Scale and scope of environmental planning transformations: The Israeli case

This paper explores the scale and scope of transformations in the environmental planning field, and the factors that may advance or impede their widespread adoption. A conceptual model is offered which examines scope (defined as type, breadth and structure of the transformation), and the scale of its impact (categorized as stakeholder, organizational, institutional or societal) and applies it to the analysis of several cases in Israel where environmental transformations, affecting the way in which planning is conducted, have been adopted. Conclusions include identification of conditions for facilitating and advancing transformations, including knowledge of innovative alternatives, initiative, willingness to adopt new practices, and identification of policy windows that emerge during conflict, reform, or crisis. The fostering of relations between environmental non-government organizations and planning systems and leadership roles are also significant in catalyzing environmental transformation.     

An extended graphical targeting technique for direct reuse/recycle in concentration and property-based resource conservation networks

Minimum flowrate targeting methods for resource conservation networks (RCNs) have been developed over the last decades. The existing methodologies still have certain drawbacks. Their design insights could be deepened and some steps should be more convenient for the users. A targeting tool called the material surplus composite curve (MSCC), which is an improvement of the surplus diagram for water and hydrogen networks is introduced. The approach is illustrated on several cases selected from the literature. Using this technique, it is possible to determine rigorous flowrate targets for different variants of the RCN problem.     

Patient specific identification of the cardiac driver function in a cardiovascular system model

The cardiac muscle activation or driver function, is a major determinant of cardiovascular dynamics, and is often approximated by the ratio of the left ventricle pressure to the left ventricle volume. In an intensive care unit, the left ventricle pressure is usually never measured, and the left ventricle volume is only measured occasionally by echocardiography, so is not available real-time. This paper develops a method for identifying the driver function based on correlates with geometrical features in the aortic pressure waveform. The method is included in an overall cardiovascular modelling approach, and is clinically validated on a porcine model of pulmonary embolism. For validation a comparison is done between the optimized parameters for a baseline model, which uses the direct measurements of the left ventricle pressure and volume, and the optimized parameters from the approximated driver function. The parameters do not significantly change between the two approaches thus showing that the patient specific approach to identifying the driver function is valid, and has potential clinically.     

Microwave modification of Radiata pine railway sleepers for preservative treatment

The use of hardwood railway sleepers in Australia is limited by hardwood timber resources, thus softwood sleepers made from plantation Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) may replace them. Low permeability pine heartwood does not allow for good impregnation with preservatives. Microwave (MW) wood modification increases heartwood permeability and improves preservative distribution and uptake. The experimental study of MW sleeper modification and impregnation, allows for the rational MW process parameters and preservative treatment schedules to be determined, with an estimate of the effect of MW treatment on sleeper quality, and for recommendations to be provided to industry. On the basis of the research results a 400 kW commercial MW plant capable of an output of 100,000 sleepers per annum has been designed. The costs of MW sleeper processing are acceptable to industry and provide good opportunities for the commercialization.     

Inexpensive synthesis of 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-2- (6-oxido-6H-dibenz <c,e> <1,2> oxaphosphorin-6-yl) phenylene and its oxygen-plasma resistant polyamides

Inexpensive synthesis of diamine, 1,4-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)-2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz <c,e> <1,2> oxaphosphorin-6-yl) phenylene was revealed in this work. Based on the diamine, a series of organosoluble polyamides were prepared by direct polycondensation of the diamine with various aromatic diacids using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The number-average molecular weights of the resulting polyamides range from 4.2 × 10⁴ to 10.5 × 10⁴ g/mol, and the weight-average molecular weights are in the range of 7.5-28.2 × 10⁴ g/mol. The T_gs of these polyamides range from 210 to 255 °C by dynamic mechanical analysis. The resulting polyamides are tough and flexible with tensile strength, elongation at break and moduli range from 84 to 101 MPa, 4.8-7.0%, and 2.36-3.22 GPa, respectively. The degradation temperatures (T_d 5%) and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen range from 460 to 486 °C and 59-68 wt%, respectively. The cutoff wavelength of these polyamides falls in the range of 345-366 nm, showing a very light color characteristic. In addition, these polyamides display good oxygen plasma resistance.     

