2.5–6.4 cm) in New York in 2013 and 2014 to validate seeding depth recommendations across different soil conditions. Seeding depth affected corn populations and yield in 6 of 8 site‐years but optimum seeding depth differed across sites and years within sites. Yield responses to seeding depth were small on well‐drained silt loams with reduced tillage (∼3% advantage at 3.8 vs. 2.5 and 5.1 cm in 2013 and no difference in 2014), and on somewhat poorly drained silty clay loams under no‐till (∼5.5% difference with maximum yields predicted at ∼4.2 cm in both years). Yield responses to seeding depth were larger on a somewhat poorly drained silt loam with moldboard plowing (9–15% advantage for 6.4 vs. 5.1 and 3.8 cm, respectively; maximum yields predicted at >5.78 cm in both years). On somewhat poorly drained silt loams with reduced tillage, populations had a positive quadratic response (maximum populations predicted at 5.45 cm) and yield had a positive linear response in 2013, but plant populations had a negative linear response and yield had no response in 2014. Weather conditions after planting affected yield responses inconsistently, but the data indicate that seeding depths should probably range from 3.8 to 5.1 cm on silty clay loams and from 3.8 to 6.4 cm on silt loams.
Using ozonation to eliminate the inhibition of soluble algal products (SAP) of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 on its growth in microalgal cultivation for biomass/bioenergy production
Authors: Zhuang Lin-Lan , Wu Yin-Hu , Shi Xiao-Jie , Zhang Tian-Yuan , Hu Hong-Ying
Published: October 2015

Water recycling is an effective way to reduce water consumption in the industrialization of microalgae-based biomass/bioenergy production. The soluble algal products (SAP) which inhibit the microalgae growth will accumulate in the recycled water. Therefore, the ozone oxidation treatment of SAP produced by Scenedesmus sp. LX1 was studied to reduce the inhibition of SAP. The experimental results showed that there was almost no change in the content of SAP (counted by dissolved organic carbon) after ozonation, but the inhibition of SAP on microalgae growth disappeared. The intrinsic growth rate (r) of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 in the cultivation solution containing untreated SAP was 0.52 d−1, and it rose to 0.95 d−1 after SAP was ozonized. The maximum population growth rate (Rmax) followed a similar trend, increasing from 9.19 × 105 to 13.0 × 105 cells mL−1 d−1. It was suggested that the changes of fluorescence and hydrophilic–hydrophobic/acid–base property of SAP after ozonation leads to the disappearance of SAP inhibition on microalgae growth.
Water–energy–carbon nexus: a case study of Bangkok
Authors: Shrestha Sangam , Parajuli Kshitij , Babel Mukand S. , Dhakal Shobhakar , Shinde Victor
Published: October 2015

An understanding of the nexus between water and energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is essential for sustainable water resources management. While a number of such studies on understanding this nexus have been carried out in the recent past, there have been virtually no studies that have done so for Asian cities. This study aims to plug this gap by analyzing the water–energy–carbon (WEC) nexus for Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Using mostly secondary data, and through interactions with concerned stakeholders, the study revealed that more than 335 GWh of energy is used per year for water supply (0.22 kWh of energy to drive 1 m3 of water from source to tap). About 276 million litres of water is consumed for total power production in Thailand; almost 16% of water supplied annually by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA). Of this, 0.625 million litres is consumed by electricity, utilised for water supply in Bangkok. In addition 82.2 billion kgCO2-eq is emitted by the power sector annually and energy associated with water emits 187 million kgCO2-eq/year, equal to 0.11 kgCO2-eq of GHG emission from each 1 m3 of water supplied by the MWA. This study provides information on the WEC nexus in cities as evidenced by Bangkok, which can contribute to the formulation of a policy in water and energy sectors to fulfil the objective of reducing GHG emissions.
The joint effect of water price changes and pressure management, at the economic annual real losses level, on the system input volume of a water distribution system
Authors: Kanakoudis Vasilis , Gonelas Konstantinos
Published: October 2015

