bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meeting multiple water quality objectives through treatment using locally generated char: improving organoleptic properties and removing synthetic organic contaminants and disinfection by-products
Authors: Kearns Joshua P. , Shimabuku Kyle K. , Mahoney Ryan B. , Knappe Detlef R. U. , Scott Summers R.
Published: August 2015

A variety of natural and anthropogenic contaminants can compromise the safety and esthetics of surface water collected for drinking and disinfected using chlorine by households in developing communities. While household chlorination is effective against most microbial pathogens, many users find the taste and odor of chlorine unacceptable and revert to drinking untreated water. Moreover, reactions between chlorine and the dissolved organic matter form harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs). Char adsorbers have been used to treat drinking water for thousands of years and are still widely used today. Results obtained here demonstrate that locally produced biomass chars (biochars) exhibit removal capacities comparable to those of activated carbon for removal of THMs, synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) such as warfarin (WFN) (anticoagulant pharmaceutical, rodenticide), and naturally occurring trace organics such as the taste-and-odor compound 2-methylisoborneol (cyanobacterial metabolite). Results show chars can be used effectively to remove objectionable tastes and odors related to chlorine and cyanobacteria, DBPs, and SOCs. The use of char may lead to microbial risk reduction through greater acceptance of chlorine-based disinfection due to improved water esthetics, as well as chemical risk reduction associated with DBP and SOC exposure.
Monitoring sanitation performance: unpacking the figures on sanitation coverage
Authors: Munamati Muchaneta , Nhapi Innocent , Misi Shepherd N.
Published: August 2015

An understanding of the sanitation situation is crucial for planning and evaluating effectiveness of sanitation interventions. Such knowledge is gained through monitoring sanitation performance. At the international level, sanitation monitoring is done by the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The JMP tracks progress made towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) sanitation target using information collected from household surveys. This article critically describes and reviews the JMP sanitation monitoring approach based on information from literature. The paper argues that while JMP methods have been useful in reporting sanitation progress, it has a number of weaknesses which have led to questions being raised on the sanitation coverage figures. Specifically, the JMP has been criticized for its usage of the term ‘improved’ sanitation and the technology-based sanitation ladder. It is argued that this approach does not monitor other components of sanitation systems such as storage, transport, treatment and disposal and/or re-use of human excreta. In addition, the sustainability of the sanitation systems is also overlooked. All these factors have led to an overestimation of sanitation coverage. A monitoring approach which considers the function of sanitation and sustainability of sanitation systems is therefore recommended.
Quality of rainwater harvesting in urban systems: case study in Colombia
Authors: Morales-Pinzón T. , García-Serna M. I. , Flórez-Calderón M. T.
Published: August 2015

An analysis of the utilisation and quality of rainwater in different collection systems located in the Pereira–Dosquebradas (Colombia) conurbation was conducted to evaluate the conditions in these systems and thus determine whether rainwater is safe water for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes. The quality of rainwater and its relation to selected variables (roofing material, material deposits, piping material and amount of precipitation) were evaluated. Six buildings with different types of roofing (zinc, polycarbonate or fibre cement) that have installed systems to capture rainwater were selected for the evaluation. According to the results, the sampled water is suitable for different uses. In cities, rainwater can be adapted and eventually used as an alternative water source, thereby reducing dependence on local and external sources.
Decentralized water treatment – citizens tracking results and impact
Authors: Shah R. V.
Published: August 2015

Rapid urban growth makes it almost impossible to deliver centralized sewage and treatment solutions in most Asian cities. In India, only three cities have capacity to treat more than 70% of their sewage. In Bangalore, the government has the capacity to transport only 40% of the sewage and only 40% of that is treated. Tests by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board show that this treatment is not effective.

Sustainable urban solutions must include smaller, decentralized Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) that are owned and operated by communities and apartment complexes themselves. However, today policy-makers, agencies, and urban groups are not ready to deal with a proliferation of diverse STPs to ensure compliance so that public health issues do not surface. With a combination of policy, technology, and citizen engagement, it is possible to ensure that citizen-led decentralized STP solutions meet urban needs without any negative health consequences.
Quantitative microbial risk assessment of Salmonella and Enterococcus in Marina Reservoir and catchments
Authors: Goh S. G. , Fang H. M. , Chang S. Y. , Gin Karina Y. H.
Published: August 2015

