bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the Changes of Physico-Chemical Properties of Lead-Acid Batteries
Authors: Chen Chuan Min , Zhang Jing , Zhu Li Na , Liu Song Tao
Published: June 2015

Lead-acid batteries were widely used in many industries as important power supply devices for military and civil industries, transport and shipment devices owing to its advantages of low cost,high performance and safety. According to statistics, most lead-acid batteries can reach 1-2 years life under operating conditions, generating millions of used lead-acid batteries each year in China, which caused economic and environmental losses if not properly treated. The changes of physico-chemical properties in the process of operation of lead-acid battery were summarized in this paper. The corrosion and deformation of grids, water loss in electrolyte, aging of separators, corrosion of plates and irreversible sulfation were the main physico-chemical properties changes resulting in battery failure. In the homogeneous acidic medium, the grid of the lead-acid battery corroded away, one side was dotted distribution, and the other side was interlaced net shape. The corrosion of grids and incomplete reaction may lead to the water loss in electrolyte. What’s more, there existed a series of chemical reactions that reducing the battery capacity and leading to the failure of batteries, such as the aging and elastic collision of separators and irreversible sulfation. By analyzing the physico-chemical properties changes in the process of operation, the study supplied the direction for the specification of operating conditions and the extending of service life of lead-acid battery. The basic theories were provided for the repair, regeneration and recovery of lead-acid batteries.
Research on Environmental Impact Evaluation and Recycling Systematic Assessment of Plastic Waste in China
Authors: Li Shu Yuan , Jiang Jia Jing , Zhang Bing
Published: June 2015

With the increasing of plastic consumption, the recycling of plastic waste has become an important problem with huge environmental impact. In order to analyze the environmental impact of plastic waste recycling, this study presents a systematic evaluation framework for plastic waste’s recycling process in China. Based on the framework, theoretical analysis and experimental research are made to evaluate the relationship of scale volume and environmental impact of plastic waste recycling. Cost and energy consumption of typical processing of plastic wastes have been calculated. And an optimization research is made to reduce the environmental impact, and increase recycling output efficiency for enterprise and local region.
Determination on Metal Elements and Water-Soluble Anion in PM2.5
Authors: Fu Zhen , Wu Ying
Published: June 2015

Samplings of PM2.5 used to determine water-soluble anions were obtained from four representative sites of Hefei. There are High-tech zone, Binhu new area, Hupo villa, Dongpu reservoir. The other samplings of PM2.5 used to determine metal elements came from four kinds of domestic waste combustion. There are paper, plastic, cotton, rubber. In this article, anions were detected by ion chromatography (IC). It was found that the main anions in PM2.5 are NO3-, SO42-. Metal elements were detected by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr six kinds of metal elements were detected in this article. The main metal elements in samplings of PM2.5 are Fe and Cu element. The concentrations of Cd and Cr elements are lower in four domestic waste burning.
UF Membrane Cleaning Fouled by Food Waste Fermentation
Authors: Lin Han , Wang Li Juan , Wang Qun Hui , Zheng Jin , Sonomoto Kenji
Published: June 2015

Flush and chemical cleaning were applied to remove foulants on UF membrane fouled by lactic acid fermentation of food waste. Flushing methods, flushing time and agents for chemical cleaning were studied. The obtained results indicated that backwash at 0.1 MPa for 10s and chemical cleaning with NaClO could gain the best cleaning effect.
Life Cycle Analysis on Regenerating and Energy Recovery of Plastic Solid Waste Management in Shanghai
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Guan Jie , Wang Jing Wei , Wu Wen Jie , Zhang Cheng Long
Published: June 2015

Over the past several decades with significant technological advances there has been continuous increase in plastic manufacturing in China, which has contributed to the production of a great deal of plastics worldwide every year, and at the same time it has resulted in a large amount of plastic solid waste (PSW). It has great potential values for waste plastics to reuse as secondary materials, which may lessen pressure on resource and environment. The paper studies the status of waste plastics in recycling, reusing and reducing on management countering on the increase in the flow of waste plastics in Shanghai. In light of the methodology of life cycle, the study analyzes the environmental impacts associating with the alternatives in a ‘cradle to grave’ approve to PSW technological recycling systems. We will choose regenerating and energy recovery processes based on site investigation and literatures data in Shanghai to analyze recycling options and how various processes affect the environment. Life-cycle methodology was very suitable for evaluating the overall environmental consequences, and could be used for making decisions and planning strategies with the rapid increase of plastic solid waste generation for Shanghai.
The Study on Thermal Stability of Hg and S Element in Semi-Dry Flue Gas Desulfurization Ash
Authors: Shen Yu , Yang Li Sha , Li Chao Jie , Chen Chuan Min , Liu Song Tao
Published: June 2015

