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This paper analyzes six months of one individual’s Deutsche Telekom mobile phone billing records to evaluate its effectiveness for tracking movements. As well as describing the contents of the records, the paper suggests a technique for improving the spatial accuracy of the data, and explores the relationship between the frequency of billing records and the accuracy with which a handset can be located.

The paper presents results of TEM investigations of Elektron 21 magnesium alloy in as cast condition and after long-term annealing. Elektron 21 is magnesium based casting alloy containing rare earth (Nd and Gd) for used to at 200°C in aerospace application. It has high strength, good corrosion resistance and excellent castability [1]. Magnesium alloys containing neodymium and gadolinium are characterised by high-strength and good creep-resistant alloys for automotive and aerospace applications [2,3]. The rare earth elements have beneficial effect of on the creep properties and thermal stability of structure and mechanical properties of magnesium alloys [4]. The strength of magnesium alloys with RE is achieved essentially via precipitation strengthening. These alloys precipitate from the solid solution according to the sequence of phases: α-Mg→β”→α’ →β [5].

International audience; Due to their compliance and high dexterity, biologically-inspired continuum robots have attracted much interest for applications such as medical surgery, urban search and rescue, de-mining etc. In this paper, we will present an application to medical surgery-colonoscopy by designing a pneumatic-driven flexible robotic manipulator, called ColoBot. The focus of this paper lies in the sensor-based guidance control of the ColoBot in a tubular, compliant and slippery environment of human colon. The kinematic model related the position and orientation of distal end of ColoBot to the actuator inputs is firstly developed and formulated for orientation control of ColoBot. For the autonomous guidance inside the colon, a method based on a circumscribed circle is utilized to calculate the real-time reference paths from the measurement of three sensors for orientation control of the Colobot. This proposed approach can be extended to the control of continuum robots in the conditions of a dynamically confined space. The experimental results on an emulation platform will be presented in order to validate the proposed control strategy.

Research and development of gait rehabilitation systems and devices such as orthosis, prosthesis and wearable robots are complex processes in which simulation techniques are exploited in order to accelerate development process, reduce development costs, optimize the proposed solution, analyse the interaction between the system and human, etc. The modelling and simulation results can give valuable insights in the functionality of the system and directions for optimization and improvement of the researched system. Within the frame of the RoboWalker project a concept of a mobile robotic gait rehabilitation system, which will improve gait rehabilitation through several novel system features, was investigated. The system consists of a mobile platform with integrated active exoskeleton. In this paper, the modelling and simulation approaches utilized in designing and analysing the concept of mobile gait rehabilitation system are presented together with a novel markerless motion capture system that was used for collecting human motion data for simulation purposes.

Active Networking is an innovative technology which can open the network and make it more flexible. But introducing active codes within the network increases the network vulnerability from the security point of view. The security is always considered as a separated layer from the other layers of the active network architecture. In this paper, we develop a global security architecture for a safe code distribution. A three level mechanism is defined to provide a unique identification, authentication, and classification of a code, according to its developer and its users.

Traditional green crops such as grass, clover, alfalfa as well as new (halophytic) green biomass of Salicornia have great potential to be utilised in the concept of the green biorefinery, where the first step is a wet fractionation of the biomass to yield a sugar- and protein-rich juice and a lignocellulosic pulp fraction.

The ability to accurately pinpoint the point of origin of an emergency call can greatly increase response times of emergency services. Emergency calls made from cellular phones can only be traced by the Global Positioning System (GPS) or cell-based positioning, which are sometimes unacceptably inaccurate; they cannot provide information on, e.g. the exact floor of a building and also suffer from blind spots. We have been developing a system that can determine the location of a cellular phone using in-built passive or active radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers and GPS receivers. This paper introduces the outline of the prototype system.