This study attempts to examine the factors affecting the residential water demand level in the city of Kozani in Greece. Based on an 8-year (2005–12) detailed sample of residential water demand panel data, the values of the water price (WP) elasticity of residential demand are identified, and the influence of socio-economic and demographic factors and climate conditions on water-use levels and trends are analyzed. The system's response in terms of system input volume is examined (through the simulation model developed for the network and a pressure management (PM) application) for different scenarios of increased and decreased WP levels. Various scenarios for the real losses were examined, starting from their current level (current annual real losses), down to their economic level (economic annual real losses) after implementing PM measures. The overall objective is to determine and record the overall reaction of consumers to the changing WPs as a result of the full water cost principle implemented.
Efficient photo-oxidation of phenol and photo-inactivation of bacteria by cationic tetrakis(trimethylanilinium)porphyrins
Authors: Fayyaz Fatemeh , Rahimi Rahmatollah , Rassa Mehdi , Maleki Ali
Published: October 2015

Photo-oxidation of phenol in aqueous alkaline and neutral buffer solutions by irradiation with visible light in the presence of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium)porphyrin (TAPP) and its zinc metal ion (ZnTAPP) photo-sensitizers is described. The inhibitory effect of these molecules on the growth of Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus strophaeus and the Gram-negative strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa has also been examined. Furthermore, to determine the relationship between inhibition and attachment, the degree of binding of these photo-sensitizers to these bacteria was determined. The results show that TAPP is more effective than ZnTAPP in the photo-oxidation of phenol and photo-inactivation of the bacteria. In addition, the degree of binding of TAPP to these bacteria was more than that of ZnTAPP.
Water safety plans at EPAL's water supply system-tool to prioritize investments and mitigation actions
Authors: Carneiro R. N. , Damião S. , Benoliel M. J.
Published: October 2015

In 2007, EPAL – Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres, S.A. – started to implement a water safety plan (WSP) in its water supply system, from source to tap, following the international methodologies regarding risk management of water quality. Since the implementation of its first version of the WSP, EPAL has been working on the optimization of its methodology regarding identification and evaluation of hazards/hazardous events and risk assessment. The main objective of this optimization is the prioritization of capital investments and implementation of mitigation actions, within the integrated risk-based management of the company. For this purpose, the initial risk assessment matrixes were optimized with the integration of new specific multicriteria tools to evaluate risks associated with different types of operational assets. The final risk assessment took into account the strategic importance of each individual asset within EPAL's supply system. The new risk assessment methodologies have helped decision-making and prioritization of capital investments and also allowed EPAL to better pinpoint the critical issues to address in its supply system.
Effective production of rapid filters with polystyrene granules as a media filter
Authors: Schöntag Juliana M. , Sens Maurício L.
Published: October 2015

In conventional water treatment stations, the filter cleaning is performed with the use of filtered water. To save water and obtain higher production, the use of polystyrene (PS) beads has been proposed as a granular filter element because it is a granular element with a low specific mass. By being lightweight, this material requires a lower water velocity during backwash. The PS beads were applied in a descending rapid filter and compared to a conventional sand and anthracite filter, and its hydraulic performance was evaluated during the backwash with air and water interspersed. Although it presents a high fluidity, with lower rates (compared to conventional filters) of backwash, this fact does not necessarily represent an economy of backwash water, because it requires more time for cleaning. It was also observed that there is an optimal value for the removal of particles collected during the filtration without loss of material.
Technical coefficients of direct use of water in monetary terms for agriculture and urban water use
Authors: de Moraes M. M. G. A. , Carneiro A. C. G. , da Silva M. P. R. , Marques G. F.
Published: October 2015

