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Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) strategies can contribute to atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O). In the future, as BNR is implemented at more wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) around the globe, the emission and release of these gases to the atmosphere is expected to increase. This study focused on the quantification of N2O emissions rates and inventory at several WWFPs using a newly developed, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (Washington, D. C.) (U. S. EPA)- eviewed protocol. Application of the protocol revealed nitrous oxide emissions from aerated zones therein, hitherto not considered in the current U. S. EPA approach to quantifying N2O fluxes from WWTPs. A high degree of diurnal variability in N2O fluxes was measured, which correlated well with diurnal total Kjeldahl nitrogen loadings. In combination, these results point to the diminishing utility of a single emission factor approach to estimate the N2O emissions from WWTPs, which has been followed to date. Water Environ. Res., 82, 2362 (2010). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine relationships of sleep duration with sociodemographic and health-related factors, psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances in a nationwide sample in Korea. A total of 6510 subjects aged 18-64 years participated in this study. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the covariates, psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances across the following sleep duration categories: 5 h or less, 6, 7, 8 and 9 h or more per day. Low levels of education, unemployment and physical illness were associated with sleeping for 5 h or less and 9 h or more. Being older and widowed/divorced/separated, high levels of physical activity, pain/discomfort, obesity and high scores on the General Health Questionnaires were associated with sleeping for 5 h or less. Female, being younger and underweight were associated with sleeping for 9 h or more. Alcohol dependence, anxiety disorder and social phobia were associated significantly with sleeping for 5 h or less and 9 h or more. Other psychiatric disorders were more common in subjects who slept for 5 h or less (e.g. alcohol use disorder, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobia) or 9 h or more (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder). In addition, subjects who slept for 5 h or less reported more sleep disturbances than did subjects who slept for 7 h. Short or long sleep is associated with psychiatric disorders and/or sleep disturbance, therefore attention to the mental health of short or long sleepers is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]