This study assesses the infection risks associated with non-swimming recreational activities in Marina Reservoir, Singapore. Apart from serving as a reservoir for potable water use, Marina Reservoir is also a place where various water recreations are carried out. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was applied to Marina Reservoir and its four main feeders. QMRA was performed based on the occurrence data of the potential pathogen, Salmonella spp. and bacteria indicator, Enterococcus spp. through Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The results suggest that microbial risks from Salmonella and Enterococcus at the reservoir were below the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) acceptable freshwater recreational illness rate of 0.8%. All upstream catchments showed acceptable microbial risks from Salmonella. However, the probability of gastrointestinal illness risks calculated for Enterococcus exceeded the USEPA guideline values in one of the upstream catchments, but far enough upstream from recreational areas that are used frequently.
Practical use of new system for highly efficient recovery of energy from sewage and garbage
Authors: Shinya Fumitaka , Tsuboi Hirokazu , Miyata Atsushi , Shimada Masao , Yamashita Hiromasa
Published: August 2015

This study discusses efforts being made to realize energy self-sufficiency in a sewage treatment plant, and to achieve both energy conservation with low-load water treatment based on thorough, intensive solid–liquid separation and ‘energy production’ by using sludge treatment capable of converting recovered biomass into energy with maximum efficiency. Intensive solid–liquid separation resulted in higher suspended solids and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) removal rates than those achieved with conventional primary settling tanks. Using thermophilic digestion of raw sludge, recovered by intensive solid–liquid separation, and garbage as substrates, the Volatile Solids (VS) decomposition rate was 70% and generated digestion gas was 759 Nm3/t-loaded VS on average under conditions of Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) 5 days and a VS load of 6.0 kg-VS/m3/day. The generated digestion gas was totally used to generate power with phosphoric acid fuel cells.
Water-saving technologies and irrigation facilities
Authors: Angold Ye. V. , Zharkov V. A. , Kalashnikov A. A.
Published: August 2015

The effectiveness of water resource use in agriculture under the current conditions of economic development in Kazakhstan is quite low because of aged irrigation techniques and technologies, as well as significant costs for water transportation. To achieve water saving in agriculture, the introduction of up-to-date irrigation techniques and water-saving technologies is required, as well as reductions in water losses in transport and other measures to increase water use productivity as water supply deficits increase. The technologies of impulse and mist irrigation, and surface watering, and technical facilities for their implementation are aimed at increasing the productivity of irrigation water use and establishing optimal conditions for plant development.
Pharmaceuticals in domestic and agricultural waste waters – problem and its solution
Authors: Marsik P. , Soudek P. , Hudcova T. , Syrovatka J. , Vanek T.
Published: August 2015

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belong to the group of remedies with the largest global sales volume. They are broadly used for the treatment of a wide range of non-specific symptoms accompanying a number of diseases. Many of them also belong to OTC (over-the-counter) distributed drugs, thus, they are easily available for broad masses of the world's population. The aforementioned properties, together with low production costs, high content per dose, and relatively high proportions of non-metabolized drugs in human excretions have made several NSAIDs water pollutants of the highest importance. The most important drug of the NSAID group on a global scale is the oldest industrially produced remedy, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), which has been substituted by ibuprofen in recent times due to its lower side effects. In the Czech Republic, ibuprofen has the largest sales volume of all NSAIDs and is the second best-selling drug on the Czech market. Naproxen and ketoprofen are other widely used NSAIDs in human medicine together with halogenated compounds such as diclofenac and indomethacin.
Phytoremediation of contaminated ground water using Typha angustifolia
Authors: Wahab Al-Baldawi Israa Abdul , Abdullah Siti Rozaimah Sheikh , Suja Fatihah , Anuar Nurina , Idris Mushrifah
Published: August 2015

A mesocosm scale constructed wetlands (CWs) (0.81 m2) with subsurface flow system was assessed for phytoremediation procedure effectiveness in treating volatile organic compound-rich ground water. The experimental setup consisted of 4 mesocosms in total, 3 planted with Typha angustifolia and 1 unplanted control (W1: sand; W2: (soil + sand + compost); W3: control contaminant and W4: plant control). CWs of different configurations were operated in a greenhouse at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysi to know which type of CWs is more efficient in the medium term basis. Chemical oxygen demand, TSS, turbidity, NH4-N, NO3-N, Redox potential measured throughout phytoremediation indicated that the process with Typha angustifolia was successful, as demonstrated by the significant decrease in the parameters measured. This effect was fundamentally due to the plant-micro-organisms interactions and the configuration of CWs which act as filtration bed.
Body Weight, Metabolic Dysfunction, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients at High Risk for Cardiovascular Events or With Manifest Cardiovascular Disease: A Cohort Study
Authors: Franssens Bas T. , van der Graaf Yolanda , Kappelle L. Jaap , Westerink Jan , de Borst Gert J. , Cramer Maarten J. , Visseren Frank L.J. ,   on behalf of the SMART Study Group
Published: August 2015

