bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Θ CuAl2 Precipitate Coarsening in Al-2% Cu Thin Films
Authors: Sanchez John E. , McKnelly L. T. , Morris J. W.
Published: February 2013

Θ phase CuAl2 precipitate size evolution during coarsening at 310°C in 0.5 μm thick Al-2% (wt) Cu thin films was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Films were sputter deposited onto oxidized Si substrates by standard techniques. The coarsening process preferred the growth of blocky Θ morphologies at Al triple points. Coarsening was via solute Cu diffusion along Al grain boundaries during annealing. The average Θ size dependence on annealing time (t) is approximately (t)1/4 in general agreement with models for particle coarsening along grain boundaries. Concurrent Al grain growth was shown to initially enhance the Θ coarsening rate above (t)1/4 behavior. This boundary coarsening process leads to a grain size dependence of the coarsening rate which has been observed in related and other previous work in thin films. These results are shown to be relevant for effects produced during accelerated electromigration testing, such as previous ‘curious’ 0 morphologies at triple points observed by others, the enhanced flux of Cu during testing, and possible mechanisms affecting electromigration failure processes.
Void Elongation Phenomena Observed in Polycrystalline Cu Interconnects at a High Current Density Stressing Conditions
Authors: Shingubara S. , Kajiwara S. , Osaka T. , Sakaue H. , Takahagi T.
Published: February 2013

Formation and morphological change of voids induced by electromigration in polycrystalline Cu interconnects on TiN have been investigated at various current density conditions at elevated temperatures. At first voids were formed at grain boundaries, then they grew further to elongate in the electric field direction. Void elongation parameter (a ratio of void diameters in longitudinal to lateral directions to the electric field) was 2.53 when the current density was 9×106A/cm2, while it was 1.31 when the current density was 3×106A/cm2at 400°C, 50h. Occurrence of void elongation is enhanced with increase in current density, and its relationship to grain boundaries are discussed by FIB-SIM image analysis.
Effects of Nitrogen on Preventing the Crystallization of Amorphous Ta-Si-N Diffusion Barrier
Authors: Kim Dong Joon , Jeon Soon Pil , Kim Yong Tae , Park Jong-Wan
Published: February 2013

Amorphous Ta-Si-N thin film was deposited by dc sputterring of Ta5Si3 target in (Ar+N2) atmosphere. The crystal structure and the thermal stability of Ta-Si-N thin films were investigated by XRD, RBS, AES, Nomarski microscope, and TEM. When the concentration of nitrogen in Ta-Si-N thin film was higher than 40 at.%, the Ta-Si-N thin film remained the amorphous state after the annealing at 1100°C for 60 min. In this case, the Cu diffusion was prevented by the amorphous Ta-Si-N thin film even if the annealing temperature increased up to 900°C for 30 min. Whereas, the Ta-Si-N thin film with nitrogen concentration less than 40 at. % was transformed from the amorphous to the polycrystalline TaSi2 phases after the annealing at 900°C for 60 min and failed to prevent the Cu diffusion after the annealing at 700°C for 30 min.
Three-Dimensional Finite Element Simulation of Electro and Stress Migration Effects in Interconnect Lines
Authors: Rzepka Sven , Korhonen Matt A. , Weber Eicke R. , Li Che-Yu
Published: February 2013

A tool for 3-D modeling of EM and SM in interconnect lines has been developed based on a commercial finite element code. After detailing the approach, we focus on the verification of the simulator by comparing the results of 1-D analytic and FEM simulations, and then we apply the simulator to interconnect line segments with a specified grain structure.
Thermoelectric properties of Tl9BiTe6 / Tl9BiSe6 solid solutions
Authors: Wölfing Bernd , Kloc Christian , Bucher Ernst
Published: February 2013

The compounds Tl9BiTe6 (TBT) and Tl9BiSe6 (TBS) crystallize in the tetragonal space group I4/mcm. Tl9BiTe6 has a thermopower of 185 μV/K and an electrical resistivity of 5.5 mΩcm at 300K, resulting in a power factor of S2/ρ = 0.6 mW/mK2. Compared to Bi2Te3 which is the state of the art material at this temperature this is about a factor of 7 lower. At 300 K TBS has a thermopower of 750 μV/K but a high resistivity of 130 Ωcm. To optimize the thermoelectric properties of TBT solid solutions have been formed with TBS. The resistivities and have been measured on Tl9BiTe1-xSex with x = 0.05, 0.08, 0.2 and 0.5. In addition to the electrical properties the lattice constants have been measured by X-ray diffraction. The dependence of the lattice constants on the Te/Se ratio clearly deviates from Vegard's law. Different affinities of Te and Se towards the two chalcogenide sites in the crystal can explain this behavior.
Características da deglutição sequencial de líquidos em adultos e idosos: uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Veiga Helena Perrut , Bianchini Esther Mandelbaum Gonçalves
Published: February 2013

