bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rationalization and computerization of the drug supply to an animal unit
Authors: Wootton R. , Henderson F. 
Published: July 2007

Drug stocks in an animal unit were rationalized by discarding out-of-date or unwanted items and drawing up an approved stock list. A computerized system of stock control which enables a regular and accurate inventory of pharmaceuticals to be made was then established. In addition, the paperwork required for re-ordering drugs is produced automatically. Pharmaceuticals to a total value of £1650 were discarded during the rationalization phase. The value of drugs stocked in the animal unit then stabilized at about one-third of previous levels. In the first 6 months of operation of the new system drug expenditure fell by about 40% in comparison with the same period 1 year previously. The drug stock control system has proved economical to operate and accurate, and can be run by persons without computer expertise. Valuable savings in both cost and labour have resulted. Effective management of drug expenditure by the animal unit is now possible.
Characterization of Community-Acquired Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Children
Authors: Johnson Peter N , Rapp Robert P , Nelson Christopher T , Butler JS , Overman Sue , Kuhn Robert J 
Published: July 2007

Background: Limited data exist concerning characteristics of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections (CA-SAI) in central and eastern Kentucky. Objective: To describe the incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005, compare the number of CA-MRSA infections between years, and contrast treatment interventions and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of CA-SAI. Methods: A concurrent and retrospective study was conducted in 125 patients less than 18 years of age with CA-SAI admitted to the hospital/clinic based on criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data on demographics, length of stay, antibiotic therapy, and antibiotic susceptibilities were collected. Results: Seventy patients were included for analysis (CA-MRSA, n = 51; community-acquired methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [CA-MSSA], n = 19). No statistically significant differences were noted between the number of CA-MRSA infections and the total CA-SAI (9/15 in 2004 vs 42/55 in 2005; p = 0.15). Approximately 75% of patients with CA-SAI were admitted to the hospital with no significant difference in length of stay. Ninety percent of CA-SAI were skin and soft tissue infections. There was a significant difference between groups with cutaneous abscesses (CA-MRSA, n = 37 vs CA-MSSA, n = 6; p = 0.002). Greater than 95% of all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Half of CA-MRSA patients received inappropriate antibiotic therapy with β-lactam antibiotics or clindamycin without confirmatory disk diffusion test. Twenty-five (49%) patients with CA-MRSA received surgical debridement (S/D) and/or incision and drainage (I/D) with concomitant antibiotic therapy. Four patients with CA-MRSA were rehospitalized for subsequent infections; all 4 received appropriate antibiotic therapy. Conclusions: A noticeable increase in CA-MRSA infections with cutaneous abscess between 2004 and 2005 was noted. In patients receiving inappropriate antibiotic therapy, treatment success was attributed to concomitant S/D and I/D. Further analysis should focus on the impact of antibiotic therapy alone or in combination with S/D and I/D on the incidence of subsequent CA-MRSA infections.
Effects of Temperatures on Mortar Quantified by Surface Color Changes
Authors: Lin Deng-Fong , Luo Huan-Lin , Lee Jen-Rong 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the potential use of a digital image analysis method to quantify fire-related damages. Temperature regimes, durations of firing temperatures, and changes to color components are investigated. This research involves testing mortar specimens under different elevated temperatures, using a digital camera to capture images of the tested specimens, and applying the “image color intensity analyzer” to the images in order to obtain different intensities of color components in both the RGB and hue-saturation-intensity (HSI) color spaces. The study demonstrates that, as a result of elevated temperatures, red is the most dominant component in the color change, followed by green and blue. Parameters affecting the color change include maximum temperatures and duration of firing. This study also shows that hue and saturation correlate very well with temperatures, which implies that the HSI color space can be applied to study the behavior of fire-damaged concrete.
Nondestructive Testing for the Integrity Evaluation of Erosive and Abrasive Boundary Layers
Authors: Meged Y. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
The test surfaces of erosion and abrasion specimens are prepared by electrical discharge machining, grinding, turning, and polishing. These machining operations form an affected material zone (AMZ), with mechanical and metallurgical alterations. As a result, the erosion properties of the AMZ vary from those of the base material, thereby affecting the cumulative mass loss-time curve. Erosion and abrasion standards loosely specify the preparation method of the specimens’ test surface and relate to the AMZ integrity in a qualitative way. Consequently, there is a large variation in the AMZ thickness and properties, and in the mass loss-time pattern. There are several nondestructive test (NDT) methods for determining subsurface integrity. These methods enable one to determine material isotropy, and hardness, residual stress, and grain size gradients in the subsurface layer of many materials. Applying NDT methods in inspection of erosion and abrasion specimens will enable one to conduct better controlled erosion and abrasion tests with high precision results.
A Very Early Strength Concrete for Highway Construction
Authors: Punurai Sun , Punurai Wonsiri , Hsu Cheng-Tzu Thomas 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