In this study, biogas production was investigated in mesophilic conditions from sugar beet pulp (SBP). In untreated conditions, water dissolution rate was 15.5% and biogas production rate was 168.7 mL/g TS (total solid). Alkaline thermal pretreatments were applied at 100 °C with 3 N NaOH and KOH solutions. Amounts of alkaline and acid were added in an amount equal to 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 30% of the solids in the reactor. Acid thermal pretreatments were applied at 100 °C with 5% (v/v) H2SO4 and HNO3 solutions. The anaerobic digestion (AD) time was shortened by approximately 10 days after pretreatment. The highest biogas yield was 458.4 mL/g TS as a result of KOH thermal pretreatment. In this reactor, soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) removal was 87.1%, and cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin removals were 32.4%, 28.6%, and 33.5% w/w, respectively. It was observed that the cumulative biogas production (CBP) successfully fitted the modified Richards (MR) model and modified Gompertz (MG) model. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi: CUBAP-M-665 The financial support of this study was provided by the scientific research projects unit of the Cumhuriyet University (CUBAP-M-665). We would like to thank you for your contribution to the related institution.

A growing number of textile companies are adopting sustainable principles as a way of distinguishing themselves from their competitors and gaining a competitive advantage. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a predominant methodology for the systematic evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of a product or service system through all stages of its life cycle. However its influence and relevance for decision making is still limited since the important relationships between the economic and environmental performance are not properly addressed. In this paper, a new decision making process, exploiting the LCA methodology and combining economic and environmental aspects, is proposed.

This paper develops a method for recognition of human daily actions by using wearable motion sensor system. It can recognize 13 daily actions with the data in WARD1.0 efficiently. We just extract 11 features including the means and variances of vertical acceleration data of five sensors and the mean of horizontal angular speeds of the waist sensor. Then we randomly select 80i¾?% of the samples as the training set, and the remaining samples as the test set. By removing the abnormal samples based on the confidence interval of the distance among the same type samples and using the SVM as the classifier, we present a new method for recognition of the human daily actions. Moreover, we optimize the parameters of SVM with K-CV K-fold Cross Validation method. The results of the experiments show that the proposed method can efficiently identify the 13 kinds of daily actions. The rate average recognition can approach to 98.5i¾?%.

Specification of Quality of Service (QoS) for components can only be done in relation to the QoS the components themselves are given by imported components. Developers as well as users need support in order to derive valid data for specification respectively for checking whether a selected component complies with its specification. In this paper we introduce the architecture of a measurement framework for EJBs giving such support and discuss in detail the measurement of the well understood property of response time.

This paper presents a medical simulator for prostate brachytherapy procedure. Needles are inserted in deformable tissue models using a haptic device while the force feedback computed using a needle-tissue interaction model is rendered on the user's hand. Transrectal ultrasound images of the region of interest are also displayed in real-time using an interpolation scheme accounting for the mesh-based tissue deformation. Employing a 3D ultrasound volume data reconstructed a priori, this simulation method achieves realistic ultrasound feedback coupled with immediate tissue deformation. Models for simulating tissue deformation using the finite element method are obtained by segmented the relevant anatomy on MR slices. These models are rigidly registered to the ultrasound voxel volume using the prostate surface. The presented simulation system is suitable for brachytherapy training using haptic control/feedback. It can also be used for treatment planning.

This paper proposes an attitude control of a single wheel balanced robot. The unicycle robot is controlled by two independent control laws: the mobile inverted pendulum control for pitch axis and the reaction wheel pendulum control for roll axis. It is assumed that both roll and pitch dynamics are decoupled. Therefore the roll and pitch dynamics are obtained independently considering the interaction as disturbances to each other. Each control law is implemented by a controller separately. The unicycle robot has two DC motors to rotate the disk for roll and to drive the wheel for pitch. Experimental results show the performance of the controller and verify the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.