The semi-dry flue gas desulfurization technology is widely used by coal-fired power plant. Desulfurization ash produced by semi-dry flue gas desulfurization, which consist CaSO3, CaCO3, Ca (OH) 2, CaSO4 and so on. It will bring new environment pollution if not been disposed properly. Building material industry is the main field in terms of the comprehensive utilization of desulfurization ash. While hazardous elements especial S and Hg may be released in the condition of temperature changes in the process of desulfurization ash utilization, causing second environment pollution. Combined with the research achievement of preparing autoclaved brick before, the content of S and Hg in raw materials and autoclaved brick were studied during the thermal utilization process in this article. The thermal stability of calcium sulfite was analyzed by the chemical reagent calcium sulfite. The results shown that calcium sulfite only lost crystal water whether in oxygen or air when the temperature is below 450°C, calcium sulfite was completely oxidized to calcium sulfate when the temperature is 475 °C in oxygen or 515°C in air. The contents of S and Hg which existed in desulfurization ash were 7.03%wt and 460μg/kg, respectively. The contents of S and Hg in autoclaved brick which made by desulfurization ash mainly were 5.16%wt and 450μg/kg, respectively. The results shown that the content of elements S and Hg in raw materials and autoclaved brick were roughly the same, which indicated that S and Hg no escape in the process of preparing autoclaved brick. The research provided a certain references for the comprehensive utilization of semi-dry flue gas desulfurization ash in the condition of heat and humid.
Feasibility of Bioaugmentation with Iron/Sulfur Oxidizing Acidophiles to Enhance Copper Bioleaching from a Flotation Copper Ore
Authors: Zhang Li Juan , Mao Feng , Li Kai , Chen Xin Hua , Zhou Hong Bo
Published: June 2015

The feasibility of one strategy of bioaugmentation was assessed to enhance copper extraction from chalcopyrite. Bioaugmentation consisted of the re-addition of one iron/sulfur oxidizing acidophile (Acidithiobacillus caldus, Ferroplasma thermophilumorLeptospirillum ferriphilum) into the early stage (on the 5thday) of the bioleaching system. The strain selection and inoculum concentration of bioaugmentation were separately investigated by comparing changes in the bioleaching performance and leached solid residues. Results indicated that bioaugmentation with three augmented strains synergistically promoted the total microbial growth and increased the cell numbers, and then accelerated the iron/sulfur oxidation, thereby catalytically regenerated the copper leaching agents of Fe3+and H+compared to the unamended control. Finally, an enhancement in copper extraction was detected and moreover positively correlated with the introducing cell numbers. Particularly, re-addition ofL.ferriphilumon the 5thday showed the best improvement in copper leaching, which remarkably shortened the incubation time (12 days) of almost full copper extraction while only 85.8% of copper was leached after 24 days in the control. Therefore, bioaugmentation could be a useful bio-remedy to improve the bioleaching kinetics and level of copper ore.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Poly-Phosphate Release from Sewage Sludge with Thermal Treatment
Authors: Zhang Ming Yang , Du Jian Wei , Kuba Takahiro , Wen Yong
Published: June 2015

Phosphorus is a necessary nutrient element to all lives in the world. Distribution and phosphate rock reserves in the world disclose shortage crisis of phosphorus. Thus phosphorus recovery has been a research hot spot in the world. Mr.Ohtake’ group [1] recommended a new method to recover phosphorus from sewage sludge during heating process. It seems that nearly 90% of the poly-phosphate (poly-P) and 87% of total phosphate (T-P) can be released from cultivated sludge by heating at 70 °C for 1 hour. Meanwhile, released poly-P can precipitate with Ca in neutral condition without any pH adjustment. Sewage sludge was used in this research to identify its performance during thermal treatment. With the increase of temperature and heating time, release of poly-P and T-P increased obviously. However, poly-P would be hydrolyzed when temperature was higher than 80 °C. With addition of EDTA, release of poly-P increased nearly 100%. Migration of metal cations during thermal treatment can provide indirect evidence which kinds of metal cations would make impediment on poly-P release. A novel phenomenon was observed poly-P mixed with ortho-phosphate can precipitate with NH4+ and Mg2+ as struvite at pH 8.5.
Research on the Optimization of Beijing Municipal Sewage Plant Sludge Dewatering Reagent Cationic Polyacrylamide
Authors: Zhu Fen Fen , Wei Xiang , Qi Juan Juan , Xiong Yi Qun , Zhao Lu Yao
Published: June 2015

With Chinese continuous improvement of the urbanization and industrialization level, water pollution has becoming more and more serious, and the by-product —sludge has caught the focus of public attention. The total amount of sewage sludge produced in Beijing in 2010 is about 3,700t/d (wet base), 2,500t/d of which is from the urban area and 1,200t/d is from country side. Such a large amount of sludge with abundant water brought great difficulties to the subsequent processing. However, the cost of sludge treatment amounts to almost half of the sewage plant running cost while the consumption of drug covered more than half of the sludge treatment expenditure. Another aspect is that the water content of the dewatered sewage sludge is not stable, because of the variation of inlet amount and quality. Without knowing the relationship between the characteristics of sewage sludge and conditioning reagent, the operator just try to add more reagent, which in the end increase the cost of sludge treatment. Meanwhile, cationic polyacrylamide (C-PAM) is currently the most widely used sludge conditioning reagent. This research is to find out the relationship between the characteristics of sewage sludge and adding dosage of CPAM, which can be the first step to discuss how to adjust the conditioning reagent according to sewage sludge with different characteristics.Polyacrylamide (PAM) of different cationic (15%,35%,45%,60%), molecular weight (8 million, 10million, 12million) and dosage (2‰,3‰,4‰,5‰,6‰) are under testing in the experiment considering the index of capillary suction time (CST).Experimental material is the sludge from digestion tank in one of Beijing sewage plants. According to the experiment, it was found that the 8million-10million molecular weight, 4‰-6‰ adding dosage perform the best.
Safe Utilization of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Agriculture and Forestry
Authors: Hei Liang , Wang Hui , Wu Qi Tang , Yu Wei Peng
Published: June 2015