OBJETIVO: Realizar revisão integrativa de estudos sobre deglutição sequencial de líquidos, caracterizando o método e os principais achados em adultos e idosos. ESTRATÉGIA DE PESQUISA: Foi realizado levantamento na literatura internacional, publicada nos idiomas Inglês ou Português, utilizando-se base de dados PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, dos últimos 20 anos, cujos artigos estavam disponíveis na íntegra. Foram utilizadas as seguintes palavras, em combinações variadas: deglutição sequencial, deglutição, disfagia, copo e canudo. CRITÉRIOS DE SELEÇÃO: Foram incluídos artigos de pesquisa com abordagem metodológica referente à caracterização da deglutição sequencial de líquidos em sujeitos adultos e/ou idosos, independentemente de patologia envolvida. Excluíram-se os estudos que englobavam apenas a fase esofágica. ANÁLISE DOS DADOS: Foram considerados indicadores da pesquisa: objetivos, número e gênero dos participantes; faixa etária; quantidade de líquido ofertado; instrução para ingesta; utensílio e métodos utilizados; principais resultados. RESULTADOS: Dezoito estudos contemplaram os critérios propostos. Os artigos foram tabulados quanto à caracterização da amostra e à metodologia (volume ofertado, utensílio utilizado e tipos de exames). A maioria dos artigos envolveu apenas indivíduos saudáveis e sem queixas de deglutição. Houve diferentes tipos de instrução para deglutir todo o volume: maneira habitual; continuamente; o mais rápido possível. Os achados referentes às caracterizações da deglutição sequencial foram variados e descritos de acordo com objetivos de cada estudo. CONCLUSÃO: Constata-se grande variabilidade na metodologia empregada para caracterização da deglutição sequencial. Alguns achados não são comparáveis entre si, sendo que a deglutição sequencial ainda não faz parte da maioria dos protocolos de avaliação da deglutição. Não há consenso sobre a influência do utensílio.
Association and Mutation Analyses of the IRF6 Gene in Families with Nonsyndromic and Syndromic Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate
Authors: Pegelow M. , Koillinen H. , Magnusson M. , Fransson I. , Unneberg P. , Kere J. , Karsten A. , Peyrard-Janvid M.
Published: February 2013

Objectives

(1) To detect interferon regulatory factor 6 gene ( IRF6) mutations in newly recruited Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) and popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) families. (2) To test for association, in nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate (NSCL/P) and in VWS/PPS families, the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs642961, from the IRF6 enhancer AP-2α region, alone or as haplotype with rs2235371, a coding SNP (Val274Ile).

Design

IRF6 mutation screening was performed by direct sequencing and genotyping of rs642961 and rs2235371 by TaqMan technology.

Patients

Seventy-one Swedish NSCL/P families, 24 Finnish cleft palate (CP) families, and 24 VWS/PPS families (seven newly recruited) were studied.

Results

Allelic and genotypic frequencies in each phenotype were compared to those of the controls, and no significant difference could be observed. IRF6 gene mutation was detected in six of the seven new VWS/PPS families. Association analysis of the entire VWS/PPS sample set revealed the A allele from rs642961 to be a risk allele. Significant association was detected in the Swedish CP subset of our NSCL/P collection where the G-C haplotype for rs642961-rs2235371 were at risk ( P= .013).

Conclusions

Our results do not support the previously reported association between the A allele of rs642961 and the NSCL phenotype. However, in the VWS/PPS families, the A allele was a risk allele and was, in a large majority (>80%), transmitted on the same chromosome as the IRF6 mutation.
Developing a Measure of Appraisal: A Psychometric Analysis of the Parental Appraisal of Cleft Questionnaire
Authors: Shuttlewood Emma , Dalton Louise , Cooper Myra
Published: February 2013

Objective

To develop a questionnaire measure of appraisals for parents of children with a cleft (the Parental Appraisal of Cleft Questionnaire) and to investigate the ability of the Parental Appraisal of Cleft Questionnaire to predict variance in parental well-being.

Design, Participants, Setting

The study used a cross-sectional postal and online questionnaire design with a retest component involving parents of children with a cleft lip and/or palate. Data are presented for 179 parents, predominantly women (74.9%), aged 22 to 58 years.

Main Outcome Measures

Participants completed the appraisal measure under development; other measures of psychological well-being, social support, and socially desirable responding; and demographic information.

Results

Overall, the Parental Appraisal of Cleft Questionnaire was found to have a coherent factor structure, good internal reliability, and good test-retest reliability. The Parental Appraisal of Cleft Questionnaire was also found to predict a significant amount of unique variance in well-being over and above the variance predicted by demographic, social support, and social desirability variables.

Conclusions

Parental appraisals, measured by the Parental Appraisal of Cleft Questionnaire, were found to predict unique variance in well-being. These findings are discussed in relation to adjustment to cleft lip and/or palate for parents. Directions for future research are outlined and the implications for clinical practice and services are discussed.
Selecting Candidate Wells for Refracturing Using Production Data
Authors: Roussel Nicolas P. , Sharma Mukul M.
Published: February 2013

The selection of candidate wells for refracturing is often very difficult to peform based on the information available at the surface. We propose a systematic methodology to allow a field engineer to evaluate a well's potential for refracturing from an analysis of field-production data and other reservoir data commonly available. The well-selection method was successfully confronted to a case study in the Wattenberg field using data from 300 Codell tight gas wells.