Fission gas induced swelling in uranium at high temperatures and pressures

The effect of externally applied hydrostatic pressures from 0–1000 bar at 900 °C on the fission gas induced swelling in uranium has been studied. The swelling is a sensitive function of pressures below 110 bar and relatively insensitive to pressures above 110 bar. Metallography of the samples show that the average diameter of the bubbles is reduced from 3300 to 1800 Å and the total number increased from 0.9 to 4.2 × 10¹²/cm³ as the annealing pressure is increased from 0–110 bar respectively. Further increases in pressure from 110–1000 bar have little effect on the average bubble size and density. The mechanism of pressure reduced swelling is discussed in terms of the equilibrium number of vacancies that can be associated with fission gas atoms under stress. It is also shown, both experimentally and theoretically, that there is a loss of surface area when bubbles coalesce under pressure.     

Computer-assisted feedback-driven quality management for psychotherapy: The Stuttgart-Heidelberg Model.

The authors present the Stuttgart-Heidelberg Model for quality management of psychotherapy. The system is characterized as an active internal approach with external support from researchers. Problem solving activities are initiated and maintained by computer-assisted feedback on possible treatment shortcomings. The system provides support for the 3 key tasks of quality management; (a) monitoring of relevant quality criteria in the clinical routine, (b) standardized assessment that allows comparison with established standards at various levels of service provision, and (c) transfer of information on achieved quality to those whom it concerns. The central function of the system is an alarm function, signaling a possible deficit of the provided psychotherapy on the basis of the standard evaluation of treatment outcome for individual patients. In this article, the main system components are described and data on its feasibility and validity are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Monitoring, removal and risk assessment of cytostatic drugs in hospital wastewater.

Cytostatic agents are applied in cancer therapy and subsequently excreted into hospital wastewater. As these substances are known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction, they should be removed from wastewater at their source of origin.In this study the fate and effects of the cancerostatic platinum compounds (CPC) cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and the anthracyclines doxorubicin, daunorubicin and epirubicin were investigated in hospital wastewater. Wastewater from the in-patient treatment ward of a hospital in Vienna was collected and monitored for the occurrence of the selected drugs. A calculation model was established to spot the correlation between administered dosage and measured concentrations. To investigate the fate of the selected substances during wastewater treatment, the oncologic wastewater was treated in a pilot membrane bioreactor system (MBR) and in downstream advanced wastewater treatment processes (adsorption to activated carbon and UV-treatment). Genotoxic effects of the oncologic wastewater were assessed before and after wastewater treatment followed by a risk assessment.Monitoring concentrations of the selected cytostatics in the oncologic wastewater were in line with calculated concentrations. Due to different mechanisms (adsorption, biodegradation) in the MBR-system 5 - FU and the anthracyclines were removed < LOD, whereas CPC were removed by 60%. In parallel, genotoxic effects could be reduced significantly by the MBR-system. The risk for humans, the aquatic and terrestrial environment by hospital wastewater containing cytostatic drugs was classified as small in a preliminary risk assessment.     

An investigation into the antimicrobial mechanisms of action of two contact lens biocides using electron microscopy.

Polyquaternium-1 (PQ-1) and myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (MAPD) are biocides used commercially in a contact lens disinfecting solutions. Electron microscopy was used to provide further evidence on the mechanism(s) of action of these agents against a wide range of ocular pathogens including bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Both PQ-1 and MAPD caused multiple forms of damage to the organisms tested, evidenced by structural alterations, blebbing, leakage and cell destruction. The extent of damage and the selectivity against specific type of microorganisms was consistent with the antimicrobial activity of these agents. Although electron microscopy is a powerful tool, it has its limitations when used to examine the mode of action of biocides. Indeed, there was no evidence of gross structural alteration to Acanthamoeba castellani or Aspergillus fumigatus following treatment.     

The availability of nitrogen following topsoil application of liquid digested sludge

Samples (375 g) of the Evesham series (clay loam) soil were incubated under aerobic conditions at 20 °C following incorporation of liquid mesophilic digested sewage sludge (1150 mg N L^–1). Simultaneously, pot trials under field conditions were also established. Total soluble N total oxides of nitrogen, ammonium N and headspace carbon dioxide samples were determined periodically over the first 480 day degrees C. Soluble organic N fractions were also calculated and it was found that the soil water concentration of available N (as nitrate N) could be predicted from summation of SON and NH₄-N on sludge application. The accumulation of nitrate N was compared with field derived data and both correlated well to a 2 pool exponential model. High rates of nitrification were observed and 70% of the organic N applied was mineralised over 480 day degrees C. The use of the relative quantity of soluble to insoluble organic N could be a possible indicator of subsequent nitrogen availability in field application.