The purpose of this research study was to develop an improved very early strength (VES) concrete mix for highway construction. More than 50 concrete mixes were evaluated for strength, shrinkage, and curing rate (maturity), eventually leading to the development of an optimized VES concrete mix with improved performance characteristics. The new mix, which is detailed in the paper, can gain strength more reliably than the former standard New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) VES mix, reaching a flexural strength of 350 psi (2.4 MPa) in less than 6.5 h. The improved mix also exhibited 79 to 93 % less shrinkage. The study found that maintaining an initial mix temperature of 28°C (82°F) is crucial to attain target strengths.
Residual Effects from Fish Wheel Capture and Handling of Yukon River Fall Chum Salmon
Authors: Bromaghin Jeffrey F. , Underwood Tevis J. , Hander Raymond F. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Since 1996, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists have annually used fish wheels to capture migrating adult fall chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta in the main-stem Yukon River, Alaska, and estimated their abundance via mark–recapture methods. In each year of the study, the mark rate of captured fish at a site near Rampart has been substantially greater than rates observed at numerous locations upriver of that site. The factors most likely to cause the observed reduction in the mark rate are violations of mark–recapture model assumptions or the mortality of marked fish between the Rampart site and upriver locations. Results of studies conducted through 2000 were most consistent with the hypothesis of mortality. We investigate potential explanatory factors for the apparent reduction in mark rates at upriver locations using data collected during additional studies from 2001 to 2003. Results document that holding fish in submerged pens at the marking site negatively affects their ability to migrate for at least some time. No evidence of tag loss or spatial segregation within the mark–recapture study area was observed. A conclusion that some aspect of the capture and handling of fish elevates their mortality upriver of the mark–recapture study area seems well founded. However, holding of fish does not solely explain the reduction in mark rates at upriver locations, and other contributing factors remain unidentified. Researchers using fish wheels should be aware that the gear may be more harmful to fish than was previously thought and may bias estimators of some parameters such as abundance or migration speed.
Design of a Compound Inclined Screen Trap for Anadromous Salmonid Smolts
Authors: Dexter Daniel J. , Schliep Donald V. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
In the late 1980s, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fish managers became compelled to address the decline of wild steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in Lake Superior. Requisite to the development of stock–recruitment models, permanent smolt traps were designed and constructed on two Lake Superior tributaries. The design was engineered to function in a broad range of discharges with complete structural integrity, to keep itself free of debris, and to sample a large portion of the emigrating salmonid population. The first of these traps was built on the French River (discharge, from 3 to &gt;1,840 ft3/s (cfs)) and began operation in 1994. After several years of very successful operation a second trap was built on the Knife River (discharge, from 5 to &gt;9,000 cfs) that began operation in 1997. These structures employ fixed stainless steel dewatering screens permanently fixed at opposed compound inclines on each side of a channel that carries water to a catch–retention box, which is also fixed and above the level of the stream. Fish falling onto the screen are directed by gravity to the center channel, where they travel with the flowing water to the catch box. A stainless steel, overshot, rotating drum screen in the catch box has effectively retained fish with low mortality while expelling water-borne debris. Both traps have operated continuously during open-water periods since 1997 to sample emigrating salmonid smolts (primarily wild steelhead). Smolt capture efficiency has been estimated to be 94% with the French River trap and 85% with the Knife River trap. Fish managers may wish to examine and consider this design as a possibility for addressing their smolt monitoring needs.
Yellow Perch in South Dakota: Population Variability and Predicted Effects of Creel Limit Reductions and Minimum Length Limits
Authors: Isermann Daniel A. , Willis David W. , Blackwell Brian G. , Lucchesi David O. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
We collected annual gill-net samples of yellow perch Perca flavescens in six South Dakota lakes over 4–5 years. We also simulated the effects of reductions in daily creel limits for yellow perch (i.e., from 25 fish/angler to 5, 10, or 15 fish/angler) and use of minimum total length limits (229 and 254 mm). Population indices varied widely among lakes and among years within lakes to the extent that indices from any individual year were largely uninformative. Creel surveys indicated that few anglers typically achieved a daily creel limit of 25 yellow perch. Except in Waubay Lake, lowering the creel limit from 25 to 5 fish/angler would be necessary to achieve harvest reductions of 25% or more within most of the fisheries we examined. Minimum length limits were projected to improve size and age structure, but harvest reductions often exceeded 50% and yield declined or only slightly increased (by ≤13%). Yellow perch in these lakes had achieved much of their full growth potential by the time they reached 229 and 254 mm. Consequently, although length limits were predicted to increase age and size structures, asymptotic growth prevented yellow perch from attaining substantially larger sizes. Length limits were predicted to be most beneficial when fishing mortality represented most of the total mortality in each population and when growth occurred at median or fast rates. A 229-mm length limit was predicted to improve size and age structures with less-severe reductions in harvest or yield than a 254-mm limit. Population dynamics and the harvest-oriented nature of yellow perch anglers may dictate that yield maximization is still a reasonable management goal for many South Dakota yellow perch fisheries. Increasing the number of yellow perch that attain 229 mm is possible for certain fisheries if angler harvest represents the dominant source of mortality.
Distributed virtual experiments in water quality management
Authors: Claeys F. , Chtepen M. , Benedetti L. , Dhoedt B. , Vanrolleghem P.A. 
Published: July 2007