The performance of refracturing treatments has been observed to be highly variable in the Wattenberg field (Colorado), with some wells underperforming while others are restored to initial or even higher production rates. Historically, multiple approaches have been taken to select the best candidate wells, including heuristic guidelines, field correlations, and neural networks.

After identifying the physical phenomena that are thought to impact the performance of refracturing operations, five dimensionless groups were developed to quantify them. By choosing a dimensionless approach, the goal is to establish refracturing criteria that will not limited to one specific field, but may used in distinct oil and gas fields. One potential motivation for refracturing is the stress reorientation occurring around a fractured well, causing the refracture to propagate orthogonally to the initial fracture in underdepleted sections of the reservoir. Numerical simulations of the areal extent of the stress-reversal region as well as tiltmeter measurements confirmed the existence of refracture reorientation in the Codell formation. Guidelines for the selection of refracturing candidates were expressed in terms of the potential for stress reorientation, the quality of the initial completion, the initial production decline, and the reservoir depletion around the well of interest. Two groups of wells showed the most promise for refracturing: (a) ineffective initial completions with a small initial production decline and (b) long initial fractures in underdepleted reservoirs. The dimensionless groups help us identify such wells and provide quantitative criteria for selection of wells that may be good candidates for refracturing.
“Squimulation”—Simultaneous Well-Stimulation and Scale-Squeeze Treatments in Deepwater West Africa
Authors: Patterson D. , Kendrick M. , Williams W. , Jordan M.
Published: February 2013

In a deepwater west African field, the relatively small number of high-cost, highly productive wells, coupled with a high barium sulfate scaling tendency (upon waterflood breakthrough of injected seawater) requires effective scale management along with removal of near-wellbore damage in order to achieve high hydrocarbon recovery.

The nature of the well-completion strategy in the field (frac packs for sand control) had resulted in some wells with higher than expected skin values owing to drilling-fluid losses, residual fracture gel, fluid loss agents, and fines mobilization within the frac packs.

The paper will present how the challenges of managing impaired completions and inorganic scale forced innovation in terms of when to apply both stimulation and scale-inhibitor packages to deepwater wells. This paper will outline a novel process for non-conventional batch chemical applications where bullhead stimulation treatments have been displaced deep into the formation (>20 ft) using a scale inhibitor overflush. Not only does this benefit the stimulation by displacing the spent acid and reagents away from the immediate wellbore area, but the combined treatment provides a cost savings with a single mobilization for the combined treatment. The paper will describe the laboratory testing that was performed to qualify the treatments. The four field treatments that were performed demonstrate how these coupled applications have proven very effective at both well stimulation/skin reduction and scale-inhibitor placement before and after seawater breakthrough. The term “squimulation” is used by the local operations team to describe this simultaneous squeeze-and-stimulation process.

Many similar fields are currently being developed in the Campos basin (Gulf of Mexico) and west Africa, and this paper presents a good example of best-practice sharing from another oil basin.
Short‐ and Long‐Term Labile Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics Reflect Management and Predict Corn Agronomic Performance
Authors: Culman Steve W. , Snapp Sieglinde S. , Green John M. , Gentry Lowell E.
Published: February 2013

Labile soil organic matter plays an extremely important role in crop nutrient acquisition, but quantifying this pool can be prohibitively expensive to farmers. A better understanding of rapid and inexpensive measures of labile organic matter could lead to new tools for predicting soil N supply and crop performance. Toward this end, we quantified several simple measures of labile C and N over the course of the corn (Zea mays L.) growing season in a long‐term systems trial to determine:(i) the temporal dynamics of these measures, (ii) the long‐term response of these measures to management, and (iii) the capacity of these measures to predict corn agronomic performance. We found that all labile soil measures (permanganate oxidizable carbon [POXC], C mineralization, N mineralization, and soil inorganic N) varied temporally and responded to long‐term differences in management. Corn grain and vegetative biomass also responded to long‐term treatment differences and these differences were strongly related to the measured labile soil C and N fractions. The history of crop rotation had a greater influence than management regime on all soil measures, with the exception of POXC. Of all the measures, C mineralization was the best predictor of agronomic performance both individually (r = 0.61–0.78, depending on corn stage), and when modeled with multiple indicators (six out of nine models). The results presented here demonstrate the strong relationship between crop growth and labile organic matter dynamics, and provide further evidence that C mineralization is an inexpensive, but sensitive predictor of corn agronomic performance.
Stochastic reservoir optimization using El Niño information: case study of Daule Peripa, Ecuador
Authors: Gelati Emiliano , Madsen Henrik , Rosbjerg Dan
Published: February 2013