This paper describes a peer-production movement, the hackerspace movement, its members and values. The emergence of hackerspaces, fablabs and makerspaces is changing how hacker communities and other like-minded communities function. Thus, an understanding of the nature of hackerspaces helps in detailing the features of contemporary peer-production. Building on previous work on ’fabbing’, two different sets of results are presented: (1) empirical observations from a longitudinal study of hackerspace participants; and (2) a theoretical description of hacker generations as a larger context in which peer-production can be located. With regard to (1), research data has been collected through prolonged observation of hackerspace communities and two surveys.

Microorganisms have been contemplated as a promising source for the inexhaustible synthesis of many novel materials utilizing renewable sources. Among many of such products, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) remains as an essential biodegradable polymer with functions similar to conventional plastics. Bacillus endophyticus is capable of accumulating biopolymer PHA in nutrient limiting conditions with excess of carbon source. Screening and optimizing the parameters for increased PHA production was done statistically. The optimized medium gave a maximum yield of 46.57% which was in well agreement with the given predicted value provided by response surface methodology model yield of 47.02%. Optimal media conditions when extrapolated in bioreactor gave an even higher production percentage of 49.9. This is the first report highlighting 49% of polyhydroxybutyrate statistically using sucrose as a source. The main highlight of the study was the use of wild type strain for producing high quality PHA using simple carbon source which can be a starting platform for using this strain for large scale PHA production industrially. FTIR and 1HNMR analysis confirmed the polymer produced.

Environment protection and food safety are two critical issues in the world. In this review, a novel approach which integrates statistical study and subjective discussion was adopted to review recent advances on environment and food safety. Firstly, a scientometric-based statistical study was conducted based on 4904 publications collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. It was found that the research on environment and food safety was growing steadily from 2001 to 2020. Interestingly, the statistical analysis of most-cited papers, titles, abstracts, keywords, and research areas revealed that the research on environment and food safety was diverse and multidisciplinary. In addition to the scientometric study, strategies to protect environment and ensure food safety were critically discussed, followed by a discussion on the emerging research topics, including emerging contaminates (e.g., microplastics), rapid detection of contaminants (e.g., biosensors), and environment friendly food packaging materials (e.g., biodegradable polymers). Finally, current challenges and future research directions were proposed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-021-16069-6.

This study investigates the potential of a blended binder formulated from two industrial solid wastes viz. phosphogypsum and fly ash in combination with lime. Three mix proportions of phosphogypsum and fly ash were investigated, and the minimum lime contents required for activation were determined using the Eades and Grim pH test. The lime–fly ash–phosphogypsum blends were then cast into cubes, both in their paste form as well as mortar form, mixed with sand in the ratio of 1:3. They were cured for a period of seven days, and afterwards, their compressive strength was determined. Ordinary Portland cement and lime mortar blocks were also cast as control specimens for comparative evaluation of the strength. The optimal lime–fly ash–phosphogypsum blend was identified and used to construct a masonry prism, and the strengths of the masonry prisms were also evaluated. The optimal lime–fly ash–phosphogypsum blend mortar was also subjected to an X-ray diffraction analysis to determine the reaction products formed during hydration. The study revealed that 5% lime mixed with fly ash:phosphogypsum in the ratio of 3:1 was the optimal proportion which gave the maximum strength to the cubes. The optimal lime–fly ash–phosphogypsum blend mortar developed strength that was higher than conventional Portland cement and lime mortar. The optimal lime–fly ash–phosphogypsum blend mortar masonry prisms developed strength that was comparable to that of Portland cement mortar masonry. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of calcium silicate hydrate minerals as well as ettringite and portlandite which were responsible for strength gain.