Municipal sewage sludge has been increasingly produced in China with the development of municipal wastewater treatment. The use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer and soil amendment has resulted in high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and food limiting its use. Controlling the pollution of heavy metals is the key factor to realize the safe utilization of sewage sludge. The present study was carried out to find scientific basis to the appropriate sludge applications in agriculture and forestry. Pilot experiments inEucalyptusforest showed that the total yield and nutrient amount ofP.hydridumwere significantly higher thanA.marorrhiza, the annual average yield in dry weight and total nutrient amount ofP.hydridumwere 21.32 thm-2and 1248.2 kghm-2, respectively, 9.18 times and 3.58 times that ofA.marorrhiza, soP.hydridumwere more suitable to be the converting plant from sludge to biochar or organic fertilizer. After plants treatment, the maturity of sludge increased significantly, water content and soluble heavy metals decreased obviously, so that the agricultural safety increased, and the all indicators were conformed to the sludge requirements for agricultural use. In addition, theEucalyptustrees grow well with a large spread of sewage sludge. Nutrient contents ofEucalyptusforestland soil increased and heavy metal contents of the topsoil beneath the sludge did not significantly increase.
Research on the Hazardous Waste Management in Netherlands
Authors: Wang Xiao Yan
Published: June 2015

The waste management system in Netherlands is sound, complete and operates efficiently. At the time of implementing the EU w aste management legislation, it continues to expand and improve its related laws and regulations. Waste management is not only to reduce pollution and achieve sound processing, but also to outstand its recycling. The research tried to provide some suggestion on amendment for the relative hazardous waste pollution control technology policy in China based on the Dutch policy and hazardous waste management and disposal technologies.
Preparation of Solid Fuel Hydrochars from Waste Biomass by Hydrothermal Carbonization
Authors: Peng Na Na , Liu Zhen Gang
Published: June 2015

Coconut fiber (CF) and eucalyptus leaves (EL) were upgraded by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and fuel qualities of corresponding hydrochars were determined in the present study. Compared to raw biomass, the hydrochars have increased energy density, and the decreased nitrogen and sulfur contents showed that reduced pollutant emissions are produced during hydrochar combustion. The ignition temperatures of hydrochars were higher and the combustion also shifted to higher temperature ranges. In addition, HTC significantly reduced the slagging and fouling tendencies of raw biomass and the fouling index of CF and EL changed from 2.59 to 0.09 and 1.11 to 0.24, respectively. This study demonstrated that solid fuel with high quality can be produced by HTC and improved thermal efficiency and environmental benefits can be achieved by hydrochar combustion.
The OECD Experience of Setting Pollutant Release and Transfer Register to Facilitate Waste Management in Developing Countries
Authors: Zhang Chao , Li Jin Hui , Zheng Li Xia
Published: June 2015

Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) has been adopted in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries since 1970s to help stimulate public participation, facilitate environmental regulation and promote industrial transformation, but have not been adequately established worldwide. In developing countries, environmental pollution is increasing rapidly and has reached severe levels as a result of economic development in the absence of effective environmental regulation and adequate public pressure. During the current exploratory period for establishing a PRTR, developing countries needs support and knowledge when it concerns PRTR schemes and the mechanisms of improving business behavior. Based on literature review and expert interviews, this paper gives a detailed introduction on the PRTR mechanism and concludes common and differentiated experience of PRTR in representative OECD countries, in order to form an overall reference of the OECD experience and provide specified enlightenments to facilitate the waste management in developing countries.
Wisdom’s rebellion: Kingdom politics as a guerrilla drama
Authors: Kruger Petrus P.
Published: June 2015