The San Francisco Integration Project is a Brazilian government project aiming to bring water to the semiarid region of the northeast. The project provides funding for two diversions of the San Francisco River, supplementing the supply of local water in four Brazilian states. The Piranhas-Açú and Jaguaribe basins will become the largest recipients of these water deliveries. In this paper, we propose methodologies to state in monetary terms the technical coefficients of water use for the economic sectors associated with urban supply (US) and agricultural irrigation (AI) in different regions of these basins. These coefficients show that for the US economic sectors, at a certain level of urbanization the productivity of water is decreasing. The coefficients of AI obtained are much lower than those of US. The coefficients of AI, when calculated by crop, showed that there is generally an inadequate crop mix in the two basins. When this is associated with the low efficiency of water use, the result is a low economic value per cubic metre of water allocated to the sector. This implies, for both sectors, a need for incentives to use water in a more efficient way.
Functional properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed protein isolate and hydrolysate
Authors: Bucko Sandra , Katona Jaroslav , Popovic Ljiljana , Vastag Zuzana , Petrovic Lidija
Published: October 2015

Pumpkin seed protein isolate (PSPI) was enzymatically hydrolysed by pepsin to
obtain pumpkin seed protein hydrolysate, PSPH. Investigation on solubility,
interfacial and emulsifying properties of both PSPI and PSPH was conducted
under different conditions of pH (3-8) and ionic strength (0-1 mol/dm3 NaCl).
PSPI had the lowest solubility, i.e. isoelectric point (pI), at pH 5. PSPH
had higher solubility than PSPI over whole range of pH and ionic strengths
tested. Decrease in surface and interfacial tension evidenced that both PSPI
and PSPH adsorb at air/protein solution and oil/protein solution interface.
Emulsions (20 % oil in water) stabilized by 1 g/100cm3 PSPI or PSPH solution
were prepared at pH 3, 5 and 8 and ionic strength of 0 and 0.5 mol/dm3 NaCl.
PSPH stabilized emulsions from coalescence at all pH and ionic strengths
tested. PSPI was able to stabilize emulsions at pH 3 and 0 mol/dm3 NaCl, and
at pH 8 regardless of ionic strength, while emulsions at pH 5 and both 0 and
0.5 mol/dm3 NaCl and at pH 3 when ionic strength was increased separated to
oil and serum layer immediately after preparation. All emulsions were
susceptible to creaming instability.
Role of ascitic fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) and serum CA-125 in the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis
Authors: Ali N , Nath NC , Parvin R , Rahman A , Bhuiyan TM , Rahman M , Mohsin MN
Published: October 2015

This cross sectional study was carried out in the department of gastroenterology, BIRDEM, Dhaka from January 2010 to May 2011 to determine the role of ascitic fluid ADA and serum CA-125 in the diagnosis of clinically suspected tubercular peritonitis. Total 30 patients (age 39.69±21.26, 18M/12F) with clinical suspicion of tuberculosis peritonitis were included in this study after analyzing selection criteria. Laparoscopic peritoneal biopsy with histopathological diagnosis was considered gold standard against which accuracics of two biomarkers (ADA & CA-125) were compared. Cut off value of ADA and CA-125 are 24 u/l, 35 U/ml respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of ADA as a diagnostic modality in tuberculos peritonitis were 87.5%, 83.33%, 95.45%, 62.5% and 86.67% respectively where as CA-125 was found to have 83.33% sensitivity, 50% specificity, 86.9% positive predictive value, 42.85% negative predictive value and 76.6% accuracy. Both biomarkers are simple, non-invasive, rapid and relatively cheap diagnostic test where as laparoscopy is an invasive procedure, costly & requires trained staff and not without risk and also not feasible in all the centre in our country. So ascitic fluid ADA and serum CA-125 are important diagnostic test for peritoneal tuberculosis.Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2014; 40 (3): 89-91
Elevated serum ?hCG and dyslipidemia in second trimester as predictors of subsequent Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
Authors: Mallick MP , Ray S , Medhi R , Bisai S
Published: October 2015