Biopolymer-based flocculants have become a potential substitute for inorganic coagulants and synthetic organic flocculants due to their wide natural reserves, environmental friendliness, easy natural degradation, and high material safety. In recent years, with more and more attention to clean technologies, a lot of researches on the modification and application of biopolymer-based flocculants have been carried out. The present paper reviews the latest important information about the base materials of biopolymer-based flocculants, including chitosan, starch, cellulose, and lignin etc. This review also highlights the various modification methods of these base materials according to reaction types in detail. Via the recent researches, the flocculation mechanisms of biopolymer-based flocculants, such as adsorption, bridging, charge neutralization, net trapping, and sweeping, as well as, some other special mechanisms are comprehensively summarized. This paper also focuses on the water treatment conditions, the removal efficiency, and advantages of biopolymer-based flocculants in applications. Further, this review sheds light on the future perspectives of biopolymer-based flocculants, which may make progress in the sources of base materials, modification processes, multi-function, and deepening application researches. We believe that this review can guide the further researches and developments of biopolymer-based flocculants in the future, to develop them with a higher efficiency, a lower cost, more safety, and multi-function for more diversified applications. Graphical abstract.

Graphic abstract Silver nanowires (AgNWs), as one-dimensional nanometallic materials, have attracted wide attention due to the excellent electrical conductivity, transparency and flexibility, especially in flexible and stretchable electronics. However, the microscopic discontinuities require AgNWs be attached to some carrier for practical applications. Relative to the preparation method, how to integrate AgNWs into the flexible matrix is particularly important. In recent years, plenty of papers have been published on the preparation of conductors based on AgNWs, including printing techniques, coating techniques, vacuum filtration techniques, template-assisted assembly techniques, electrospinning techniques and gelating techniques. The aim of this review is to discuss different assembly method of AgNW-based conducting film and their advantages. Conducting films based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) have been reviewed with a focus on their assembly and their advantages.

Recently mobile communication systems such as 3GPP LTE, IEEE802.16e have been growing interest in the femto-cell systems for increase of data rates and enhanced call quality. Cell management method for handover in a femto-cell system is very important issue because it includes heavy control management information of macro-cell and a large number of femto-cells and can be a burden to a system. In this paper, we propose an adaptive construction of control management message (MOB_NBR-ADV) and cell management method in a femto-cell system. The proposed scheme provides fast scanning and efficient handover by means of preselecting the candidate target femto-cells. The simulation results show that the proposed schemes improve the MS’s handover-related performance in terms of scanning power and scanning time compared with the conventional management scheme of femto-cell systems.

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s00216-021-03428-y

Heavy minerals have become an essential commodity in modern-day technology. The objective of this study is to examine the current status of the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka. The present study also examines the economic viability of potential heavy mineral placer deposits, based on geochemical data. Field investigations suggested the occurrence of heavy minerals as beach-placers, and inland/raised beach deposits along the coastline of Sri Lanka. Geochemical results showed the enrichment of TiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, and trace elements, and depletion of other major oxides such as Na2O, K2O, MnO, MgO, CaO, and P2O5. Consequently, it suggests the abundance of ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, sillimanite, garnet, and rare earth element (REE)-bearing heavy minerals in potential placer deposits. In contrast, this study illustrates the exported quantity (in the weight ratio of 35:3:1) of ilmenite, rutile, and zircon minerals during the last decade. Ilmenite is the dominant heavy mineral in Sri Lanka, and thus, its production and price volatilisations are essential to understand the current status and predict the future behaviour of the heavy mineral industry. Statistical observations suggest that the global production and unit price variations of ilmenite have increased gradually from 1950 to 2015. Besides, the forecasted variations in annual global production and unit price changes of ilmenite indicate healthy compound annual growth rates of 1.27% and 1.43%, respectively. However, Sri Lanka has less contribution (< 1%) to global ilmenite production. Consequently, the value addition of ilmenite must be highly encouraged with at least an immediate stage (e.g. synthetic rutile). The present study also highlights possible value addition stages of available heavy mineral resources (low-, intermediate-, or high-level value addition), and discusses action plans to improve the quality of the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka. In recommendations, imposing sustainable regulations and policies would uplift the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka. For example, value addition to local heavy minerals and terminating raw commodity export are highly recommended.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the maritime supply chain and called for accelerated adoption of digital technologies in various aspects of maritime operations, including the area of maritime education and training (MET). This paper aims to discuss the current maritime simulator-based training and educational practices that forms an integral part in seafarer training and competency development. The study provides a review of the existing simulators in use in MET, and discusses upon the technological and pedagogical advancement of maritime simulator-based training interventions with predictions regarding the future MET practices with use of virtual reality and cloud-based simulators. This study—by focusing on ship’s bridge operations—highlights the characteristics of various types of simulators and also discusses the role of instructors, challenges, and opportunities involving future simulator-based MET due to accelerated adoption of digital technologies and the need to comply with pandemic-related restrictions for MET institutes. The analysis generated in the paper may contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding the future of simulator-based MET and the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 in the maritime sector.

