title: Studies of sludge collected from the anaerobic digester of a meat processing company

authors: Ma, Nanxin

subjects: anaerobic digestion

abstract: Anaerobic digestion is commonly used as a wastewater treatment step where complex biological substrates are progressively degraded in the absence of oxygen to produce methane and carbon dioxide with hydrogen and volatile acids occurring as intermediate products. These intermediate products are more valuable commodities than methane so there is interest in optimizing their production and recovery from the anaerobic digestion process. In previous work, a sludge sample collected from a local meat processing company was reported to produce significant amounts of hydrogen at ambient temperatures.

In the present study, eleven sludge samples were collected from the same meat processing company and characterized in terms of their solids content, pH, as-collected gas production profiles and gas production profiles and gas production rates, when repetitively batch fed with glucose at their original pH and also at pHs successively lowered to pH 4.5. Similar studies were performed using cellulose as the substrate.

In these studies, no hydrogen was produced by the as-collected sludges, but hydrogen was produced by two of the sludges when batch fed with glucose. Detailed studies of the effect of pH on one of the sludges revealed that hydrogen was produced when the pH was lowered to between 5.2 and 5.4 and batch fed with glucose. No hydrogen was formed when the sludges were batch fed with cellulose under the conditions investigated. Acid conditions severely inhibited gas production rates when both glucose and cellulose were used as substrates. Gas production rates with cellulose substrate were systematically slower than when glucose was used as the substrate.

text: Studies of sludge collected from the anaerobic digester of a meat processing company Anaerobic digestion is commonly used as a wastewater treatment step where complex biological substrates are progressively degraded in the absence of oxygen to produce methane and carbon dioxide with hydrogen and volatile acids occurring as intermediate products. These intermediate products are more valuable commodities than methane so there is interest in optimizing their production and recovery from the anaerobic digestion process. In previous work, a sludge sample collected from a local meat processing company was reported to produce significant amounts of hydrogen at ambient temperatures.

In the present study, eleven sludge samples were collected from the same meat processing company and characterized in terms of their solids content, pH, as-collected gas production profiles and gas production profiles and gas production rates, when repetitively batch fed with glucose at their original pH and also at pHs successively lowered to pH 4.5. Similar studies were performed using cellulose as the substrate.

In these studies, no hydrogen was produced by the as-collected sludges, but hydrogen was produced by two of the sludges when batch fed with glucose. Detailed studies of the effect of pH on one of the sludges revealed that hydrogen was produced when the pH was lowered to between 5.2 and 5.4 and batch fed with glucose. No hydrogen was formed when the sludges were batch fed with cellulose under the conditions investigated. Acid conditions severely inhibited gas production rates when both glucose and cellulose were used as substrates. Gas production rates with cellulose substrate were systematically slower than when glucose was used as the substrate.

year: 2010

title: Patient and carer perceived barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer: a systematic review.

authors: Cassim, Shemana

subjects: Barrier to diagnosis

abstract: BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is typically diagnosed at a late stage. Early presentation and detection of lung cancer symptoms is critical to improving survival but can be clinically complicated and as yet a robust screening method for diagnosis is not available in routine practice. Accordingly, the barriers to help-seeking behaviour and diagnosis need to be considered. This review aimed to document the barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer, based on patient and carer perspectives. 
METHODS: A systematic review of databases was performed for original, English language articles discussing qualitative research on patient perceived barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer. Three major databases were searched: Scopus, PubMed and EBSCOhost. References cited in the selected studies were searched for further relevant articles. 
RESULTS: Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria for review. Barriers were grouped into three categories: healthcare provider and system factors, patient factors and disease factors. 
CONCLUSIONS: Studies showed that the most frequently reported barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer reported by patients and carers related to poor relationships between GPs and patients, a lack of access to services and care for patients, and a lack of awareness of lung cancer symptoms and treatment. Addressing these barriers offers opportunities by which rates of early diagnosis of lung cancer may be improved.

text: Patient and carer perceived barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer: a systematic review. BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is typically diagnosed at a late stage. Early presentation and detection of lung cancer symptoms is critical to improving survival but can be clinically complicated and as yet a robust screening method for diagnosis is not available in routine practice. Accordingly, the barriers to help-seeking behaviour and diagnosis need to be considered. This review aimed to document the barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer, based on patient and carer perspectives. 
METHODS: A systematic review of databases was performed for original, English language articles discussing qualitative research on patient perceived barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer. Three major databases were searched: Scopus, PubMed and EBSCOhost. References cited in the selected studies were searched for further relevant articles. 
RESULTS: Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria for review. Barriers were grouped into three categories: healthcare provider and system factors, patient factors and disease factors. 
CONCLUSIONS: Studies showed that the most frequently reported barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer reported by patients and carers related to poor relationships between GPs and patients, a lack of access to services and care for patients, and a lack of awareness of lung cancer symptoms and treatment. Addressing these barriers offers opportunities by which rates of early diagnosis of lung cancer may be improved.

year: 2019-01-08

title: Planning and governance under the LGA: Lessons from the RMA experience.

authors: Borrie, Nancy

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: The purpose of this report is to identify ways in which experiences gained from the
RMA as a devolved and co-operative planning mandate can enable local and central
government and other stakeholders to more effectively implement the LGA. The
report is based on findings from the FRST-funded research programme on Planning
under Co-operative Mandates (PUCM). We argue in this report that the experiences gained from the RMA can inform
effective implementation of the LGA in three important respects: Preparation and implementation of LTCCPs; The community consultation process for formulating community outcomes;
and Māori participation in planning and governance.

text: Planning and governance under the LGA: Lessons from the RMA experience. The purpose of this report is to identify ways in which experiences gained from the
RMA as a devolved and co-operative planning mandate can enable local and central
government and other stakeholders to more effectively implement the LGA. The
report is based on findings from the FRST-funded research programme on Planning
under Co-operative Mandates (PUCM). We argue in this report that the experiences gained from the RMA can inform
effective implementation of the LGA in three important respects: Preparation and implementation of LTCCPs; The community consultation process for formulating community outcomes;
and Māori participation in planning and governance.

year: 2004-06-01