Reservoir optimization requires the ability to produce inflow scenarios that are consistent with the available climatic information. We approach stochastic inflow modelling with a Markov-switching model where inflow anomalies are described by a mixture of autoregressive models with exogenous input, each corresponding to a hidden climate state. Climatic information is used as exogenous input and to condition state transitions. We apply the model to the inflow of the Daule Peripa reservoir in western Ecuador, where El Niño events cause anomalously heavy rainfall. El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices constitute the climatic input of the inflow model. The Daule Peripa reservoir serves a hydropower plant and a downstream water supply facility. Based on ENSO forecasts, which are available with 9 month lead time, monthly inflow scenarios are generated to perform stochastic optimization of reservoir releases with monthly time-steps. To account for inflow uncertainty, we generate multiple synthetic inflow time series and apply a multi-objective genetic algorithm to evaluate the objective functions. The results highlight the advantages of using a climate-driven stochastic model to produce inflow scenarios and forecasts for reservoir optimization, and show significant potential improvements with respect to the current reservoir management.
Evaluation of approaches for estimation of rainfall and the unit hydrograph
Authors: Croke B. F. W. , Islam A. , Ghosh J. , Khan M. A.
Published: February 2013

The impact of rainfall interpolation techniques and unit hydrograph estimation has been explored for four gauged locations in the Brahmani basin in east India. The use of ground-based and satellite-based data, coupled with testing two interpolation techniques (Thiessen polygon and inverse distance weighting), can yield improved rainfall estimates and fits to observed flows. Due to the presence of significant errors in the areal rainfall estimate it was found that identification of known errors in rainfall data can assist in focusing model calibration on catchment response, thereby reducing the uncertainty in model parameter values. Similarly, using several approaches to estimate the unit hydrograph can assist in reducing uncertainty. The resulting performance of the model for the gauged sites in the Brahmani basin gave Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values for the calibration period of 0.6–0.7. For this basin, the inverse distance weighting approach corrected for spatial variation in rainfall distribution generally gave the best fits to the observed streamflow. Sensitivity to errors in the rainfall surface limits the applicability for this approach in modelling the flows in ungauged basins, however.
The effects of the spatial distribution of bottom topography and bottom drag on seiche-induced wave train formation
Authors: Baglaenko Anton , Stastna Marek , Steinmoeller Derek T. , Poulin Francis J.
Published: February 2013

We consider the nonlinear, non-hydrostatic dynamics of seiches in small to medium-sized lakes. Using numerical simulations of shallow water equations modified to include weakly non-hydrostatic effects, we illustrate how spatially varying bottom drag and finite amplitude topography lead to the bending of wave trains that develop from the initial standing wave. For the case of variable topography, we discuss how the seiche and the wave trains that develop can resuspend material (e.g. nutrients) from the bottom of the lake and redistribute it in space. The numerical methods employed are spectrally accurate in space and second-order in time, yielding excellent accuracy and little numerical dissipation. We find that while the resuspension itself is largely due to the long standing waves at early times, the redistribution of nutrient distribution that is seen at later times is profoundly influenced by the development of the wave trains; a fundamentally non-hydrostatic effect.
Assessment of a NEMO-based hydrodynamic modelling system for the Great Lakes
Authors: Dupont Frederic , Chittibabu Padala , Fortin Vincent , Rao Yerubandi R. , Lu Youyu
Published: February 2013

Environment Canada recently developed a coupled lake–atmosphere–hydrological modelling system for the Laurentian Great Lakes. This modelling system consists of the Canadian Regional Deterministic Prediction System (RDPS), which is based on the Global Environmental Multiscale model (GEM), the MESH (Modélisation Environnementale Surface et Hydrologie) surface and river routing model, and a hydrodynamic model based on the three-dimensional global ocean model Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO). This paper describes the performance of the NEMO model in the Great Lakes. The model was run from 2004 to 2009 with atmospheric forcing from GEM and river forcing from the MESH modelling system for the Great Lakes region and compared with available observations in selected lakes. The NEMO model is able to produce observed variations of lake levels, ice concentrations, lake surface temperatures, surface currents and vertical thermal structure reasonably well in most of the Great Lakes. However, the model produced a diffused thermocline in the central basin of Lake Erie. The model predicted evaporation is relatively strong in the upper lakes. Preliminary results of the modelling system indicate that the model needs further improvements in atmospheric–lake exchange bulk formulae and surface mixed layer physics.
Storm-induced circulation in the Pearl River Estuary of China during super Typhoon Koryn
Authors: Tang Liqun , Sheng Jinyu , Cai Yuhan
Published: February 2013

This study presents a numerical investigation of storm-induced circulation and hydrographic distributions over the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) in South China's Guangdong Province during super Typhoon Koryn in June 1993. The nested-grid modelling system used in this study has three downscaling subcomponents: an outer-most sub-model with a coarse horizontal resolution of ∼7 km for simulating surface elevations and depth-mean currents forced by wind and tides over China Seas from Bohai Sea to the northern South China Sea; and an inner-most sub-model with a fine resolution of ∼1.2 km for simulating the three-dimensional estuarine circulation and hydrographic distributions in the PRE and adjacent waters. A parametric vortex is inserted into the coarse-resolution (0.5°) numerical weather forecast products to better represent the atmospheric pressure and wind stress associated with Koryn. Model results demonstrate that large surface elevations and intense surface currents are generated over the area of influence of the storm. Lagrange velocities of near-surface particles are also used to examine the effect of the storm on the movements and dispersion of near-surface particles over the study region.
Adsorptive removal studies of lead(II) ions using functionalized silica
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Abraham Thomas N. , Jain S. K.
Published: February 2013