Environmental science and pollution research : ESPR (2021). doi:10.1007/s11356-021-13311-z, Published by Springer, Berlin

Fraudulent papers from paper mills are a serious threat to the entire scientific community. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology has become the target of a massive attack of fraudulent papers originating from paper mills. This editorial highlights 20 important features we observed with paper mills and explains how the journal is responding to this serious threat to restore the integrity of science. Hopefully, this editorial is also helpful for editors of other scientific journals.

This paper presents a 48 V Hybrid demonstrator with an electric rear axle which is setup by SEG Automotive Germany GmbH in cooperation with the Institute of Automotive Engineering of the Technical University Braunschweig.

This paper describes a case study for the use of bionics in connection with TRIZ tools within an industrial development project. The challenge is to provide a user-friendly procedure to an interdisciplinary project team.

Slurry-based 3D printing allows ceramic green bodies to be fabricated at high packing densities. In contrast to powder-based binder jetting, full densification of printed parts can be achieved in a subsequent sintering step as fine particles dispersed in a suspension are cast and compacted. Slurry-based 3D printing is thus expected to overcome the application limits of the powder-based alternative in metal casting in terms of unfavorable properties like high surface roughness, low density and low mechanical strength. To ensure stress-free drying and therefore high qualities of the compounds made in layers, it is crucial to fabricate single layers with a high level of homogeneity. This paper presents a CFD model based on the open-source simulation environment OpenFOAM to predict the resulting homogeneity of a cast slurry layer with defined parameter sets or coater geometries using the Volume-Of-Fluid method. Moreover, a novel method of spatial reconstruction is proposed to evaluate the surface quality of layers on a minimised computional demand. By comparing the results of the simulation with the real macroscopic behaviour determined in experiments, the approach is found to be a useful tool for suggesting suitable parameters and coater geometries for processing slurries. A precise reconstruction of the outline of the coating area with different process parameters and an approximate prediction of the effect on surface roughness was achieved.

This paper presents an application of neural networks in control of the pulp production process. The pulp is produced in a chemical reaction where wood is dissolved by the so called “cooking solution.” One of the main quality indicators of the produced pulp is the permanganate number. The latter strongly depends on the reaction time, temperature, and pressure profiles and is not available for measurement during the production process. The pressure and temperature evolution during the process is usually regulated by process automation system. Consequently, the process time is left as the only remaining variable that has major impact on the process outcome. If the reaction is stopped too soon or too late, the conesponding pulp quality is different from the desired one. Therefore, in order to achieve the desired permanganate number it is essential to make accurate prediction of the reaction time. A neural network model of the process which is used to predict the necessary time of reaction is described herein. This neural model was tested at Cellulose do Caima in Portugal where it proved significantly more accurate (30%) than the previously used analytical model. Furthermore, it was implemented in the commercially available automation system “Teleperm M” produced by Siemens AG.

Product quality planning is a fundamental part of quality assurance in manufacturing. It is composed of the distribution of quality aims over each phase in product development and the deployment of quality operations and resources to accomplish these aims. This paper proposes a quality planning methodology based on risk assessment and the planning tasks of product development are translated into evaluation of risk priorities. Firstly, a comprehensive model for quality planning is developed to address the deficiencies of traditional quality function deployment (QFD) based quality planning. Secondly, a novel failure knowledge base (FKB) based method is discussed. Then a mathematical method and algorithm of risk assessment is presented for target decomposition, measure selection, and sequence optimization. Finally, the proposed methodology has been implemented in a web based prototype software system, QQ-Planning, to solve the problem of quality planning regarding the distribution of quality targets and the deployment of quality resources, in such a way that the product requirements are satisfied and the enterprise resources are highly utilized.