This article aims at exploring kingdom politics in South Africa as a guerrilla drama, not only of a contemporary play of wisdom as human virtue, but specifically in the form of the personified Wisdom’s play (cf. Christ’s parable of the children on the marketplace; Lk 7). Firstly, it investigates the availability of hermeneutical space for such an enterprise, attending to the concept of rebellion vis-à-vis a scripture-based, imaginative, theodramatic articulation of the Wisdom’s play of the parable. Secondly, the public space for the enactment of such a ‘wisdom’s rebellion’ is probed. It should not be neutrally indifferent to, but positively advancing of, the nearly universally accepted ‘golden rule’. The public space should, in the public imagination, be seen and treated as a kind of public theatre, hospitable to a plurality of worldviews, each freely and imaginatively enacting its own political alternatives before the critical eyes of a democratic voting public. A follow-up article will attempt to outline the difference it might make to the human dignity of the participants (actors) and in their humane political actions (theodramatic roles), if they can imagine themselves as performing (not only theorising about and not only feeling passionately about) wisdom’s subversive play of God’s kingdom in South Africa. Hierdie artikel stel ondersoek in na koninkrykspolitiek in Suid-Afrika as ’n guerrilladrama wat die vorm van ’n wysheidspel aanneem; nie alleen ’n eietydse spel van wysheid as ’n menslike deug nie, maar veral as spel van die gepersonifieerde Wysheid (vgl. Christus se gelykenis van die kinders wat op die markplein speel; Luk 7). Eerstens word na die beskikbaarheid van ’n hermeneutiese ruimte vir so ’n onderneming gevra. Daarby word aandag geskenk aan die konsep van rebellie in verband met ’n skriftuurlik gefundeerde, verbeeldingryke, teodramatiese uitwerking van Wysheid se spel na aanleiding van die genoemde gelykenis.Tweedens word die publieke ruimte vir ‘Wysheid se rebellie’ heuristies afgetas. Hierdie ruimte mag nie neutraal-onverskillig wees nie, maar moet positief-bevorderend staan teenoor die feitlik universeel-aanvaarde ‘goue reël’. Die publieke ruimte moet in die publieke verbeelding as ’n soort publieke teater gesien en hanteer word, waar ’n pluraliteit van wêreldbeskouings gasvry verwelkom word sodat elkeen vrylik en verbeeldingryk, tussen die ander, sy eie politieke alternatief voor ’n kritiese, demokratiese kieserskorps kan ‘uitbeeld’. ’n Opvolg artikel sal probeer aantoon watter verskil dit aan die menslike waardigheid van die deelnemers (akteurs) en aan hulle menswaardige politieke aksies kan maak, wanneer hulle in hulle verbeelding hulleself nie net as denkers oor of passievol-voelendende deelnemers van Wysheid se subversiewe drama van God se koninkryk in Suid-Afrika beskou nie.
’n Tydige en omvattende boek oor die emosies van Jesus Christus
Authors: Lotter George A.
Published: June 2015

