Implementing groundwater extraction in life cycle impact assessment: characterization factors based on plant species richness for The Netherlands

An operational method to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with groundwater use is currently lacking in life cycle assessment (LCA). This paper outlines a method to calculate characterization factors that address the effects of groundwater extraction on the species richness of terrestrial vegetation. Characterization factors (CF) were derived for The Netherlands and consist of a fate and an effect part. The fate factor equals the change in drawdown due to a change in groundwater extraction and expresses the amount of time required for groundwater replenishment. It was obtained with a grid-specific steady-state groundwater flow model. Effect factors were obtained from groundwater level response curves of potential plant species richness, which was constructed based on the soil moisture requirements of 625 plant species. Depending on the initial groundwater level, effect factors range up to 9.2% loss of species per 10 cm of groundwater level decrease. The total Dutch CF for groundwater extraction depended on the value choices taken and ranged from 0.09 to 0.61 m(2)·yr/m(3). For tap water production, we showed that groundwater extraction can be responsible for up to 32% of the total terrestrial ecosystem damage. With the proposed approach, effects of groundwater extraction on terrestrial ecosystems can be systematically included in LCA.     

Mismatch Insensitive Double-Sampling Quadrature Bandpass Σ∆ Modulation

In a double-sampling quadrature bandpass sigma-delta modulator, path mismatch between the double-sampling branches and between the I/Q paths occurs. In this paper, an analytical study is presented which shows that this causes quantization noise and input signals to fold from the image band into the signal band and that this also results in a self-image component. To reduce the folding from the image band, a novel resonator is presented. This resonator has a bilinear input circuit so that noise and signals exhibits first-order shaping before folding in the band of interest. Next, three different modulator architectures based on the novel resonator are introduced. Finally, the remaining problem of self-image is tackled with a simple, yet efficient offline calibration strategy. Various design examples are shown and simulated to illustrate and prove the effectiveness of the proposed architectures and methods.     

Design of double-sampling /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulation A/D converters with bilinear integrators

Double-sampling techniques allow to double the sampling frequency of a switched capacitor /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ analog-to-digital convertors without increasing the clock frequency. Unfortunately, path mismatch between the double sampling branches may cause noise folding, which could ruin the modulator's performance. The fully floating double-sampling integrator is an interesting building block to be used in such a double sampling /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulator because its operation is tolerant to path mismatch. However, this circuit exhibits an undesired bilinear filter effect. This effectively increases the order of the modulator by one. Due to this, previously presented structures don't have enough freedom to fully control the modulator pole positions. In this paper, we introduce modified topologies for double-sampling /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators built with bilinear integrators. We show that these architectures provide full control of the modulator pole positions and hence can be used to implement any noise transfer function. Additionally, analytical expressions are obtained for the residual folded noise.     

Design and implementation of a band-pass sigma delta modulator with distributed resonators

Continuous time band-pass sigma delta converters require the realization of high frequency resonators, which have been usually implemented with g _m-C or LC circuits. However, transmission lines have been for a long time a standard way to implement high Q resonators in RF circuits. Recently, some continuous-time sigma–delta (SD) modulator architectures using transmission lines have been proposed. Theoretical analyses have shown that this kind of architectures share some of the properties of both continuous-time (CT) and discrete-time (DT) modulators. On the other hand they have specific implementation problems which are not present in other modulator architectures. This paper makes a brief review of the particularities of these modulators and shows the experimental results of a band-pass modulator implemented in BiCMOS technology. As an advantage compared to standard continuous time designs, this modulator can be operated as a subsampling ADC, displays a better immunity to clock jitter and is tolerant to loop delay.     

Long-term effects of operating temperature and sulphate addition on the methanogenic community structure of anaerobic hybrid reactors

The diversity, population dynamics, and activity profiles of methanogens in anaerobic granular sludges from two anaerobic hybrid reactors treating a molasses wastewater both mesophilically (37 degrees C) and thermophilically (55 degrees C) during a 1081 day trial were determined. The influent to one of the reactors was supplemented with sulphate, after an acclimation period of 112 days, to determine the effect of competition with sulphate-reducing bacteria on the methanogenic community structure. Sludge samples were removed from the reactors at intervals throughout the operational period and examined by amplified ribosomal DNA (rDNA) restriction analysis (ARDRA) and partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. In total, 18 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, 12 of which were sequenced. The methanogenic communities in both reactors changed during the operational period. The seed sludge and the reactor biomass sampled during mesophilic operation, both in the presence and absence of sulphate, was characterised by a predominance of Methanosaeta spp. Following temperature elevation, the dominant methanogenic sequences detected in the non-sulphate supplemented reactor were closely related to Methanocorpusculum parvum. By contrast, the dominant OTUs detected in the sulphate-supplemented reactor upon temperature increase were related to the hydrogen-utilising methanogen, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. The observed methanogenic community structure in the reactors correlated with the operational performance of the reactors during the trial and with physiological measurements of the reactor biomass. Both reactors achieved chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of over 90% during mesophilic operation, with or without sulphate supplementation. During thermophilic operation, the presence of sulphate resulted in decreased reactor performance (effluent acetate concentrations of >3000 mg/l and biogas methane content of <25%). It was demonstrated that methanogenic conversion of acetate at 55 degrees C was extremely sensitive to inhibition by sulphide (50% inhibition at 8-17 mg/l unionised sulphide at pH 7.6-8.0), while the conversion of H(2)/CO(2) methanogenically was favoured. The combination of experiments carried out demonstrated the presence of specific methanogenic populations during periods of successful operational performance.     