This paper offers a novel application of our model worked out in Maple environment to help understand the very complex transport processes in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland with coarse gravel (HSFCW-C). We made tracer measurements: Inside a constructed wetland, we had 9 sample points, and samples were taken from each point at two depths. Our model is a divided convective-dispersive transport (D-CDT) model which makes a fitted response curve from the sum of two separate CDT curves showing the contributions of the main and side streams. Analytical solutions of CDT curves are inverse Gaussian distribution functions. This model was fitted onto inner points of the measurements to demonstrate that the model gives better fitting to the inner points than the commonly used convective-dispersive transport model. The importance of this new application of the model is that it can resemble transport processes in these constructed wetlands more precisely than the regularly used convective-dispersive transport (CDT) model. The model allows for calculations of velocity and dispersion coefficients. The results showed that this model gave differences of 4–99% (of velocity) and 2–474% (of dispersion coefficient) compared with the CDT model and values were closer to actual hydraulic behavior. The results also demonstrated the main flow path in the system.

Simulator for smart wheelchairs is of great significance for both driver training and algorithm design. A development and simulation platform for wheelchairs is presented in this paper. On this platform, simulations of kinematics, dynamics and sensors are integrated, and a virtual prototype of wheelchair and virtual world are modled also. The sensors include encoders, a laser range finder and a set of Kinect. This platform is implemented in Gazebo and ROS, and is completely open source and freely available. Experiments verifies that this platform can be used as a valid tool for driver training and algorithm design.

This paper presents a new approach to the modeling and control of cable driven parallel manipulators and particularly KNTU CDRPM. First, dynamical model of the cable driven parallel manipulator is derived considering the elasticity of the cables, and then this model is rewritten in the standard form of singular perturbation theory. This theory used here as an effective tool for modeling the cable driven manipulators. Next, the integrated controller, applied for control of the rigid model of KNTU CDRPM in previous researches, is improved and a composite controller is designed for the elastic model of the robot. Asymptotic stability analysis of the proposed rigid controller is studied in detail. Finally, a simulation study performed on the KNTU CDRPM verifies the closed-loop performance compared to the rigid model controller.

Ammonia is used as a fertilizer for agriculture, chemical raw material, and carrier for transporting hydrogen, and with economic development, the demand for ammonia has increased. The Haber–Bosch process, which is the main method for producing ammonia, can produce ammonia with high efficiency. However, since it consumes a large amount of fossil energy, it is necessary to develop an alternative method for producing ammonia with less environmental impact. Ammonia production from food by-products is an appealing production process owing to unused resource usage, including waste, and mild reaction conditions. However, when food by-products and biomass are used as feedstocks, impurities often reduce productivity. Using metabolic profiling, glucose was identified as a potential inhibitor of ammonia production from impure food by-products. We constructed the recombinant Escherichia coli, in which glucose uptake was reduced by ptsG gene disruption and amino acid catabolism was promoted by glnA gene disruption. Ammonia production efficiency from okara, a food by-product, was improved in this strain; 35.4 mM ammonia was produced (47% yield). This study might provide a strategy for efficient ammonia production from food by-products.