No abstract available.
Aerosols over continental Portugal (1978–1993): their sources and an impact on the regional climate
Authors: Morozova A. L. , Mironova I. A.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Understanding of aerosol sources that affect climate is an ongoing problem facing scientists as well as policymakers. The role of aerosols in local climate variability depends on a balance between light absorbing and scattering particles as well as on variability of environmental conditions. In this paper we investigate variability of aerosol content (both absorbing and scattering ultraviolet radiation) over continental Portugal in connection with aerosol sources (volcanic eruptions, dust events, wildfires and anthropogenic pollution). The effect of the aerosol on the climate is studied analyzing their contribution to variations of temperature, pressure, sunshine duration and precipitation over Portuguese regions. The present analysis is based on a developed modern multiple regression technique allowing us to build the statistical correlation models to determine both the main local aerosol sources and aerosol's influence on the climate of continental Portugal during 1978–1993. The analysis allows us to conclude that the main sources driving the variations of the aerosol content over studied locations are wildfires, mineral dust intrusions and anthropogenic pollution. The relations between the aerosol content variations and the atmospheric parameters depend on the level of urbanization of the studied region, the type of aerosol and the season. The most significant finding is the decrease of the daily maximum temperature (and diurnal temperature range) related to the decrease of sunshine duration observed during the summer periods of increased content of the absorbing aerosols in the atmosphere.
A 12-year observation of water-soluble ions in TSP aerosols collected at a remote marine location in the western North Pacific: an outflow region of Asian dust
Authors: Boreddy S. K. R. , Kawamura K.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. In order to characterize the long-term trend of remote marine aerosols, a 12-year observation was conducted for water-soluble ions in TSP (total suspended particulate) aerosols collected from 2001 to 2012 in the Asian outflow region at Chichijima Island in the western North Pacific. We found a clear difference in chemical composition between the continentally affected and marine background air masses over the observation site. Asian continental air masses are delivered from late autumn to spring, whereas marine air masses were dominated in summer. Concentrations of non-sea salt (nss-) SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, nss-K+ and nss-Ca2+ are high in winter and spring and low in summer. On the other hand, MSA− (methanesulfonate) exhibits higher concentrations during spring and winter, probably due to springtime dust bloom or due to the direct continental transport of MSA− to the observation site. We could not find any clear decadal trend for Na+, Cl−, Mg2+ and nss-Ca2+ in all seasons, although there exists a clear seasonal trend. However, concentrations of nss-SO42− continuously decreased from 2007 to 2012, probably due to the decreased SO2 emissions in East Asia especially in China. In contrast, nss-K+ and MSA− concentrations continuously increased from 2001 to 2012 during winter and spring seasons, demonstrating that biomass burning and/or terrestrial biological emissions in East Asia are being increasingly transported from the Asian continent to the western North Pacific. This study also demonstrates that Asian dusts can act as an important source of nutrients for phytoplankton and thus sea-to-air emission of dimethyl sulfide over the western North Pacific.
Improving aerosol interaction with clouds and precipitation in a regional chemical weather modeling system
Authors: Zhou C. , Zhang X. , Gong S. , Wang Y. , Xue M.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. A comprehensive aerosol–cloud–precipitation interaction (ACI) scheme has been developed under CMA chemical weather modeling system GRAPES/CUACE. Calculated by a sectional aerosol activation scheme based on the information of size and mass from CUACE and the thermal-dynamic and humid states from the weather model GRAPES at each time step, the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) is fed online interactively into a two-moment cloud scheme (WDM6) and a convective parameterization to drive the cloud physics and precipitation formation processes. The modeling system has been applied to study the ACI for January 2013 when several persistent haze-fog events and eight precipitation events occurred. The results show that interactive aerosols with the WDM6 in GRAPES/CUACE obviously increase the total cloud water, liquid water content and cloud droplet number concentrations while decrease the mean diameter of cloud droplets with varying magnitudes of the changes in each case and region. These interactive micro-physical properties of clouds improve the calculation of their collection growth rates in some regions and hence the precipitation rate and distributions in the model, showing 24 to 48% enhancements of TS scoring for 6 h precipitation in almost all regions. The interactive aerosols with the WDM6 also reduce the regional mean bias of temperature by 3 °C during certain precipitation events, but the monthly means bias is only reduced by about 0.3 °C.
Path-integral method for the source apportionment of photochemical pollutants
Authors: Dunker A. M.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. A new, path-integral method is presented for apportioning the concentrations of pollutants predicted by a photochemical model to emissions from different sources. A novel feature of the method is that it can apportion the difference in a species concentration between two simulations. For example, the anthropogenic ozone increment, which is the difference between a simulation with all emissions present and another simulation with only the background (e.g., biogenic) emissions included, can be allocated to the anthropogenic emission sources. The method is based on an existing, exact mathematical equation. This equation is applied to relate the concentration difference between simulations to line or path integrals of first-order sensitivity coefficients. The sensitivities describe the effects of changing the emissions and are accurately calculated by the decoupled direct method. The path represents a continuous variation of emissions between the two simulations, and each path can be viewed as a separate emission-control strategy. The method does not require auxiliary assumptions, e.g., whether ozone formation is limited by the availability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or nitrogen oxides (NOx), and can be used for all the species predicted by the model. A simplified configuration of the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) is used to evaluate the accuracy of different numerical integration procedures and the dependence of the source contributions on the path. A Gauss–Legendre formula using three or four points along the path gives good accuracy for apportioning the anthropogenic increments of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and nitric acid. Source contributions to these increments were obtained for paths representing proportional control of all anthropogenic emissions together, control of NOx emissions before VOC emissions, and control of VOC emissions before NOx emissions. There are similarities in the source contributions from the three paths but also differences due to the different chemical regimes resulting from the emission-control strategies.
Biogeochemical processes controlling density stratification in an iron-meromictic lake
Authors: Nixdorf E. , Boehrer B.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Biogeochemical processes and mixing regime of a lake can control each other mutually. The prominent case of iron meromixis is investigated in Waldsee near Doebern, a small lake that originated from surface mining of lignite. From a four years data set of monthly measured electrical conductivity profiles, we calculated summed conductivity as a quantitative variable reflecting the amount of electro-active substances in the entire lake. Seasonal variations followed changing chemocline height. Coinciding changes of electrical conductivities in the monimolimnion indicated that a considerable share of substances, precipitated by the advancing oxygenated epilimnion, re-dissolved in the remaining anoxic deep waters and contributed considerably to the density stratification. In addition, we constructed a lab experiment, in which aeration of monimolimnetic waters removed iron compounds and organic material. Precipitates could be identified by visual inspection. Introduced air bubbles ascended through the water column and formed a water mass similar to the mixolimnetic Waldsee water. The remaining less dense water remained floating on the nearly unchanged monimolimnetic water. In conclusion, iron meromixis as seen in Waldsee did not require two different sources of incoming waters, but the inflow of iron rich deep groundwater and the aeration through the lake surface were fully sufficient.
Evaluation for the effect of non-stationary nutrient transport on the coastal seaweed cultivation in western Japan
Authors: Saito M. , Onodera S. , Hidaka G. , Tokumasu M.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. In order to evaluate the effects of non-stationary nutrient transport on the coastal seaweed cultivation, variations of the seaweed yield, nutrient condition of seawater, rainfall and nutrient transport from the river, observed over the last 40 years were examined to characterize the long-term trends and the influencing factors on the variation of seaweed yield. The results show that seaweed yield increased until 1973, then decreased in recent years. The recent condition of nutrients in seawater is relatively severe for seaweed farming. The results suggest that river-derived nutrient supply to coastal area will decrease further by the decrease of river discharge. For the future prospect, it is important to evaluate the variation of other nutrient supply such as from groundwater, offshore or bottom sediment as well as river discharge.
Evaluation of short-term changes of hydrological response in mountainous basins of the Vitim Plateau (Russia) after forest fires based on data analysis and hydrological modelling
Authors: Semenova O. M. , Lebedeva L. S. , Nesterova N. V. , Vinogradova T. A.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Twelve mountainous basins of the Vitim Plateau (Eastern Siberia, Russia) with areas ranging from 967 to 18 200 km2 affected by extensive fires in 2003 (from 13 to 78% of burnt area) were delineated based on MODIS Burned Area Product. The studied area is characterized by scarcity of hydrometeorological observations and complex hydrological processes. Combined analysis of monthly series of flow and precipitation was conducted to detect short-term fire impact on hydrological response of the basins. The idea of basin-analogues which have significant correlation of flow with "burnt" watersheds in stationary (pre-fire) period with the assumption that fire impact produced an outlier of established dependence was applied. Available data allowed for qualitative detection of fire-induced changes at two basins from twelve studied. Summer flow at the Amalat and Vitimkan Rivers (22 and 78% proportion of burnt area in 2003, respectively) increased by 40–50% following the fire.The impact of fire on flow from the other basins was not detectable.The hydrological model Hydrograph was applied to simulate runoff formation processes for stationary pre-fire and non-stationary post-fire conditions. It was assumed that landscape properties changed after the fire suggest a flow increase. These changes were used to assess the model parameters which allowed for better model performance in the post-fire period.
Generalization of parameters in the storage–discharge relation for a low flow based on the hydrological analysis of sensitivity
Authors: Fujimura K. , Iseri Y. , Kanae S. , Murakami M.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. The storage-discharge relations have been widely used for water resource management and have led to reliable estimation of the impact of climate change on water resources. In a previous study, we carried out a sensitivity analysis of the parameters in a discharge-storage relation in the form of a power function and found that the optimum parameters can be characterized by an exponential function (Fujimura et al., 2014). The aim of this study is to extend the previous study to clarify the properties of the parameters in the storage–discharge relations by carrying out a sensitivity analysis of efficiency using a hydrological model. The study basins are four mountainous basins in Japan with different climates and geologies. The results confirm that the two parameters in the storage–discharge relations can be expressed in an inversely proportional relationship. In addition, we can conveniently assume a practical function for the storage–discharge relations where only one parameter is used on the basis of the new relationship between the two parameters.
The evaluation of regional frequency analyses methods for nonstationary data
Authors: Nam W. , Kim S. , Kim H. , Joo K. , Heo J.-H.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Regional frequency analysis is widely used to estimate more reliable quantiles of extreme hydro-meteorological events. The stationarity of data is required for its application. This assumption tends to be violated due to climate change. In this paper, four nonstationary index flood models were used to analyze the nonstationary regional data. Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the performances of these models for the generalized extreme value distribution with linearly time varying location parameter and constant scale and shape parameters. As a results, it was found that the index flood model with time-invariant index flood and time-variant growth curve could yield more statistically efficient quantile when record is long enough to show significant nonstationarity.
The Measurement of Bulbar Hyperemia: Challenges and Pitfalls
Authors: Baudouin Christophe , Barton Keith , Cucherat Michele , Traverso Carlo
Published: June 2015