Since the complexity of virtual experiments (VEs) and their underlying models is constantly increasing, computational performance of monolithic software solutions is rapidly becoming insufficient. Examples of VEs are probabilistic design, model calibration, optimal experimental design and scenario analysis. In order to tackle this computational bottleneck, a framework for the distributed execution of VEs on a potentially heterogeneous pool of work nodes has been implemented. This framework was named WDVE (WEST distributed virtual experimentation) and is built on top of technologies such as C++, XML and SOAP. It was designed for stability, expandability, performance, platform-independence and ease of use.
Complex VEs are most often composed of mutually independent sub-experiments, which can be run concurrently. With WDVE, a complex VE that is executed on a so-called Master machine will therefore attempt to execute its sub-experiments on Slave machines that have previously registered with the Master. The process of submitting requests for the execution of sub-experiments is transparent and involves the transfer of a description of the experiment to be executed, and the resources that are needed for the execution (i.e., model and input data). WDVE is in many ways similar to the Grid Computing paradigm, which is currently receiving widespread attention. However, WDVE is more geared towards application within the scope of water quality management.
On-site treatment of high-strength alcohol distillery wastewater by a pilot-scale thermophilic multi-staged UASB (MS-UASB) reactor
Authors: Yamada M. , Yamauchi M. , Suzuki T. , Ohashi A. , Harada H. 
Published: July 2007

A pilot-scale multi-staged UASB (MS-UASB) reactor with a working volume of 2.5 m3 was operated for thermophilic (55°C) treatment of an alcohol distillery wastewater for a period of over 600 days. The reactor steadily achieved a super-high rate COD removal, that is, 60 kgCOD m−3 d−1 with over 80% COD removal. However, when higher organic loading rates were further imposed upon the reactor, that is, above 90 kgCOD m−3 d−1 for barely-based alcohol distillery wastewater (ADWW) and above 100 kgCOD m−3 d−1 for sweet potato-based ADWW, the reactor performance somewhat deteriorated to 60 and 70% COD removal, respectively.
Methanogenic activity (MA) of the retained sludge in the thermophilic MS-UASB reactor was assessed along the time course of continuous run by serum-vial test using different substrates as a vial sole substrate. With the elapsed time of continuous run, hydrogen-utilizing MA, acetate-utilizing MA and propionate-fed MA increased at maximum of 13.2, 1.95 and 0.263 kgCOD kgVSS−1 d−1, respectively, indicating that propionate-fed MA attained only 1/50 of hydrogen-utilizing MA and 1/7 of acetate-utilizing MA. Since the ADWW applied herewith is a typical seasonal campaign wastewater, the influence of shut-down upon the decline in sludge MA was also investigated. Hydrogen-utilizing MA and acetate-utilizing MA decreased slightly by 3/4, during a month of non-feeding period, whereas propionate-fed MA were decreased significantly by 1/5. Relatively low values of propionate-fed MA and its vulnerability to adverse conditions suggests that the propionate degradation step is the most critical bottleneck of overall anaerobic degradation of organic matters under thermophilic condition.
Membrane bioreactors in industrial wastewater treatment – European experiences, examples and trends
Authors: Cornel P. , Krause S. 
Published: July 2007