The enormous inroads made by renewable energy in recent years have been the key to the development of new technologies designed to obtain energy from a range of resources. Hydrokinetic microturbines used to harness kinetic energy from rivers, tidal and marine currents epitomize such developments. As the reservoir is dispensed with, the water footprint normally associated with conventional hydroelectric generation is minimized. The new prototypes being developed require laboratories with water tunnel infrastructures where they can be accurately reproduced under controlled conditions. However, the construction of a water tunnel demands considerable investment, which prevents many research groups from completing their prototype design work. This paper charts the design of a low-cost hydrodynamic water tunnel at the University of Oviedo, indicating the mechanical and electronic elements as well as the software developments that make up the facility. This construction is a part of a research strategy focused on making the study of new hydrokinetic microturbines designs economically feasible. Moreover, it includes a description of a special software application used to perform the characterization of a hydrokinetic microturbine model in the water tunnel and a demonstration of the scope of the facility in the experimental study of a unit with a Darrieus rotor. Graphic abstract

The present work is a preliminary study on the potential of low-frequency ultrasound irradiation coupled with O3 process for the disinfection of a primary effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant preserving nutrient levels (in particular nitrogen and phosphorous), for its possible reuse in civil, industrial, and agricultural sectors. The treated water could be reused, after appropriate dilution, contributing to the circular economy perspective and reducing the need for both chemical fertilizer addition and freshwater supply. The effect of different specific ultrasonic energies and ozone doses was assessed on a bench-top system, composed of an ultrasonic reactor and a semi-batch ozonation vessel. The results showed that the combined US-O3 process produces a good removal efficiency regarding soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand, sCOD (ca. 60%), anionic surfactants (ca. 50%), and formaldehyde (ca. 50%), and an optimal abatement for Methylene Blue Active Substances (MBAS, > 90%). The process also reached high disinfection performances, obtaining 4 logs for E. coli and 5 log abatement for Total Coliforms. The high removal efficiency is matched by an outstanding retention of nutrients (total nitrogen and orthophosphate) highlighting a high potential value for agricultural reuse of the treated primary effluent, with possible significant saving of chemical fertilizers. It was concluded that low-frequency ultrasound pre-treatment, combined with ozonation, could be a useful process for primary effluent recovery for several purposes. Further studies are expected to be planned and executed to evaluate system scale-up feasibility.

In this study, we present the first systematic dataset on natural variations of OH defect and trace element contents in quartz within igneous bodies. Samples were derived from bore holes of two plutonic bodies from the Krušné Hory/Erzgebirge (German–Czech border), representing typical A-type (Cínovec/Zinnwald granite cupola) and S-type (Podlesí Stock) granite intrusions. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy of quartz was used to investigate the sample set with regard to its OH defect speciation and content. For Zinnwald quartz, IR absorption spectra reveal different lithologies due to changes of the OH defect inventory, enabling a subdivision of the granitic body: (1) hydrothermal greisen quartz of the uppermost part of the intrusion have low OH defect contents (average of 15 µg/g H2O); (2) zinnwaldite granite quartz vary strongly in defect content and show the highest content of the dataset (10–70 µg/g H2O); (3) quartz from an underlying biotite granite have slightly lower, but very uniform contents down to the bottom of the borehole at 1600 m (average 20 µg/g H2O). Infrared spectra of Podlesí quartz reveal a gradual increase in total defect water content with increasing depth over 350 m (30–55 µg/g H2O). Lithium contents in quartz samples from the uppermost part of the Zinnwald intrusion correlate with the occurrence of Li-specific OH defects, while cathodoluminescence (CL) images do not show specific differences. Our findings evidence the potential of OH defects in quartz as a tool to decipher differentiation trends in igneous bodies, and the application of their eroded material for provenance analyses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00269-020-01091-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Higher vocational education advocates the study mode of the combination of productive labor and social practice. A studio is an effective platform for such a learning mode. Through this professional studio both teachers’ and students’ ability are improved. In addition achievements in science research can be promoted. In this paper the author based on the software professional studio construction proposes a construction mode for software professional studio in higher vocational schools. And the effect as well as the importance are illustrated in this paper.

Chapter Timetable You will learn the composition of wood and how to extract cellulose from wood. The paper production as the most important use of cellulose is explained. We discuss the derivatization of cellulose to fibers, esters and ether.