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that pregnant women with high serum ?hCG level and serum dyslipidemia in second trimester are more prone to develop subsequent Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). Materials & Methods: One hundred pregnant women with singleton pregnancy between 14 and 20 weeks of gestation attending antenatal outpatient department (OPD) of SMCH were studied. Serum ?hCG was estimated by two-site chemiluminescent-immunometric method. Serum lipid profile was evaluated by enzymatic colorimetric test with Lipid Clearing Factor (LCF). Results: Eighteen cases developed PIH while eighty two cases remained normotensive. The serum ?hCG level was significantly high (p?0.001) in those women developing PIH. Serum concentration of total cholesterol in women who subsequently developed PIH was significantly higher than that of normotensive group (p ?0.05). Mean TG value in PIH group was higher than the normotensive group. Level of LDL in PIH group was also significant (p?0.05). Conclusion: Present study showed that elevated serum ?hCG and Dyslipidemia in second trimester can be considered as predictors of subsequent PIH / Pre-eclampsia. However, there is need of large community based prospective study to validate the result.Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2014; 40 (3): 97-101
HLA-B27 antigen frequency among suspected Spondyloarthropathy patients attaining a tertiary level hospital of Bangladesh
Authors: Nessa A , Tabassum S , Sultana S
Published: October 2015

Human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27), a class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex has a strong disease association with different types of spondarthropathies (SpA). The strength of this disease association varies markedly among racial and ethnic populations. The present study aimed to identify the HLA-B27 antigen frequencies among suspected SpA patients as well as healthy Bangladeshi individuals. The frequency of HLA-B27 was determined in 1500 patients and 1000 healthy subjects attending the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). HLAB 27 typing was done by microlymphocytotoxicity test using commercial kit. A total of 738 (49.2%) suspected SpA patients and 107 (10.7%) healthy subjects tested positive for HLA-B27 antigen with higher frequency among younger age groups (54.9%, 52.4% and 56.2% in 0-14 years, 15-24 years and 2534 years of age respectively). The male female positivity was almost same (11.4% and 9.6%) among control group, but in patient group it was 53.0% and 41.2% respectively. The findings of this hospital based study showed a high frequency of HLA-B27 among suspected SpA patients with male preponderance which is comparable with neighboring countries.Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2014; 40 (3): 102-106
Evaluation of Water Productivity for Different Rice Based Cropping Sequences in Gazipur
Authors: Parveen S , Khan MSA , Hassan MN , Sattar MA
Published: October 2015

Declining trend of water resources for Boro rice cultivation in different areas lead researchers and farmers to find out alternate cropping sequences. A field experiment was conducted in silty clay soil to evaluate the water productivity and profitability of different rice based cropping sequences during 2006-07 to 2008-09 at the BRRI farm, Gazipur. Three cropping sequences viz T. Aman-Boro-Fallow, T. Aman-Wheat-Mungbean and T. Aman-Potato-Mungbean and three water regimes assigned differently for each component crops were evaluated in a split-plot design. Among the cropping sequences, T. Aman-Potato-Mungbean with one irrigation at vegetative and two in reproductive stages for T. Aman rice, three irrigation each at 20, 40 and 60 DAS for potato and two irrigations for mungbean gave significantly higher rice equivalent yield of 33.40, 22.59 and 28.44 t ha-1 in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. The variation in yield equivalence was mostly governed by potato crop grown in Rabi season. The maximum water productivity of 23.41, 18.57 and 23.62 kg ha-1 mm was recorded in rainfed for T. Aman and mungbean and one irrigation for potato in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. The higher yield of potato raised the water productivity in T. Aman-Potato-Mungbean cropping sequence. Maximum net return of Tk 2,28,056, 2,75,389 and 4,05,986 and maximum BCR values from T. Aman-Potato- Mungbean cropping sequence with T3 irrigation regimes of the respective crops during 2006-7, 2007-8 and 2008-9 respectively indicated that the sequence would be suitable for getting higher yield and economic return.Bangladesh Rice j. 2015, 19(1): 41-48
Tertiaries and the Scottish Observance: St Martha's Hospital in Aberdour and the Institutionalisation of the Franciscan Third Order
Authors: More Alison
Published: October 2015