Mechanical constraint and release generates long, ordered horizontal pores in anodic alumina templates

We describe the formation of long, highly ordered arrays of planar oriented anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) pores during plane parallel anodization of thin aluminum 'finger' microstructures fabricated on thermally oxidized silicon substrates and capped with a silicon oxide layer. The pore morphology was found to be strongly influenced by mechanical constraint imposed by the oxide layers surrounding the Al fingers. Tractions induced by the SiO(2) substrate and capping layer led to frustrated volume expansion and restricted oxide flow along the interface, with extrusion of oxide into the primary pore volume, leading to the formation of dendritic pore structures and meandering pore growth. However, partial relief of the constraint by a delaminating interfacial fracture, with its tip closely following the anodization front, led to pore growth that was highly ordered with regular, hexagonally packed arrays of straight horizontal pores up to 3 μm long. Detailed characterization of both straight and dendritic planar pores over a range of formation conditions using advanced microscopy techniques is reported, including volume reconstruction, enabling high quality 3D visualization of pore formation.     

Value of intravascular ultrasound in angiographically underestimated coronary findings: exemplified by 2 case reports]

Ultrastructural alteration of anionic sites (ASs) in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was studied in 10 cases of swine mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis using a cationic ultrastructural tracer, 0.5% polyethyleneimine (M.W. = 1,800). Glomerular ASs were seen as discrete electron-dense particles in the GBM, mesangial matrix and epithelial cell surfaces by electron microscopy. In the lamina rara externa (LRE) of the normal GBM, ASs were distributed regularly in a single layer. In those areas of the LRE that contained electron dense deposits or clusters of spherical microparticles (SMPs), however, a distinct reduction or loss of ASs was observed in all the pigs. Quantitative assessment of ASs in the LRE over 1,000 nm of the GBM revealed a significant reduction in ASs in one case with diffuse global thickening of the GBM as compared with the remaining nine pigs without GBM thickening (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney's U-test). There were no ASs in the lamina densa (LD) of the normal GBM, but an irregular distribution of ASs was seen within the LD of the pig showing diffuse global thickening of the GBM. These results suggest that a disturbance of the charge-selective barrier in the GBM may be induced by electron-dense deposits or SMPs, in the LRE as well as thickening of the GBM in swine glomerulonephritis.     

Fumonisin B1 in maize for food production imported in The Netherlands

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: When compared with waxes and prefabricated components made of dental alloys, processing resins is difficult and often results in a less accurate fit. The exact linear dimension is hard to realize, as the materials required for a dental casting are adjusted to dental waxes, and usually there are no special processing instructions for these resins. PURPOSE: The surface structure of 16 residue-free burning resins was determined to find which could enlarge the range of application for waxes in the dental casting technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 480 specimens (30 castings for each of 16 resins) were marked with an individually cut pyramid, which left an impression in the resin. This was distinctly visible in the metal after casting in "the lost form." The surfaces of these 480 specimens were measured in three dimensions with a positioning aid "before casting in resin" and "after casting in metal" by the Perthometer micrometer. All specimens were treated identically by the lost-wax process by using the rotation symmetry of the muffle. The differences in the surface data before casting in resin and after casting in metal characterize the quality of the particular resin. RESULTS: Surface roughness differed between the 16 resins in the range of micrometer. CONCLUSIONS: With the dental casting technique, it is recommended that some resins replace waxes or wax-resin compositions.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of campylobacter isolates from sewage and poultry abattoir drain water

In this study, the in vitro susceptibility of 209 campylobacter strains to the quinolones nalidixic acid, flumequine, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and to ampicillin, tetracycline and erythromycin was tested by the disk diffusion method. The strains were isolated from poultry abattoir effluent (DWA) and two sewage purification plants (SPA and SPB). Sewage purification plant SPA received mixed sewage, including that from a poultry abattoir, whereas SPB did not receive sewage from any meat-processing industry. The quinolone resistance of the DWA isolates ranged from 28% for enrofloxacin to 50% for nalidixic acid. The strains isolated from the sewage purification plants were more susceptible to the quinolones with a range of 11-18% quinolone resistance for SPB isolates to 17-33% quinolone resistance for SPA isolates. The susceptibility criteria as recommended by National Committee Clinical Laboratory Standards (USA) cannot readily be employed for campylobacter isolates. This investigation shows that the resistance of campylobacter bacteria is highest in the plant receiving sewage from a poultry slaughterhouse. Monitoring of antibiotic resistance of aquatic Campylobacter spp. is important, as surface waters are recognized as possible sources of infection.     

Robust topology optimization accounting for misplacement of material

The use of topology optimization for structural design often leads to slender structures. Slender structures are sensitive to geometric imperfections such as the misplacement or misalignment of material. The present paper therefore proposes a robust approach to topology optimization taking into account this type of geometric imperfections. A density filter based approach is followed, and translations of material are obtained by adding a small perturbation to the center of the filter kernel. The spatial variation of the geometric imperfections is modeled by means of a vector valued random field. The random field is conditioned in order to incorporate supports in the design where no misplacement of material occurs. In the robust optimization problem, the objective function is defined as a weighted sum of the mean value and the standard deviation of the performance of the structure under uncertainty. A sampling method is used to estimate these statistics during the optimization process. The proposed method is successfully applied to three example problems: the minimum compliance design of a slender column-like structure and a cantilever beam and a compliant mechanism design. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation is used to show that the obtained topologies are more robust with respect to geometric imperfections.