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the role of BMI and metabolic dysfunction in the risk of development of type 2 diabetes in patients at high risk or with manifest vascular disease.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 6,997 patients participating in the prospective Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort study were classified according to BMI and metabolic dysfunction, defined as three or more of the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) metabolic syndrome criteria (waist circumference replaced by hs-CRP ≥2 mg/L). Risk of type 2 diabetes (assessed with biannually questionnaires) was estimated with Cox proportional hazards analysis.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 6.0 years (interquartile range 3.1–9.1 years), 519 patients developed type 2 diabetes (incidence rate 12/1,000 person-years). In the absence of metabolic dysfunction (≤2 NCEP criteria), adiposity increased the risk of type 2 diabetes compared with normal-weight patients (HR 2.5 [95% CI 1.5–4.2] for overweight and HR 4.3 [95% CI 2.2–8.6] for obese patients). In the presence of metabolic dysfunction (≥3 NCEP criteria), an increased risk of type 2 diabetes was observed in patients with normal weight (HR 4.7 [95% CI 2.8–7.8]), overweight (HR 8.5 [95% CI 5.5–13.4]), and obesity (HR 16.3 [95% CI 10.4–25.6]) compared with normal-weight patients without metabolic dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Adiposity, even in the absence of metabolic dysfunction, is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Moreover, presence of metabolic dysfunction increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in all BMI categories. This supports the assessment of adiposity and metabolic dysfunction in patients with vascular disease or at high risk for cardiovascular events.
How We Do Things Around Here. The Polish-Dutch Comparison Of The University Organisational Culture
Authors: Glińska-Neweś Aldona , Nispen Pieter van
Published: August 2015

Analyses and international comparisons of university organisational cultures are rare or even non-existing in management studies. Our paper fills this gap, presenting the results of a pilot study conducted in two units representing a Polish and a Dutch university. The survey has been carried out on a basis of a model and a measuring tool created by the Dutch researcher Aldert P. Dreimüller. Using two dimensions of change tolerance vs. control; and internal vs. external orientation he proposed a typology of four organisational cultures: task, aim, team and process culture. Each type is described with the same set of criteria. The types identified in the course of our survey are interpreted through the lens of the national cultures of the Netherlands and Poland. However, the main result of the study, and thus the main aim of this paper, is a multi-faceted usage and test of the Dreimüller’s tool.
Competences Assessment and Evaluation Differences and Errors – a Case of IT Profession
Authors: Fryczyńska Marzena , Jabłońska-Wołoszyn Maria
Published: August 2015

The purpose of this paper is to verify the hypothesis assuming that appraisal evaluation in companies is overestimated, especially in the case of male IT professionals. Although a valid and reliable evaluation and assessment method exists, and the Development Center method could be mentioned in this context, competences are not assessed properly enough in business. To achieve this goal, the authors analyzed a competence profile relevant to labour market regarding interns graduated from the Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology (P-JIIT). The authors explored the results of competence assessment conducted with the Development Center method, as well as the results of performance evaluation upon the completion of a three-month internship in the leading IT companies. The analysis of differences with respect to gender was made basing on the two sources of information on competences. It is preceded by an introduction outlining the main competence-related issues, the Development Center and the performance evaluation principles and errors, as well as the project for IT graduates carried out in the P-JIIT. The findings of the study show that in terms of the performance women in IT industry are evaluated by employers lower than men. This, however, is not the case when we take into consideration reliable scores of assessment conducted by objective assessors during the processes of Development Center.
Expected features and the behavior of talented leaders in the three sectors of the Polish economy in context with other Central-Eastern European Countries
Authors: Haromszeki Łukasz
Published: August 2015

In this article the author attempts to analyze the expected features and behavior of talented leaders existing in the three sectors of the Polish economy according to presented literature the meaning of talent. The author presents confrontation between the most popular ways to explore talented individuals connected with IQ tests and a more adequate solution based on a practical approach. The in-depth diagnosis of the problems presents the basic expectations of employees towards organizational leaders in the three sectors of the Polish economy - public, private and NGO. The formulated questions in this article are appropriate for the needs of the first stage of leadership research. The conducted study shows expectations of employees from the last 23 years since the transformation of Poland and the 6 to 8 years since ISO standards were implemented in different Polish organizations and European Funds have supported Polish entrepreneurs and their personnel. In this article it also shows the results of international research about expectations of employees and future managers towards organizational leaders in different countries in Central-Eastern Europe.
Leadership in the fishing cooperative in Mexico
Authors: Contreras Loera Marcela Rebeca , Velarde Valdez Mónica
Published: August 2015

The need to compete and grow encourages changes in organizations. In the fishing camps are created cooperatives, which know the reality of the environment and work with the aim of contributing to the development and progress of the fishermen and their communities. It is fundamental the role of its leaders, who have a responsibility to promote change in attitude and teamwork, to achieve personal and collective goals. This paper presents preliminary results of a larger study which main objective was to identify the type of leadership that dominates in the management of the Sinaloa fishing cooperatives. The study was conducted under the qualitative paradigm; data collection was carried out with semi-structured interviews with managers and former directives of fishing cooperatives located in central Sinaloa, complemented by the application of a questionnaire covering their socioeconomic profile.

