Impact assessment of odours emitted by a wastewater treatment plant

Complaints from the Domingos Martins population about sewage odours in the city made the district attorney order an impact assessment of the odours emitted by the city wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This study comprised various techniques, models and population surveys. In 2007, an odour emission model proved that the main hydrogen sulphide emitter was the aeration tank of the WWTP (13.5 g h(-1)) and such emissions, according to CALPUFF model, should be perceived in the whole Domingos Martins city centre area. In this area, 58% of those interviewed were annoyed by the WWTP odours. However, in 2009, the odour monitoring panel recorded few odour occurrences. A second population survey showed that hereafter only 20% of those interviewed were annoyed by the WWTP emissions. Odour emission and dispersion models run with 2010 data proved a drastic reduction of the WWTP aeration tank emissions and consequently the city centre was not bothered by WWTP emissions anymore. The odour emission reduction was due to the modification of the WWTP aeration tank system. Despite the odour emission reduction, houses located southeast of the WWTP were still annoyed by sewage odours. However, in this part of the town, other sources of sewage odours have been found.     

Computation of Brillouin scattering cross-sections for multilayers

Acoustic Green's function allows the analysis of localisation of acoustic modes and of their possible confinement. Electromagnetic Green's function allows a consistent analysis of both scattering mechanisms (elasto-optic and ripple) and their interference. The computed cross-section is directly comparable with experimental spectra.     

The effect of flumazenil on subclinical psychometric or neurophysiological alterations in cirrhotic patients: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and may clinically resemble acute allograft rejection. Three methods to show EBV in tissue were evaluated in 15 liver allograft biopsies from 12 patients including four with PTLD: (1) semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EBV DNA; (2) in situ hybridization for EBV RNA (EBER); and (3) immunoperoxidase for EBV latent membrane protein (LMP). Index cases had a PCR dot blot result of "positive" or "weak positive." Findings were correlated with histology, clinical data, therapy, and outcome. All four PTLD patients had a clinical diagnosis of acute rejection. All four showed EBV: PCR 4, EBER 4, LMP 3, Liver function tests were elevated in three, but EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM was not increased in three, but EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM was not increased in three. Immunosuppression was withdrawn and all four patients underwent a second transplantation. One died 4 days posttransplant with disseminated PTLD, two died of sepsis at 1.5 and 14 months, and one is well at 3 years without PTLD. Eleven biopsies without PTLD showed: acute rejection 7, acute rejection and hepatitis 1, hepatitis B 1, and non-inflammatory changes 2. In this group, EBV results included: PCR weak positive in 10 and 1+ in one, EBER negative in ten and rare positive cells in one, LMP negative in 11. Liver function tests were elevated in 10, whereas VCA IgM was not increased in three and increased in one. Patients with acute rejection were treated with increased immunosuppression: none developed PTLD, with follow-up of at least 6 months in nine cases. Two patients died within 4 months of biopsy. One patient with PTLD in tonsils had a liver biopsy showing both acute rejection and EBV (PCR 1+, rare EBER + small cells). Histological studies combined with special EBV detection methods, can be useful to evaluate atypical lymphoid infiltrates in liver allograft biopsies and confirmation of a diagnosis of PTLD. All three methods are useful; EBER and PCR are the most sensitive. EBER and LMP can use paraffin sections.     

Advanced control systems for single compressor chiller units

In this paper the problem of designing advanced control systems for increasing the performances of low capacity HVAC system with single scroll compressor is addressed. In particular, a simulation environment based on Matlab/Simulink that has been validated on a state-of-the-art experimental facility and used to design an adaptive controller for single scroll compressor, packaged air-cooled water chillers is presented. The capability of the controller to substantially increase the energy performance of the system, as well as to achieve excellent regulation performances in process applications is demonstrated.     

A decade of research on thermochemical hydrogen at the Joint Research Centre, Ispra

An overview of the activities of the JRC, Ispra on thermochemical production of hydrogen is given, from the exploratory work to the conclusion. The processes defined and studied are described in three main phases: the Mark 1 process and variants, the iron-chlorine processes and the sulfur family. Main achievements are listed, with conclusions based on the experimental results and techno-economic evaluations.     