An adsorbent was prepared by the functionalization of 2-hydroxyacetophenone-3-thiosemicarbazone onto 3-aminopropyl silica by diazotation and characterized by Fourier transmission infra red spectrometry. The functionalized silica was evaluated for removal of lead(II) ions in aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity 385 μg/g was obtained with an initial concentration of 1,000 μg/L by the Langmuir isotherm. The results indicated that adsorption data could be fitted better by the Langmuir than the Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order reaction and the rate constants of kinetic model were calculated. The experimental results implied that functionalized silica has the potential to work as a good adsorbent for the removal of the heavy metals from contaminated water. This novel adsorbent was found to be easy to synthesize, simple, cost-effective and highly efficient and has potential application in the water purification field.
Assessing environmental risks of laundry detergents in greywater used for irrigation
Authors: Stevens Daryl , Dillon Peter , Page Declan , Warne Michael , Ying Guang Guo
Published: February 2013

The objective of this study was to assess the environmental risk posed to Australian and New Zealand ecosystems by the presence of powdered laundry detergents in greywater used for irrigating gardens. Fifty powdered laundry detergents were assessed and all contained hazards which posed moderate to very high risks from increased alkalinity, sodicity and salinity to plants and soils when used at manufacturer-recommended doses and the resulting greywater used for irrigation. A number of detergents had phosphorus and boron concentrations considered to be a high risk for a number of plants. Risk to groundwater quality was also evaluated and found to potentially be a tighter constraint than risk to plants and soil where irrigation reuse is extensive in arid areas. A detergent environmental performance index was composed on risks assessed for three scenarios to compare with a washability performance index for the same powders. Only one detergent exceeded the 80% environmental index (100% = low risk from all hazards assessed) and maintained wash performance above 85%. The analysis suggests that for poorly drained soils greywater reuse is not recommended for most of the powdered laundry detergents evaluated. However the methodology may provide a basis for environmental labelling of detergents.
Simulation of oxidation processes and biomass growth in intermittent sand filter
Authors: Bali M. , Gueddari M.
Published: February 2013

Infiltration percolation is an extensive treatment process aimed at eliminating organic pollution, oxidizing ammonia and removing pathogens. The main purpose of this work was to improve, by means of a numerical model, the understanding of oxidation processes and biomass development in an intermittent sand filter. Hydrodynamic, dispersion and biologic parameters were calibrated and validated after data from the monitoring of an infiltration basin set in the Dissa area (south-east Tunisia). The predicted values were in good agreement with the observed data. Simulations confirm the influence of the filter depth and the fractionation of the daily hydraulic load on organic matter elimination and nitrogen oxidation. Results showed that increasing the fractionation improves the oxidation performances of the infiltration percolation process and leads to accumulated biomass in the upper layers of the sand filter. The model allowed simulation of biomass growth and its impact on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the filtering bed.
Kinetic modelling for removal of m-cresol from wastewater using mixed microbial culture in batch reactor
Authors: Dey Sudipta , Mukherjee Somnath
Published: February 2013

An indigenous mixed microbial culture isolated from an effluent treatment section of a coke oven plant has been studied for its m-cresol biodegradation capacity under aerobic batch reactor operation. The culture, after acclimatization could biodegrade up to 700 mg/L of m-cresol. The m-cresol concentration in the present study was at 50 mg/L and then ranged from 100 to 700 mg/L with step up concentration of 100 mg/L. Both biodegradation kinetics and microorganism growth kinetics were studied and kinetic parameters were estimated. The result showed that m-cresol was an inhibitory-type substrate and the inhibition effect became predominant after 200 mg/L of initial m-cresol. The specific growth rate of microorganisms increased up to 200 mg/L of m-cresol as sole carbon source, and then started decreasing. The kinetic data obtained in this study have been fitted to different substrate inhibition models (Haldane, Han-Levenspiel, Edward, Luong, Aiba, Teissier, Yano-Koga). Among all models, Han-Levenspiel and Luong were best fitted for this study (root mean square error = 0.001349). In addition, the variation of observed yield coefficient Yx/s with initial m-cresol concentration was investigated. The values of kinetic constants estimated by the models proved that the mixed culture used in the study had good potential for m-cresol degradation.
Removal of algogenic organic matter by magnetic ion exchange resin pre-treatment and its effect on fouling in ultrafiltration
Authors: Liu C. , Chen W. , Robert V. M. , Han Z. G.
Published: February 2013