The main findings show that managers are fishermen, cooperative members, elected by the General Assembly as the highest organ of administration, with an average age from 35 to 45 years old, with basic school grades. They know about the productive activity of artisanal fisheries and occupy the job of president of the board in periods of 2-3 years without administrative preparation to run them. Regarding the predominant style of leadership, managers of fishing cooperatives say their efforts are focused on the development of organizational tasks such as setting goals and targets for each fishing season. In relation with the development of human relationships among members of the cooperative, indicate that their main concern is the quality of mutual relations and the level of involvement of partners, and with that in mind they implement strategies for the integration and participation in the opinions and decision making for the members. With the above it is concluded that managers of fishing cooperatives are young fishermen who run the organization with little training for the development of their job and they practice predominantly a style of democratic leadership, because they promote the participation of partners in both contribution of opinions as in decision making, strengthening the trust deposited in him at the time of his election as leader.
Entrepreneurial orientation in family firms – management and intercultural development
Authors: Czemiel-Grzybowska Wioletta
Published: August 2015

This paper has taken an insight to the systemic models of family business from the open systems perspective. I focus on family business system models and on the subsystems content of family system and ownership system in family business context. The paper claim that the open system perspective on intercultural family businesses has both theoretical and empirical implications on family business research. Family businesses have many reasons, including family conflicts over money, nepotism leading to wrong management, and infighting over the succession of power from one generation to the other. Regulating the family’s roles as shareholders, board members, and managers is very important because it can help avoid these pitfalls. This paper will discuss the importance of the openness of the company through five the attributes of enduring family businesses: ownership, family, business and portfolio governance, wealth management, foundation. Dimension of attributes success have taken family business like five jewelers.
Tax risks sources and consequences as a part of intercultural management at family companies
Authors: Walicka Monika
Published: August 2015

One of the factors determining competitiveness of the companies is an appropriate environment for running a business. Such an environment is a tax system in which companies functioning. On the one hand, it creates many possibilities of tax optimization but on the other hand exposes to a tax risk. An analysis of risk sources and effects of exhibition to tax risk was carried out in this article in the context of intercultural management. Research was conducted using 4 case studies approach and focus group interview method to develop preposition. The purpose of this study was to indicate the tax strategies that are possible to apply in family business, which will cause limitation of tax risk, as well as minimization of tax burdens.
Success and entrepreneurship in the eyes of Polish emigrants in the British Isles
Authors: Kolasińska-Morawska Katarzyna
Published: August 2015

This article is dedicated to the problems of success as interpreted by Polish emigrants living in the British Isles. The study begins with a presentation of selected views of success. There are then considerations of matters connected with the verification of the essence of success in terms of motivation and the values espoused in a given culture. Next is a discussion of the role and importance of the predestination of entrepreneurship as an indicator of success in the business field. A vital ingredient of those considerations was an analysis of the motives behind emigration as a phenomenon which liberates entrepreneurial actions. It is on this basis that the results are presented of the author’s own research into success a understood in terms of entrepreneurship as understood by Polish emigrants living in the British Isles.
Consumer in Sports: Fan typology analysis
Authors: Samra Balwant , Wos Anna
Published: August 2015

Sport fan loyalty is important to attain within a culturally rich and global audience as loyal sport fans are unique consumers. The ability to adequately understand what motivates the sports consumer is an important requirement for sport managers. This paper proposes that a greater understanding of fandom will contribute to a better understanding of the concept of loyalty. Although there is research regarding typology of fans and loyalty, but even within sport advocates group there may be sub-categories that can explain loyalty behaviour further. This research analyses types of sport fans in different disciplines in the UK, as an example of diverse society to explore factors determining category of fans.
Personality Differences in Organisational Socialisation Tactics
Authors: Burböck Birgit , Schnepf Sandra , Pessl Stephan
Published: August 2015

The demographic shifts, the increased workforce mobility, and the shortage of skilled workers have led to a new thinking within human resource management. To address this issue, organisations adapt their methods towards a higher focus on their employees. The purpose of this paper is therefore the identification of organisational socialisation tactics, which are classified into the individualized socialisation strategy and the institutionalised socialisation strategy. Studies show that the institutionalised socialisation strategy causes better results in terms of newcomer adjustment than the individualized socialisation strategy. In this context, the instiutionalised socialization strategy determines that organisations consider newcomers’ personalities and demographic characteristics. The results of this paper support this argument and reveal that students in the DACH region differ in their organisational socialisation preferences. In other words, a well-structured organisational socialisation process, which considers newcomers’ personalities can lead to a competitive advantage for organisations.
Marketing in Sustainability Aspect as a New Culture of Marketing Activity of Companies
Authors: Trojanowski Tomasz
Published: August 2015