Purpose

To review methods of assessing bulbar redness, particularly with respect to the practicality of comparing different rating systems.

Methods

The published literature was reviewed and discussed by a panel of experts and a narrative review prepared.

Results

Bulbar hyperemia is a common clinical sign and an important indicator of ocular disease. As bulbar hyperemia is a frequent side effect of topical glaucoma medications, accurate objective measurement is important to allow comparison of clinical studies. A number of different measurement systems have evolved to allow quantification of subjectively assessed redness to be rendered into a form that allows between-treatment comparisons and longitudinal changes in both clinical research and practice. Whereas widespread use of image-based rating scales has improved the assessment of bulbar redness in clinical practice and clinical research, these techniques are less than ideal. The scales are subject to an intrinsic subjectivity and are suboptimal in differentiating the physiologic phenomenon of bulbar hyperemia. There is also a degree of interobserver and intraobserver variation; in some studies, average variation in scores exceed half the extent of the whole scale. Moreover, a lack of interscale validation has led to confusion in comparing the results from clinical studies that use different scales. In a recent series of studies, cross-calibration between the various scales in use has been attempted.

Conclusions

Whereas naive comparisons between the results obtained in studies using different bulbar redness scales can lead to erroneous conclusions, the tools exist to permit meaningful comparisons between rating systems and scales.
Where There's a Will, There's a “Why”
Authors: Bissell Roger E.
Published: June 2015

The author examines the canonical Objectivist model of free will (aka “volitional consciousness”) and finds it wanting, amounting to a form of Agency—Indeterminism. Employing an Aristotelian Four Cause analysis, he explores the complementary roles of determinism and free will, as well as the conditional nature of necessity and contingency, in understanding how causality operates in the human realm. He proposes an integration of what he calls “value-determinism” and “conditional free will,” arguing that it amounts to a basic axiom of human choice and action, and urges its acceptance in place of the Orthodox Objectivist view of free will.
To Reveal or Conceal?: Introducing the Anonymous Public Concern Test for US Defamation Lawsuits
Authors: Myers Cayce
Published: June 2015

Online defamation suits present a new forum for the application of traditional defamation laws. One particular nuance of these defamation suits is frequently defendants’ identities are initially unknown to the plaintiff. Because of this, courts issue Internet service providers with subpoenas requiring them to divulge the identity of anonymous users to defamation plaintiffs. This article proposes a new test that protects online speakers’ right to anonymous speech. The “Anonymous Public Concern Test” incorporates the history of protection of anonymous speech and addresses the critiques of various pro-plaintiff, pro-defendant, and hybrid tests for online subpoenas employed by courts today.
Living Apart Together: Over de verhouding tussen toezichthouders en maatschappelijke stakeholders
Authors: Braun Caelesta
Published: June 2015