Natural organic matter (NOM) fouling continues to be the major barrier to efficient application of ultrafiltration (UF) in drinking water treatment. Algogenic organic matter (AOM), the main contributor to total NOM levels in raw waters characterised by elevated algae levels, is currently the subject of much investigation. In this study, the effect of AOM on fouling of ultrafiltration and the effectiveness of magnetic ion exchange resin (MIEX®) pre-treatment for AOM removal and membrane fouling control was evaluated. The results showed that, the main species of algae in raw water were Chlorella vulgaris, which accounted for 80% of total algae. AOM was predominantly hydrophilic (50% or more) with a low SUVA (1.7 Lm−1 mg−1). Coagulation alone could not remove AOM effectively (less than 20%), however, when combined with magnetic ion exchange resin pre-treatment, more than 60% of AOM was be removed; pre-treatment followed by coagulation was observed to be very effective in controlling membrane fouling by AOM. The application of magnetic ion exchange resin technology at a bed volume treatment rate (BVTR) of 800 was observed to effectively eliminate fouling of UF membrane. Careful analyses of the molecular weight (MW) distribution of AOM and UV absorbance of treated water revealed that the effectiveness in membrane fouling control was the result of the changes in AOM molecular characteristics in treated water, namely a change in MW due to the preferential removal of high molecular proteins by coagulation and magnetic ion exchange resin pre-treatment. The results demonstrate that magnetic ion exchange resin followed by coagulation might be a new membrane pre-treatment option for UF membrane fouling control.
Long-term behaviour of a gravity-driven dead end membrane filtration unit for potable water supply in cases of disasters
Authors: Frechen F. -B. , Exler H. , Romaker J. , Schier W.
Published: February 2013

The frequentness of serious natural disasters will rise against the background of climate change in the next decades. One of the most severe impacts of natural disasters is the interruption of drinking water supply. Contaminated water causes the death of thousands of people worldwide every year. Mobile waterworks used by aid organizations are sophisticated systems with high demand of energy, skilled personnel and chemicals. They are designed to supply larger communities in the range of (several) thousand people but small and secluded areas can not be reached. The Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (DESEE) at University of Kassel developed a small, transportable and easy to use dead-end membrane filtration unit for basic water supply in cases of natural disasters for small groups in the range of 200 up to 500 people in remote areas, the “WaterBackpack”. Experimental long-term series show that the unit is able to provide water in sufficient quantity and quality for the defined use case. Tests with contaminated surface water revealed, that a minimum flux of around 5 L m−2 h−1 can be kept up over a period of more than two month without any cleaning or maintenance.
Determination of water supply sources in the Barcelona distribution system by UV spectrophotometry and PLS
Authors: Platikanov S. , Garcia V. , Landeros E. , Devesa R. , Matía L. , Tauler R.
Published: February 2013

A new method for the water source apportionment of the Barcelona (Spain) water distribution system is proposed. The method is based on the combined use of UV spectrophotometric measurements in the wavelength from 190–230 nm, and multivariate data analysis using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) chemometric method. From the differences in the organic matter content of the different water sources and of their corresponding UV spectral features, PLS was able to determine the relative amounts of the two main river water sources in samples of tap water from the different locations of the Barcelona city water distribution system. The extension of the method to determine the relative amounts in water blends, prepared from samples from five water treatment plant sources of the same city’s distribution system, required the combined use of some other parameters. In particular, the distinction and apportion of the water coming from a desalinisation plant could be successfully achieved once concentrations of Boron were included in the analysis.
Detection of bisphenol A in water samples using ELISA determination method
Authors: Zheng J. , Zhao S. Q. , Xu X. T. , Zhang K.
Published: February 2013

In order to study whether bisphenol A (BPA) can pass into drinking water from polycarbonate barrel and exist in the river and industrial effluent the indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of BPA was established. The results presented an inhibition concentration at 50% absorbance (IC50) of 0.123 mg L−1, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 9.934 μg L−1. The specificity of antiserum was proved well because the cross-reactivity with benzene, tert-butylbenzene, hydroquinone and o-hydroxybenzoic acid were found lower than 0.01%, except phenol was 0.26%. The method was found to be reliable and repeatable. It was used for monitoring the concentration of BPA in the barreled drinking water. The results confirmed BPA can pass into barreled drinking water from the polycarbonate barrel and concentration increased as days went on. A certain content of BPA was found in industrial effluent. The results of ELISA were consistent with the results of UV spectrophotometry. BPA could not be found in the water samples obtained from Zhujiang River. The established method shows specific recognition of BPA and could be applied in detection of environmental BPA.
The sustainable industrial water cycle - a review of the economics and approach
Authors: Andrews M. , Berardo P. , Foster D.
Published: February 2013

Studies suggest that only 31% of Europe is thought to have a water supply that is either plentiful or sufficient to meet demands until 2015, and water stress indexes show a number of countries with traditionally wet climates such as Belgium and Bulgaria, under significant water stress. Therefore, there is both a desire and a need to reduce the consumption of water over much of Europe. For industry, often economics determine the viability of water recycling, which does not necessarily fall under the standards currently being set for the major water reuse schemes. While the additional annual recycling capacity in Western Europe is set to increase by 10%, much of the Global market is focussed on major reuse facilities based on the municipal sector. Within the industrial sector there are opportunities to achieve major changes in the water cycle which can have a significant impact on total water consumption. The impact on regional water consumption by industries efforts can be massive, as industry accounts for 50% of the water consumption in Western Europe. When benchmarked data across industry sectors is analysed, we find that industries ranging from paper mills, dairy, beverage, ceramic and electronics have opportunities to reduce their water consumption by around 50%. But what are the mechanisms that drive actions in the industry water cycle, and how great can the impact be? This paper explores industrial water costs across Europe, and the drivers leading to reduced water consumption. As operators of water and wastewater facilities for many industrial customers across Europe, Ondeo Industrial Solutions examine the raw water costs and the viability of recycle schemes. Economics is not the only driver towards the reduction in water consumption on industrial sites. There are political and legislative drivers that can often override the economics such as the European PPC (Pollution Prevention and Control) directive that can often lead to a programme of water consumption reductions.
Degradation of humic acid from water by advanced electrochemical oxidation method
Authors: Vlaicu I. , Pop A. , Manea F. , Radovan C.
Published: February 2013