The essence of this work is a new and rapidly growing trend in the area of marketing science called sustainable marketing. The introduction highlights the changes in the concept of marketing in the past decades, ranging from marketing sales through marketing focused on the needs and expectations of customers, to new marketing orientation called sustainability marketing. The first section of the article presents the evolution of marketing according to P. Kotler classified by the author as Marketing 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. The second chapter presents the content related to the nature and importance of sustainable marketing, which as a new marketing concept, can be a source of competitive advantage of businesses. This part includes the definitions and concepts of sustainable marketing by different authors. The final part of the article indicates the main areas of sustainable marketing performed in businesses. The work is concluded with remarks
Norms and Values in Family Business Management
Authors: Olejniczak Katarzyna
Published: August 2015

Family entrepreneurship aiming at multi-generation, in which there is no clear distinction between the family and the business, and family members exert a significant influence on or directly manage a family business, is managed by means of norms and values, passed from generation to generation. Therefore, it is important, in the present unclear market conditions, to present the research results concerning norms and values in family business management from the point of view of the students of the Faculty of Management of Czestochowa University of Technology.
The Impact of the Family-owned Businesses Specificity on the Dominance of the Cultural Features in their Organizational Structures – Theoretical Approach
Authors: Bartosik-Purgat Małgorzata , Hadryś-Nowak Alicja
Published: August 2015

The purpose of this article is to show how the specifics of family businesses (the „familiness”) affects the company’s organization culture. In other words, the article aim is to identify the specific impact of family businesses on certain cultural traits identified in international studies and in the literature as „culture’s dimensions „.Literature analysis and the results of previous research on family businesses let the authors to specify a list of characteristics that „possession”, in the most comprehensive way, describes the specifics of the family business. Based on the literature review authors decided to select some dimensions - cultural traits that are particularly distinctive and noticeable in family businesses, such as: universalism/particularism and status assigned/achieved according to Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner, power distance and femininity/masculinity according to Hofstede, pro-partnership/pro-transaction according to Gesteland. Combining the specificity of family and selected cultural dimensions authors found that in family businesses predominate particularistic behavior, hierarchies, there is also a high power distance but with the advantage of setting pro-partnership and female characteristics. In family businesses, there is also a predominance of assigned status. Conducted analysis leads authors to the conclusion that family businesses, regardless of their country and its cultural differences in which they operate, have common features, which are expressed in the intensity of specific cultural characteristics. The article is a theoretical analysis and will be the basis for forward empirical research 1 m.
Predicting Dynamic Foot Function From Static Foot Posture: Comparison Between Visual Assessment, Motion Analysis, and a Commercially Available Depth Camera
Authors: Paterson Kade L. , Clark Ross A. , Mullins Alexandra , Bryant Adam L. , Mentiplay Benjamin F.
Published: August 2015

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Objective

To evaluate the ability of 3 methods to assess static foot posture to predict rearfoot and midfoot kinematics during gait.

Background

Static foot posture is commonly used clinically to infer dynamic function. Limitations of static clinical assessments may be overcome through advances in technologies, including commercially available depth cameras.

Methods

The Foot Posture Index (FPI) of 31 males (average age, 22.5 years) was assessed using visual observation, a 3-D motion-analysis system, and a depth camera. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate relationships between FPI items and rearfoot and midfoot kinematics during walking. The ability of the static variables to predict dynamic function was assessed using multiple linear regression.

Results

Most FPI items (85%) were not correlated with foot kinematics, regardless of assessment method. There were 6 fair to moderate correlations between visual FPI items and total rearfoot (r = −0.36 to −0.39, P<.05) and midfoot (r = 0.37 to 0.61, P<.05) motion, 2 fair correlations between 3-D motion-analysis FPI items and total midfoot (r = −0.43, P = .02) and peak rearfoot (r = −0.40, P = .03) motion, and 2 fair correlations between the depth-camera FPI items and average rearfoot (r = −0.38 to 0.44, P<.05) motion. Visual assessment of the FPI provided the best prediction model, explaining 37% of the variance in total midfoot inversion/eversion.