Living Apart Together: Over de verhouding tussen toezichthouders en maatschappelijke stakeholders

De verhouding tussen toezichthouders en de sector is van oudsher een netelige kwestie. Betekenisvol en legitiem toezicht vraagt om zowel distantie ten opzichte van als betrokkenheid bij de sector en andere maatschappelijke stakeholders. Een onbalans in deze relaties leidt vaak tot kritiek op het functioneren van de toezichthouder. Ook rond het functioneren van de NZa komt deze complexe relatie aan bod, maar slechts op een indirecte manier.
De lessons learned van toezichtrapporten
Authors: Ottow Annetje
Published: June 2015

De lessons learned van toezichtrapporten

Het rapport van de Commissie Borstlap past in een serie rapporten waarin, naar aanleiding van een incident, terugkijkend een feitelijke en kwalitatieve analyse wordt gedaan over de gang van zaken bij een toezichthouder. Andere rapporten die in dit rijtje thuishoren zijn onder meer: het rapport Icesave, het rapport in de DSB-affaire en het onderzoek naar de ondergang van SNS. Deze rapporten zijn waardevol, aangezien zij waardevolle lessen bevatten voor niet alleen de betrokken toezichthouder, maar ook voor andere toezichthouders. In deze bijdrage worden uit diverse rapporten de lessons learned geschetst, waarbij ook buitenlandse rapporten aan de orde komen.
Nickel‐Catalyzed Alkyl–Alkyl Cross‐Couplings of Fluorinated Secondary Electrophiles: A General Approach to the Synthesis of Compounds having a Perfluoroalkyl Substituent
Authors: Liang Yufan , Fu Gregory C.
Published: June 2015

Fluorinated organic molecules are of interest in fields ranging from medicinal chemistry to polymer science. Described herein is a mild, convenient, and versatile method for the synthesis of compounds bearing a perfluoroalkyl group attached to a tertiary carbon atom by using an alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling. A nickel catalyst derived from NiCl2⋅glyme and a pybox ligand achieves the coupling of a wide range of fluorinated alkyl halides with alkylzinc reagents at room temperature. A broad array of functional groups is compatible with the reaction conditions, and highly selective couplings can be achieved on the basis of differing levels of fluorination. A mechanistic investigation has established that the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) inhibits cross‐coupling under these conditions and that a TEMPO–electrophile adduct can be isolated.
In Situ Modification of Metal–Organic Frameworks in Mixed‐Matrix Membranes
Authors: Denny Michael S. , Cohen Seth M.
Published: June 2015

Processable films of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been long sought to advance the application of MOFs in various technologies from separations to catalysis. Herein, MOF–polymer mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) are described, formed on several substrates using a wide variety of MOF materials. These MMMs can be delaminated from their substrates to create free‐standing MMMs that are mechanically stable and pliable. The MOFs in these MMMs remain highly crystalline, porous, and accessible for further chemical modification through postsynthetic modification (PSM) and postsynthetic exchange (PSE) processes. Overall, the findings here demonstrate a versatile approach to preparing stable functional MMMs that should contribute significantly to the advancement of these materials.
The Vanadium(V) Oxoazides [VO(N3)3], [(bipy)VO(N3)3], and [VO(N3)5]2−
Authors: Haiges Ralf , Vasiliu Monica , Dixon David A. , Christe Karl O.
Published: June 2015

Vanadium(V) oxoazide [VO(N3)3] was prepared through a fluoride–azide exchange reaction between [VOF3] and Me3SiN3 in acetonitrile solution. When the highly impact‐ and friction‐sensitive compound [VO(N3)3] was reacted with 2,2′‐bipyridine, the adduct [(bipy)VO(N3)3] was isolated. The reaction of [VO(N3)3] with [PPh4]N3 resulted in the formation and isolation of the salt [PPh4]2[VO(N3)5]. The adduct [(bipy)VO(N3)3] and the salt [PPh4]23[VO(N3)5] were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination, making these compounds the first structurally characterized vanadium(V) azides.
In Vitro Fluorogenic Real‐Time Assay of the Repair of Oxidative DNA Damage
Authors: Edwards Sarah K. , Ono Toshikazu , Wang Shenliang , Jiang Wei , Franzini Raphael M. , Jung Jong Wha , Chan Ke Min , Kool Eric T.
Published: June 2015