Using the community of St Martha's Hospital in Aberdour as a case study, this article places the experiences of Scottish tertiary women in the wider European context. In 1488 Pope Innocent VIII confirmed the introduction of the third order of St Francis to Scotland via a small community of women in Aberdour. Although the surviving information regarding this community is both scarce and contradictory, it is compatible with the information that is available for tertiary communities throughout Europe. To understand the complexity of the canonical situation that arose around such communities, this article traces papal proclamations on the subject from 1289 (Supra montem) to 1413 (Personas vacantes). Close examination suggests that Innocent did not bring a new form of life to Scotland but a system of regularisation and identity. Throughout Europe various groups of non-monastic women were given the name ‘tertiary’ or said to ‘join’ the Franciscan third order. Both in Scotland and on the continent, these groups were generally connected with the larger movement of observant reform that took hold from c. 1370–1500. Although tertiary life never became an integral part of the Scottish ecclesiastical climate, the parallels between the ways that communities were regulated sheds additional light on the relationship between religious communities in Scotland and Europe.
Burns and the Bank Manager: Robert Burns in the Shadow of the Debtors’ Prison
Authors: McGinn Clark
Published: October 2015

The debate about the personal ‘frailties’ of Robert Burns started at his death and continues today. It is common ground that the poet was never a wealthy man, but was financial management one of those personal failings? When he wrote anxious begging letters on his death bed was he in real danger of the debtors’ prison, or were they the depressed thoughts of a dying man? By using the credit analytics of banking on a volume of legal papers found in the National Records of Scotland concerning Burns's estate, it is now possible for the first time to give a definitive answer to this controversy to determine if he died in debt, leaving his family unprovided and facing potential destitution.
Andrew Lang and Scottish Historiography: Taking on Tradition
Authors: Macdonald Catriona M. M.
Published: October 2015

The career and posthumous reputation of Andrew Lang (1844–1912) call into question Scottish historiographical conventions of the era following the death of Sir Walter Scott which foreground the apparent triumph of scientific methods over Romance and the professionalisation of the discipline within a university setting. Taking issue with the premise of notions relating to the Strange Death of Scottish History in the mid-nineteenth century, it is proposed that perceptions of Scottish historiographical exceptionalism in a European context and presumptions of Scottish inferiorism stand in need of re-assessment. By offering alternative readings of the reformation, by uncoupling unionism from whiggism, by reaffirming the role of Romance in ‘serious’ Scottish history, and by disrupting distinctions between whig and Jacobite, the historical works and the surviving personal papers of Andrew Lang cast doubt on many conventional grand narratives and the paradigms conventionally used to make sense of Scottish historiography.
Cytotoxic Evaluation of e-Liquid Aerosol using Different Lung-Derived Cell Models
Authors: Scheffler Stefanie , Dieken Hauke , Krischenowski Olaf , Aufderheide Michaela
Published: October 2015

The in vitro toxicological evaluation of e-liquid aerosol is an important aspect of consumer protection, but the cell model is of great significance. Due to its water solubility, e-liquid aerosol is deposited in the conducting zone of the respiratory tract. Therefore, primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells are more suitable for e-liquid aerosol testing than the widely used alveolar cell line A549. Due to their prolonged lifespan, immortalized cell lines derived from primary NHBE cells, exhibiting a comparable in vitro differentiation, might be an alternative for acute toxicity testing. In our study, A549 cells freshly isolated NHBE cells and the immortalized cell line CL-1548 were exposed at the air-liquid interface to e-liquid aerosol and cigarette mainstream smoke in a CULTEX® RFS compact module. The cell viability was analyzed 24 h post-exposure. In comparison with primary NHBE cells, the CL-1548 cell line showed lower sensitivity to e-liquid aerosol but significantly higher sensitivity compared to A549 cells. Therefore, the immortalized cell line CL-1548 is recommended as a tool for the routine testing of e-liquid aerosol and is preferable to A549 cells.