Conclusion

Static measures of foot posture are weakly correlated with rearfoot or midfoot kinematics, and have limited dynamic prediction ability. Our findings suggest that the FPI may not be an accurate representation of rearfoot or midfoot movement during walking, regardless of the measurement technique employed. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(10):789–798. Epub 24 Aug 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5616
Teachers’ Sensemaking of Data and Implications for Equity
Authors: Bertrand Melanie , Marsh Julie A.
Published: August 2015

This article examines an understudied aspect of teachers’ sensemaking of student learning data: the way in which teachers explain the causes of the outcomes observed in data. Drawing on sensemaking and attribution theory and data collected in six middle schools, we find that while teachers most often attributed outcomes to their own instruction, they also frequently focused on supposedly stable student characteristics. By citing these characteristics as explanations for the results analyzed, teachers may have inhibited reflection on their practice and reinforced low expectations for English language learners (ELLs) and students in special education. These findings yield implications for (a) the effectiveness of data use reforms and (b) equity in the education of ELLs and students in special education.
Making the Most of Five Minutes: The Clinical Teaching Moment
Authors: Smith Jo R. , Lane India F.
Published: August 2015

Clinical educators face the challenge of simultaneously caring for patients and teaching learners, often with an unpredictable caseload and learners of varied abilities. They also often have little control over the organization of their time. Effective clinical teaching must encourage student participation, problem solving, integration of basic and clinical knowledge, and deliberate practice. Close supervision and timely feedback are also essential. Just as one develops an effective lecture through training and practice, clinical teaching effectiveness may also be improved by using specific skills to teach in small increments. The purpose of this paper is to identify potential teachable moments and to describe efficient instructional methods to use in the clinical setting under time constraints. These techniques include asking better questions, performing focused observations, thinking aloud, and modeling reflection. Different frameworks for teaching encounters during case presentations can be selected according to learner ability and available time. These methods include modeling and deconstructing the concrete experience; guiding the thinking and reflecting process; and providing the setting and opportunity for active practice. Use of these educational strategies encourages the learner to acquire knowledge, clinical reasoning, and technical skills, and also values, attitudes, and professional judgment.
Using the Nudge and Shove Methods to Adjust Item Difficulty Values
Authors: Royal Kenneth D.
Published: August 2015

In any examination, it is important that a sufficient mix of items with varying degrees of difficulty be present to produce desirable psychometric properties and increase instructors' ability to make appropriate and accurate inferences about what a student knows and/or can do. The purpose of this “teaching tip” is to demonstrate how examination items can be affected by the quality of distractors, and to present a simple method for adjusting items to meet difficulty specifications.
Engaging Students: Using Video Clips of Authentic Client Interactions in Pre-Clinical Veterinary Medical Education
Authors: Hafen McArthur , Siqueira Drake Adryanna A. , Rush Bonnie R. , Sibley D. Scott
Published: August 2015

The present study evaluated third-year veterinary medical students' perceptions of a communication lab protocol. The protocol used clips of fourth-year veterinary medical students working with authentic clients. These clips supplemented course material. Clips showed examples of proficient communication as well as times of struggle for fourth-year students. Third-year students were asked to critique interactions during class. One hundred and eight third-year students provided feedback about the communication lab. While initial interest in communication proved low, interest in communication training at the end of the course increased substantially. The majority of students cited watching videos clips of authentic client interactions as being an important teaching tool.
Factors Influencing Seminar Learning and Academic Achievement
Authors: Spruijt Annemarie , Leppink Jimmie , Wolfhagen Ineke , Bok Harold , Mainhard Tim , Scherpbier Albert , van Beukelen Peter , Jaarsma Debbie
Published: August 2015

Many veterinary curricula use seminars, interactive educational group formats in which some 25 students discuss questions and issues relating to course themes. To get indications on how to optimize the seminar learning process for students, we aimed to investigate relationships between factors that seem to be important for the seminar learning process, and to determine how these seminar factors account for differences in students' achievement scores. A 57-item seminar evaluation (USEME) questionnaire was administered to students right after they attended a seminar. In total, 80 seminars distributed over years 1, 2, and 3 of an undergraduate veterinary medicine curriculum were sampled and 988 questionnaires were handed in. Principal factor analysis (PFA) was conducted on 410 questionnaires to examine which items could be grouped together as indicators of the same factor, and to determine correlations between the derived factors. Multilevel regression analysis was performed to explore the effects of these seminar factors and students' prior achievement scores on students' achievement scores. Within the questionnaire, four factors were identified that influence the seminar learning process: teacher performance, seminar content, student preparation, and opportunities for interaction within seminars. Strong correlations were found between teacher performance, seminar content, and group interaction. Prior achievement scores and, to a much lesser extent, the seminar factor group interaction appeared to account for differences in students' achievement scores. The factors resulting from the present study and their relation to the method of assessment should be examined further, for example, in an experimental setup.
Experimental and computational investigations of heat and mass transfer of intensifier grids
Authors: Kobzar L. L. , Oleksyuk D. A. , Semchenkov Y. M.
Published: August 2015