The repair of oxidative damage to DNA is essential to avoid mutations that lead to cancer. Oxidized DNA bases, such as 8‐oxoguanine, are a main source of these mutations, and the enzyme 8‐oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) is the chief human enzyme that excises 8‐oxoguanine from DNA. The activity of OGG1 has been linked to human inflammation responses and to cancer, and researchers are beginning to search for inhibitors of the enzyme. However, measuring the activity of the enzyme typically requires laborious gel‐based measurements of radiolabeled DNAs. Here we report the design and properties of fluorogenic probes that directly report on the activity of OGG1 (and its bacterial homologue Fpg) in real time as the oxidized base is excised. The probes are short, modified DNA oligomers containing fluorescent DNA bases and are designed to utilize 8‐oxoguanine itself as a fluorescence quencher. Screening of combinations of fluorophores and 8‐oxoguanine revealed two fluorophores, pyrene and tCo, that are strongly quenched by the damaged base. We tested 42 potential probes containing these fluorophores: the optimum probe, OGR1, yields a 60‐fold light‐up signal in vitro with OGG1 and Fpg. It can report on oxidative repair activity in mammalian cell lysate and with bacterial cells overexpressing a repair enzyme. Such probes might prove useful in quantifying enzyme activity and performing competitive inhibition assays.
Site‐Resolved Backbone and Side‐Chain Intermediate Dynamics in a Carbohydrate‐Binding Module Protein Studied by Magic‐Angle Spinning NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Ivanir‐Dabora Hadar , Nimerovsky Evgeny , Madhu P. K. , Goldbourt Amir
Published: June 2015

Magic‐angle spinning solid‐state NMR spectroscopy has been applied to study the dynamics of CBM3b–Cbh9A from Clostridium thermocellum (ctCBM3b), a cellulose binding module protein. This 146‐residue protein has a nine‐stranded β‐sandwich fold, in which 35 % of the residues are in the β‐sheet and the remainder are composed of loops and turns. Dynamically averaged 1H‐13C dipolar coupling order parameters were extracted in a site‐specific manner by using a pseudo‐three‐dimensional constant‐time recoupled separated‐local‐field experiment (dipolar‐chemical shift correlation experiment; DIPSHIFT). The backbone‐Cα and Cβ order parameters indicate that the majority of the protein, including turns, is rigid despite having a high content of loops; this suggests that restricted motions of the turns stabilize the loops and create a rigid structure. Water molecules, located in the crystalline interface between protein units, induce an increased dynamics of the interface residues thereby lubricating crystal water‐mediated contacts, whereas other crystal contacts remain rigid.
Facial Synthesis ofo‐Carborane‐Substituted Alkenes and Allenes by a Regioselective Ene Reaction of 1,3‐Dehydro‐o‐carborane
Authors: Zhao Da , Zhang Jiji , Xie Zuowei
Published: June 2015

1,3‐Dehydro‐o‐carborane is a useful synthon for selective cage boron functionalization ofo‐carboranes. It reacts readily with alkenes or alkynes to give a variety of cage B(3)‐alkenyl/allenylo‐carboranes by ene reactions in very high yields and excellent regioselectivity. This can be ascribed to the highly polarized cage CB multiple bond, which lowers the activation barriers of the ene reaction.
Vanadium Pentoxide/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite as an Efficient Electrode Material for High‐Performance Supercapacitors and Self‐Powered Systems
Authors: Ramadoss Ananthakumar , Saravanakumar Balasubramaniam , Kim Sang Jae
Published: June 2015

In this study, we report the facile synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/vanadium pentoxide (GV) composites and the application of this material towards the supercapacitor application. The as‐fabricated reduced graphene oxide/vanadium pentoxide (GV‐3) composite electrodes displayed outstanding electrochemical performance with a maximum specific capacitance of 250 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1 and excellent cycling stability, retaining 95 % of the initial capacitance, even after 5000 cycles, which shows improved behavior compared to rGO and V2O5. Further, the synthesis process is simple, less time consuming, and requires no sophisticated instruments. In addition, we have demonstrated a self‐powered photosensor system by integrating the solid‐state symmetric GV supercapacitor device with a nanogenerator and photosensor. These results indicate that the reduced graphene oxide/vanadium pentoxide composite electrode can be useful for improved high‐performance supercapacitors.
Effect of bioactive glass particles on osteogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells seeded on lactide and caprolactone based scaffolds
Authors: Larrañaga Aitor , Alonso‐Varona Ana , Palomares Teodoro , Rubio‐Azpeitia Eva , Aldazabal Pablo , Martin Francisco Javier , Sarasua Jose‐Ramon
Published: June 2015

Incorporation of bioactive glass (BG) particles to synthetic polymer scaffolds is a promising strategy to improve the bioactivity of bioinert materials and to stimulate specific cell responses. In this study, the influence of incorporating BG particles to lactide and caprolactone based porous scaffolds on osteogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) was analyzed. Accordingly, ASCs were seeded on poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA), poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), or poly(l‐lactide‐co‐ ε‐caprolactone) (PLCL) scaffolds containing 15 vol % of BG particles in two culture conditions: standard versus osteogenic culture medium. In standard culture medium, incorporation of BG to a PLLA scaffold increased the ALP activity with respect to its unfilled counterpart (ca. 1.2‐ and a 1.6‐fold increase over 7 and 14 days, respectively). Moreover, in all the studied polymers the incorporation of BG induced a slightly higher production of mineralized matrix by ASCs, but the differences observed were not statistically significant. In the osteogenic medium, the effect of BG was masked by the effect of osteogenic supplements in the long‐term. However, in the short‐term (day 7), BG particles induced an early ALP activity of predifferentiated osteoblasts on PLLA and PCL scaffolds and higher matrix mineralization on PCL scaffolds. In summary, the addition of BG particles to PLLA and PCL scaffolds sustains ASC osteogenic differentiation, facilitates mineralization and induces the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of the polymer scaffolds. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 3815–3824, 2015.