Apples Nutraceutic Properties Evaluation Through a Visible and Near-Infrared Portable System

Non-destructive and rapid tools are required for predicting the optimum harvest window and for monitoring fruit quality during postharvest period. This study tested a portable, experimental visible/near-infrared (vis/NIR) spectrophotometer, more versatile and handy than traditional vis/NIR instruments, to measure phytonutrients active in human health and important in fruit storability. Parameters determining sensorial and quality properties of the fruit were also analyzed. The vis/NIR measurement was carried out in field using apples of “Golden Delicious” and “Stark Red Delicious” on tree. Calibration models were developed using PLS regression based on second derivative spectra. For “Golden Delicious” apple, the cross-validation R ² for soluble solids content (SSC), chlorophyll, titratable acidity (TA), flesh firmness, total phenols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid were 0.72, 0.86, 0.52, 0.44, 0.09, 0.77, and 0.50, respectively. The corresponding RMSECV were 0.78 °Brix, 0.50 nmol/cm², 0.59 g/L, 6.08 N, 0.10 mg/g, 0.08 nmol/cm², and 0.83 mg/100 g, respectively. For “Stark Red Delicious” similar calibration statistics were found for SSC, TA, flesh firmness, chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid content. A better calibration performance was achieved for total phenols, while for carotenoids it was less accurate. Cross-validation R ² for “Stark Red Delicious” total anthocyanins, total flavonoids, and non-anthocyanic flavonoids were 0.67, 0.86, and 0.77, respectively. The corresponding RMSECV were 0.12, 0.14, and 0.15 mg/g, respectively. It was concluded that the portable vis/NIR instrument performed similarly to bench top or portable vis/NIR instruments reported in the literature.     

A property of the Routh table and its use

Starting from a given polynomial, the Routh algorithm recursively generates a family of all-pole transfer functions with the same energy of the impulse response and a suitable number of its derivatives. It is shown that each of these energies is given by a linear combination of some of the others according to the entries of a row of the Routh table for the given polynomial. This fact can be exploited to evaluate certain quadratic integrals in an efficient way     

Comparative evaluation of the clinical and microbiological efficacy of co-amoxiclav vs cefixime or ciprofloxacin in bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis

In an open randomized study 218 outpatients (159 males and 59 females) ranging between 18 and 85 years of age (mean 61.9) suffering from bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis have been randomly treated: 79 with co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin 875 mg+clavulanic acid 125 mg) twice daily, 69 with cefixime (400 mg) once daily, and 70 with ciprofloxacin (500 mg) twice daily for an average period of 10 days. Before treatment start, 234 bacterial strains (105 Gram-positive and 129 Gram-negative) were isolated as the cause of exacerbation; the leading pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus spp. Eradication rates at the end of treatment were 82.2% for the co-amoxiclav group, 77.6% for the cefixime group, and 81.2% for ciprofloxacin group. Clinical success (cure+improvement) was obtained in 90.8% of the cases treated with co-amoxiclav, in 80.9% for the cefixime group and in 85.7% of patients treated with ciprofloxacin. Seven adverse events (8.9%) of which 4 cases of diarrhea and 3 of itching, were recorded in the co-amoxiclav group. Eleven adverse events (14.7%) were recorded in the cefixime group including gastrointestinal disturbances in 6 patients and mild to moderate increase of liver function in 2. Nine adverse events (12.9%) occurred in the ciprofloxacin group, including insomnia in 3 patients, gastrointestinal disturbances in 2, and serious increase of liver function tests in one patient. It can be concluded that there were no statistically significant differences among the three treatment groups. However, co-amoxiclav demonstrated a higher efficacy rate than cefixime and ciprofloxacin and was better tolerated. Therefore, it can be used as a first-choice drug in the treatment of exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.     

Low-frequency Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy from graphite, diamond and diamond-like carbons, fullerenes and nanotubes

Inelastic light scattering by acoustic phonons (Brillouin scattering) is a useful tool for probing material properties at the submicrometre scale. In media which are statistically homogeneous at this scale, it gives access to the acoustic properties and the elastic moduli. In nanostructures it probes the vibrational properties at the mesoscopic scale. Applications to carbonaceous materials are reviewed.     

A simulation environment for dry-expansion evaporators with application to the design of autotuning control algorithms for electronic expansion valves

In this paper some results of a research project aimed at deriving high-performance, adaptive control algorithms for electronic expansion valves (EEVs) to be used in finned-coiled, dry-expansion evaporators for refrigeration systems are reported. With the aim of developing a software environment that can be used for controller design, rapid prototyping, optimization of data collection and test design, virtual prototyping approach to design was adopted. The development of a distributed dynamic simulation model of the evaporator coupled with an electronic expansion valve, and its use for deriving autotuning PID control algorithms is described. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of this kind of approach.