The paper discusses experimental and numerical investigations on intensification of thermal and mass exchange which were performed by National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” over the past years. Because of enhancing the power of active power plants, intensification of thermal and mass exchange investigations are performed by a number of Russian research and design organizations. Recently, many designs of heat mass transfer intensifier grids have been proposed. NRC “Kurchatov Institute” has accomplished a large scope of experimental investigations to study efficiency of intensifier grids of various types. The outcomes of experimental investigations can be used in verification of computational models and codes. On the basis of experimental data, we derived correlations to calculate coolant mixing and critical heat flux mixing in rod bundles equipped with intensifier grids. The acquired correlations were integrated in subchannel code SC-INT.
Implementation of CFD module in the KORSAR thermal-hydraulic system code
Authors: Yudov Yu. V. , Danilov I. G. , Chepilko S. S.
Published: August 2015

The Russian KORSAR/GP (hereinafter KORSAR) computer code was developed by a joint team from Alexandrov NITI and OKB “Gidropress” for VVER safety analysis and certified by the Rostechnadzor of Russia in 2009. The code functionality is based on a 1D two-fluid model for calculation of two-phase flows. A 3D CFD module in the KORSAR computer code is being developed by Alexandrov NITI for representing 3D effects in the downcomer and lower plenum during asymmetrical loop operation. The CFD module uses Cartesian grid method with cut cell approach. The paper presents a numerical algorithm for coupling 1D and 3D thermal-hydraulic modules in the KORSAR code. To ensure mass and energy balances at the interface, convective fluxes for 1D module are calculated as a sum of fluxes at corresponding boundary faces of 3D module. Mass balance condition is used to couple pressures in the modules. The combined pressure field is calculated by the multigrid method. The performance efficiency of the algorithm for coupling 1D and 3D modules was demonstrated by solving the benchmark problem of mixing cold and hot flows in a T-junction.
Numerical and experimental investigation of 3D coolant temperature distribution in the hot legs of primary circuit of reactor plant with WWER-1000
Authors: Saunin Yu. , Dobrotvorski A. , Semenikhin A. , Ryasny S. , Kulish G. , Abdullaev A.
Published: August 2015

Nowadays the demands for accuracy of determining the weighted mean reactor power significantly increases due to implementing programs aimed at increasing installed power at nuclear power plants with WWER-1000 reactors. This accuracy strongly depends on the coolant temperature stratification in the primary circuit pipes, especially in the hot legs. Thus, the acute problem is to investigate the phenomenon on the basis of the full-scale tests experimental data and the calculated data of computational fluid dynamics simulations. The paper presents the full-scale experimental data on the coolant temperature distribution in the hot legs obtained via I&C systems, primarily via in-core monitoring system. These data were obtained at the pilot operation stage of Unit 4 Kalinin nuclear power plant in a stationary mode at nominal power level. To present the results of calculating simulation for the same mode CFD codes are used.
Analysis of heterogeneous boron dilution transients during outages with APROS 3D nodal core model
Authors: Kuopanportti J.
Published: August 2015

A diluted water plug can form inside the primary coolant circuit if the coolant flow has stopped at least temporarily. The source of the clean water can be external or the fresh water can build up internally during boiling/condensing heat transfer mode, which can occur if the primary coolant inventory has decreased enough during an accident. If the flow restarts in the stagnant primary loop, the diluted water plug can enter the reactor core. During outages after the fresh fuel has been loaded and the temperature of the coolant is low, the dilution potential is the highest because the critical boron concentration is at the maximum. This paper examines the behaviour of the core as clean or diluted water plugs of different sizes enter the core during outages. The analysis were performed with the APROS 3D nodal core model of Loviisa VVER-440, which contains an own flow channel and 10 axial nodes for each fuel assembly. The wide-range cross section data was calculated with CASMO-4E. According to the results, the core can withstand even large pure water plugs without fuel failures on natural circulation. The analyses emphasize the importance of the simulation of the backflows inside the core when the reactor is on natural circulation.
Response of Table Grape to Irrigation Water in the Aconcagua Valley, Chile
Authors: Zúñiga-Espinoza Carlos , Aspillaga Cristina , Ferreyra Raúl , Selles Gabriel
Published: August 2015