In this study, the electrooxidation treatment method using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes was investigated for the degradation of humic acid (HA) following absorbance at 254 nm (A254), color (A436) and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Also, a surrogate SUVA254 parameter was used to evaluate the aromatic carbon content. Prior to the application of the electrooxidation for HA degradation the electrochemical behavior of BDD electrode in HA containing 0.1M Na2SO4 supporting electrolyte was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and the working conditions of bulk electrolysis corresponding to water decomposition potential range were selected. The influence of the applied current density, pH, HA initial concentration on the performance of BDD electrode was investigated in relation with the specific electrical consumption. Applying electrooxidation using BDD electrodes for the real surface water treatment led to the mineralization efficiency of 65% after 150 minutes.
Digital Pathology Evaluation in the Multicenter Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE)
Authors: Barisoni Laura , Nast Cynthia C. , Jennette J. Charles , Hodgin Jeffrey B. , Herzenberg Andrew M. , Lemley Kevin V. , Conway Catherine M. , Kopp Jeffrey B. , Kretzler Matthias , Lienczewski Christa , Avila-Casado Carmen , Bagnasco Serena , Sethi Sanjeev , Tomaszewski John , Gasim Adil H. , Hewitt Stephen M.
Published: February 2013

Pathology consensus review for clinical trials and disease classification has historically been performed by manual light microscopy with sequential section review by study pathologists, or multi-headed microscope review. Limitations of this approach include high intra- and inter-reader variability, costs, and delays for slide mailing and consensus reviews. To improve this, the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) is systematically applying digital pathology review in a multicenter study using renal biopsy whole slide imaging (WSI) for observation-based data collection. Study pathology materials are acquired, scanned, uploaded, and stored in a web-based information system that is accessed through a web-browser interface. Quality control includes metadata and image quality review. Initially, digital slides are annotated, with each glomerulus identified, given a unique number, and maintained in all levels until the glomerulus disappears or sections end. The software allows viewing and annotation of multiple slide sections concurrently. Analysis utilizes “descriptors” for patterns of injury, rather than diagnoses, in renal parenchymal compartments. This multidimensional representation via WSI, allows more accurate glomerular counting and identification of all lesions in each glomerulus, with data available in a searchable database. The use of WSI brings about efficiency critical to pathology review in a clinical trial setting, including independent review by multiple pathologists, improved intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility, efficiencies and risk reduction in slide circulation and mailing, centralized management of data integrity and slide images for current or future studies, and web-based consensus meetings. The overall effect is improved incorporation of pathology review in a budget neutral approach.
Decreased Serum Concentrations of 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Are Associated With Increased Risk of Progression to Impaired Fasting Glucose and Diabetes
Authors: Tsur Anat , Feldman Becca S. , Feldhammer Ilan , Hoshen Moshe B. , Leibowitz Gil , Balicer Ran D.
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVE

To study the association between vitamin D status and the risk of incident impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes in a population-based cohort of diabetes-free subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In a historical prospective cohort study of subjects from the Clalit Health Services database, which includes information on nearly 4 million people, diabetes-free subjects aged 40–70 years with serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD) measurements available were followed for 2 years to assess the development of IFG and diabetes in five 25-OHD subgroups: ≥25, 25.1–37.5, 37.6–50, 50.1–75, and >75 nmol/L.

RESULTS

The baseline cohort included 117,960 adults: 83,526 normoglycemic subjects and 34,434 subjects with IFG. During follow-up, 8,629 subjects (10.3% of the normoglycemic group) developed IFG, and 2,162 subjects (1.8% of the total cohort) progressed to diabetes. A multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, population group, immigrant status, BMI, season of vitamin D measurement, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, estimated glomerular filtration rate, history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease, Charlson comorbidity index, smoking, and socioeconomic status revealed an inverse association between 25-OHD and the risk of progression to IFG and diabetes. The odds of transitioning from normoglycemia to IFG, from normoglycemia to diabetes, and from IFG to diabetes in subjects with a 25-OHD level ≤25 nmol/L were greater than those of subjects with a 25-OHD level >75 nmol/L [odds ratio 1.13 (95% CI 1.03–1.24), 1.77 (1.11–2.83), and 1.43 (1.16–1.76), respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency appears to be an independent risk factor for the development of IFG and diabetes.
Screening for Diabetes and Prediabetes Should Be Cost-Saving in Patients at High Risk
Authors: Chatterjee Ranee , Narayan K.M. Venkat , Lipscomb Joseph , Jackson Sandra L. , Long Qi , Zhu Ming , Phillips Lawrence S.
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVE

Although screening for diabetes and prediabetes is recommended, it is not clear how best or whom to screen. We therefore compared the economics of screening according to baseline risk.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Five screening tests were performed in 1,573 adults without known diabetes—random plasma/capillary glucose, plasma/capillary glucose 1 h after 50-g oral glucose (any time, without previous fast, plasma glucose 1 h after a 50-g oral glucose challenge [GCTpl]/capillary glucose 1 h after a 50-g oral glucose challenge [GCTcap]), and A1C—and a definitive 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Costs of screening included the following: costs of testing (screen plus oral glucose tolerance test, if screen is positive); costs for false-negative results; and costs of treatment of true-positive results with metformin, all over the course of 3 years. We compared costs for no screening, screening everyone for diabetes or high-risk prediabetes, and screening those with risk factors based on age, BMI, blood pressure, waist circumference, lipids, or family history of diabetes.

RESULTS

Compared with no screening, cost-savings would be obtained largely from screening those at higher risk, including those with BMI >35 kg/m2, systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg, or age >55 years, with differences of up to −46% of health system costs for screening for diabetes and −21% for screening for dysglycemia110, respectively (all P < 0.01). GCTpl would be the least expensive screening test for most high-risk groups for this population over the course of 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

From a health economics perspective, screening for diabetes and high-risk prediabetes should target patients at higher risk, particularly those with BMI >35 kg/m2, systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg, or age >55 years, for whom screening can be most cost-saving. GCTpl is generally the least expensive test in high-risk groups and should be considered for routine use as an opportunistic screen in these groups.
Regional Primary Care Team to Deliver Best-Practice Diabetes Care
Authors: Segal Leonie , Leach Matthew J. , May Esther , Turnbull Catherine
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVE

Best-practice diabetes care can reduce the burden of diabetes and associated health care costs. But this requires access to a multidisciplinary team with the right skill mix. We applied a needs-driven evidence-based health workforce model to describe the primary care team required to support best-practice diabetes care, paying particular attention to diverse clinic populations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Care protocols, by number and duration of consultations, were derived for twenty distinct competencies based on clinical practice guidelines and structured input from a multidisciplinary clinical panel. This was combined with a previously estimated population profile of persons across 26 patient attributes (i.e., type of diabetes, complications, and threats to self-care) to estimate clinician contact hours by competency required to deliver best-practice care in the study region.

RESULTS

A primary care team of 22.1 full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions was needed to deliver best-practice primary care to a catchment of 1,000 persons with diabetes with the attributes of the Australian population. Competencies requiring greatest contact time were psychosocial issues and dietary advice at 3.5 and 3.3 FTE, respectively (1 FTE/∼300 persons); home (district) nursing at 3.2 FTE; and diabetes education at 2.8 FTE. The annual cost of delivering care was estimated at just over 2,000 Australian dollars (∼2,090 USD) (2012) per person with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

A needs-driven approach to primary care service planning identified a wider range of competencies in the diabetes primary and community care team than typically described. Access to psychosocial competences as well as medical management is required if clinical targets are to be met, especially in disadvantaged groups.
Serum Inflammatory Markers and Preeclampsia in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Du Mei , Basu Arpita , Fu Dongxu , Wu Mingyuan , Centola Michael , Jenkins Alicia J. , Hanssen Kristian F. , Garg Satish K. , Hammad Samar M. , Scardo James A. , Aston Christopher E. , Lyons Timothy J.
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVE

Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been associated with the immunobiology of preeclampsia (PE), a significant cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The prevalence of PE is elevated several fold in the presence of maternal type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Although cross-sectional studies of pregnancies among women without diabetes have shown altered inflammatory markers in the presence of PE, longitudinal studies of diabetic women are lacking. In maternal serum samples, we examined the temporal associations of markers of inflammation with the subsequent development of PE in women with T1DM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted longitudinal analyses of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), adhesion molecules, and cytokines during the first (mean ± SD, 12.2 ± 1.9 weeks), second (21.6 ± 1.5 weeks), and third (31.5 ± 1.7 weeks) trimesters of pregnancy (visits 1–3, respectively). All study visits took place before the onset of PE. Covariates were BMI, HbA1c, age of onset, duration of diabetes, and mean arterial pressure.

RESULTS

In women with T1DM who developed PE versus those who remained normotensive, CRP tended to be higher at visits 1 (P = 0.07) and 2 (P = 0.06) and was significantly higher at visit 3 (P < 0.05); soluble E-selectin and interferon-γ–inducible protein-10 (IP-10) were significantly higher at visit 3; interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and eotaxin were higher and lower, respectively, at visit 2 (all P < 0.05). These conclusions persisted following adjustment for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

In pregnant women with T1DM, elevated CRP, soluble E-selectin, IL-1ra, and IP-10 and lower eotaxin were associated with subsequent PE. The role of inflammatory factors as markers and potential mechanisms of the high prevalence of PE in T1DM merits further investigation.