In wastewater treatment, micro- and ultra-filtration membranes are used for the separation of the activated sludge (biomass) from the treated water. This offers the advantages of a complete removal of solids and bacteria, as well as most of the viruses, namely those attached to the suspended solids. Compared to the conventional activated sludge process (CAS) this technology allows a much higher biomass concentration (MLSS) whereby the reactor volume and the footprint decreases. With increasing MLSS, the viscosity of the sludge increases, which leads to reduced oxygen transfer rates. Depending on the type of membrane and membrane module, the pre-treatment has to be more sophisticated to prevent clogging and sludging of the modules.
Due to fouling and scaling, the flux through the membranes will decrease with time. The decrease depends on the water quality as well as on the measurements taken to minimize fouling. Mainly, three strategies are available: lowering the flux, increasing the “crossflow” and cleaning of the membranes. Different strategies including backwash and chemical cleaning “in situ”, “on air” and “ex situ” can be applied. It has been proven more effective to apply preventive regular cleaning.
Besides the energy demand for oxygen supply – which is typically in the range of 0.3 kWh/m3 for municipal wastewater – the energy for fouling prevention is substantial. Immersed membranes need approximately 0.4 to 1 kWh/m3 for the coarse bubble aeration, whereas tubular modules require 1 to 4 kWh/m3 pump energy.
For proper design of industrial wastewater treatment, the verification of applicability and the development of adequate cleaning strategies, it is a precondition to run pilot tests for a sufficient period of time with the wastewater to be treated. More than 100 industrial wastewater treatment membrane bioreactors (MBR) are in operation in Europe. Data of three case studies for a sewage sludge dewatering plant in UK (12,000 m3/d), a plant for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater in Germany (3,600 m3/d), as well for revamping of an chemical WWTP &gt;2,000 m3/d in Italy, are given.
MBRs will be used in future wherever high quality effluent is required, because of a sensitive receiving water body or due to the fact of water reuse as process water. MBRs are a perfect pre-treatment in industrial applications when further treatment with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis is considered.
The technique is advanced and can be applied both in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. Higher operational costs must be balanced by superior effluent quality.
Modelling of wastewater treatment plants – how far shall we go with sophisticated modelling tools?
Authors: Glover G.C. , Printemps C. , Essemiani K. , Meinhold J. 
Published: July 2007

Several levels of complexity are available for modelling of wastewater treatment plants. Modelling local effects rely on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches whereas activated sludge models (ASM) represent the global methodology. By applying both modelling approaches to pilot plant and full scale systems, this paper evaluates the value of each method and especially their potential combination.
Model structure identification for ASM is discussed based on a full-scale closed loop oxidation ditch modelling. It is illustrated how and for what circumstances information obtained via CFD (computational fluid dynamics) analysis, residence time distribution (RTD) and other experimental means can be used. Furthermore, CFD analysis of the multiphase flow mechanisms is employed to obtain a correct description of the oxygenation capacity of the system studied, including an easy implementation of this information in the classical ASM modelling (e.g. oxygen transfer).
The combination of CFD and activated sludge modelling of wastewater treatment processes is applied to three reactor configurations, a perfectly mixed reactor, a pilot scale activated sludge basin (ASB) and a real scale ASB. The application of the biological models to the CFD model is validated against experimentation for the pilot scale ASB and against a classical global ASM model response. A first step in the evaluation of the potential of the combined CFD-ASM model is performed using a full scale oxidation ditch system as testing scenario.
Study on the introduction of hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) concept of the water quality management in water supply systems
Authors: Yokoi H. , Embutsu I. , Yoda M. , Waseda K. 
Published: July 2007

In the latest revision in 2004, the 3rd edition, the Water Safety Plans (WSP) was newly introduced into the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. The Hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) is a basic concept that underlies the WSPs, and is also known as the product quality management method in the field of food and the medical manufacturing industries. In the amendments of the Drinking Water Quality Standards in Japan, water suppliers are required to reasonably achieve both safe water and efficient water quality management. Therefore, the HACCP concept is focused as an adequate management method covering a whole process of water supply systems, in a systematic way.
The purpose of this study is to investigate a practical procedure in introducing the HACCP into water quality management in Japan. In comparison to conventional applications of the HACCP, unmanageable variations of raw water quality, continuous treatment and supply, and numerous standards of water quality items need to be considered. The HACCP system is expected to achieve a quick response to improvements in water quality, accountability towards consumers and a decrease in accidents.
Protecting public health from the impact of body-contact recreation
Authors: Standish-Lee P. , Loboschefsky E. 
Published: July 2007

Population growth and the increasing demand for recreational opportunities have put public and political pressure on water purveyors to make every water body available for multipurpose use. There is increasing evidence that full water-body contact recreation such as swimming, and water/jet skiing may add significantly more microorganisms such as viruses, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium to a water body when compared with non-body contact recreational waters. Body-contact recreation also poses a risk to the consumer inadvertently ingesting contaminated water. Waterborne disease outbreaks caused by recreation are well documented with the endemic rate and the risk level to the public estimated to be very high. Since 1989, 171 outbreaks, associated with recreational water, have been documented in the USA with more than 15,000 individuals infected; these outbreaks occurred in both natural and artificial settings.
Discussions on the recently published Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) have focused on varied treatment goals related to microbiological quality and source water protection methods at the heart of this discussion.
This paper highlights new studies on risk from recreation, proposed beach standards, modeling to assess the risk of infection, political issues associated with limiting recreation, and what water utilities can do to reduce risk.