The irrigation water available for agriculture will be scarce in the future due to increased competition for water with other sectors, and the issue may become more serious due to climate change. In Chile, the table grape is only cultivated under irrigation. A five-year research program (2007–2012) was carried out in the Aconcagua Valley, the central area of grapes in Chile, to evaluate the response of table grape vines (Vitis vinifera L., cv Thompson Seedless) to different volumes of irrigation water. Four irrigation treatments were applied: 60, 88, 120 and 157% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during the first four years, and 40, 54, 92 and 108% of ETc in the last year. Irrigation over 90%–100% of ETc did not increase fruit yield, whereas the application of water below 90% ETc decreased exportable yield, berry size and pruning weight. For example, 60% ETc applied water reduced exportable yield by 20%, and only 40% of the berries were in the extra and large category size, while pruning weight was 30% lower in comparison to the treatment receiving more water.
Characteristics of Gravity Waves over an Antarctic Ice Sheet during an Austral Summer
Authors: Cava Daniela , Giostra Umberto , Katul Gabriel
Published: August 2015

While occurrences of wavelike motion in the stable boundary layer due to the presence of a significant restoring buoyancy force are rarely disputed, their modalities and interaction with turbulence remain a subject of active research. In this work, the characteristics of gravity waves and their impact on flow statistics, including turbulent fluxes, are presented using data collected above an Antarctic Ice sheet during an Austral Summer. Antarctica is an ideal location for exploring the characteristics of gravity waves because of persistent conditions of strong atmospheric stability in the lower troposphere. Periods dominated by wavelike motion have been identified by analysing time series measured by fast response instrumentation. The nature and characteristic of the dominant wavy motions are investigated using Fourier cross-spectral indicators. Moreover, a multi-resolution decomposition has been applied to separate gravity waves from turbulent fluctuations in case of a sufficiently defined spectral gap. Statistics computed after removing wavy disturbances highlight the large impact of gravity waves on second order turbulent quantities including turbulent flux calculations.
The Nature of the Nuisance—Damage or Threat—Determines How Perceived Monetary Costs and Cultural Benefits Influence Farmer Tolerance of Wildlife
Authors: Goodale Kate , Parsons Glen , Sherren Kate
Published: August 2015

Biodiversity-friendly farming is a growing area of discussion among farmers, as well as in government departments and non-government organizations interested in conservation on private land. Those seeking to encourage biodiversity on farms must understand the production challenges presented by wildlife. Such species destroy agricultural commodities or present threats to family, pets, or infrastructure. A survey of farmers in the Canadian Maritime provinces sought to understand the drivers of tolerance. Our results demonstrated that estimated monetary losses from a species were largely unrelated to the perceived acceptability of those losses. Rather, the type of nuisance—damage to crops/property or threat to the safety of people, pets, or livestock—determined whether a loss would be perceived as acceptable and if that acceptability would influence tolerance. For damaging species, the perception of cultural benefits seemed able to convert high estimated economic losses to acceptable ones, for overall tolerance. For threatening species, however, minor perceived financial losses seemed augmented by low perceived benefits and made unacceptable, leading to intolerance. Female, older, and part-time farmers were most likely to identify threatening species as a nuisance. The use of an elicitation-based survey design provided novel insight as a result of the lack of prompts, but also presented analytical challenges that weakened predictive power. Recommendations are given for further research and management.
Geometry of Multiscale Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics
Authors: Grmela Miroslav
Published: August 2015

The time evolution of macroscopic systems can be experimentally observed and mathematically described on many different levels of description. It has been conjectured that the governing equations on all levels are particular realizations of a single abstract equation. We support this conjecture by interpreting the abstract equation as a geometrical formulation of general nonequilibrium thermodynamics.
Compositional Signatures of Conventional, Free Range, and Organic Pork Meat Using Fingerprint Techniques
Authors: Oliveira Gislene , Alewijn Martin , Boerrigter-Eenling Rita , Van Ruth Saskia
Published: August 2015

Consumers’ interest in the way meat is produced is increasing in Europe. The resulting free range and organic meat products retail at a higher price, but are difficult to differentiate from their counterparts. To ascertain authenticity and prevent fraud, relevant markers need to be identified and new analytical methodology developed. The objective of this pilot study was to characterize pork belly meats of different animal welfare classes by their fatty acid (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester—FAME), non-volatile compound (electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry—ESI-MS/MS), and volatile compound (proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry—PTR-MS) fingerprints. Well-defined pork belly meat samples (13 conventional, 15 free range, and 13 organic) originating from the Netherlands were subjected to analysis. Fingerprints appeared to be specific for the three categories, and resulted in 100%, 95.3%, and 95.3% correct identity predictions of training set samples for FAME, ESI-MS/MS, and PTR-MS respectively and slightly lower scores for the validation set. Organic meat was also well discriminated from the other two categories with 100% success rates for the training set for all three analytical approaches. Ten out of 25 FAs showed significant differences in abundance between organic meat and the other categories, free range meat differed significantly for 6 out of the 25 FAs. Overall, FAME fingerprinting presented highest discrimination power.