Abstract
Dewatered digested sludge and compost may act as a conduit for microplastics (<5 mm) in terrestrial and subsequently aquatic systems. However, standardized methods for microplastics analyses ...are lacking. Thus, the aim is to demonstrate the applicability of wet-sieving as a way to quantify large microplastic particles (MPP, 1–5 mm) in dewatered digested sludge and compost. Additionally, we investigated the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, expired drinks and slaughterhouse waste used as co-substrate for anaerobic digestion at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Therefore, we collected samples from six WWTP and two biogas plants. These were then wet-sieved and potential MPP analysed via attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). In dewatered digested sludge the amount of microplastics ranged from 0 to 326 MPP/kg TS (total solids) while compost contained 39–102 MPP/kg TS. Our results show that with 0–36 MPP/kg TS co-substrates are not necessarily a source of microplastics in WWTP. Furthermore, we found film to be the most abundant shape in the biogas plant samples, whereas, in WWTP samples film, fragments and fibers were detected the most. ATR-FTIR revealed that polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene were the most abundant materials found across all samples.
HIGHLIGHTS Standardized methods for MP analysis are still lacking. Applicability of wet-sieving as method of detection for MP of 1–5 mm is demonstrated. It is proposed that the number of MPP should always be given in reference to the total solids of the respective sample. More research is needed to evaluate the effect of co-substrates on the number of MPP in WWTPs.
In this article, a non-contact laser Doppler strain sensor designed for fatigue testing with the resonance-testing machine is presented. The compact sensor measures in-plane displacements ...simultaneously from two adjacent points using the principle of in-plane, laser-Doppler vibrometry. The strain is computed from the relative displacements divided by the distance between these two points. The optical design, the mathematical model for estimating noise-limited resolution, the simulation results of this model, and the first measurement results are presented. The comparison of the measurement results of our sensor with the results of a conventional strain gauge shows that our design meets the measurement requirements. The maximum strain deviation compared to conventional strain gauges of the laser-Doppler extensometer is below 4×10-5 in all performed experiments.
We present and evaluate an IoT-enabled sensing and actuating system for localizing illegal industrial harsh discharges of polluting wastewater in sewer networks. The special conditions of the sewer ...environment bring special challenges for the design of an IoT system and of its real-time algorithm for anomaly detection and localization in wastewater networks. The proposed design fulfills these requirements by using a new IoT architecture pattern, which we generalize and name Hop-by-hop Anomaly Detection and Actuation (HADA). The distributed anomaly detection and localization algorithm makes predictions over previous sensor measurements, while taking into account seasonality effects of wastewater and noise of the sensors. Based on simulations in a large network with three common illegal industrial wastewater pollutants, the advantages and limitations of the proposed wastewater anomaly localization system are discussed. The IoT system, including its anomaly detection and localization algorithm, was implemented using in a low-power microcontroller and tested in flowing wastewater with different harsh industrial waste.
Anaerobic digestion, including the gas storage and the CHP unit plays a key role in energy management of water ressource recovery facilities (WRRF). By demand-driven feeding management, a higher ...degree of utilization of the gas storage tanks can be achieved, which means that a greater decoupling of energy demand and energy generation is taking place. In this context, the predictability of the produced gas volume plays an important role. In this study, a concept was suggested to forecast gas production rates without the need for any analytical substrate characterization. Substrates lead to specific patterns in the course of the gas production rates, which can be fitted using Gaussian functions. As the parameters describing the Gaussian functions have a good correlation to the amount of substrate fed to the digester a prediction of the rates is possible. Within this study a coefficient of determination 82.9% over a period of 5 days was achieved.
The increased probability of occurrence of various hazards to water supply systems due to climate change requires the strengthening of their resilience through effective emergency preparedness ...planning. This paper introduces a method for the assessment of the resilience of water supply systems, including emergency supply measures. With 20 uniquely defined emergency situations, the technical constellations for possible impairments of the water supply are documented. The system analysis developed for each emergency situation is then used to determine and prioritise all suitable supply measures to reduce the supply deficit. Based on the data of a water utility close to Frankfurt, Germany, the developed system dynamics model was used to examine the resource utilisation for the respective emergency situations and to estimate the amount of water provided. The model allows us to scrutinize and compare emergency water supply measures as well as to identify required resources. Furthermore, the method helps us to prioritize measures as well as to make decisions when planning and providing emergency water supply (EWS).
A recently demonstrated laser-Doppler extensometer is affected by signal dropouts caused by speckle noise, whereby the carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) falls below the so-called frequency-modulation ...threshold. In this article, we present a new optical setup with polarization signal diversity for reducing speckle-induced dropouts dramatically. The probability of a signal dropout can be substantially reduced using weighted combination signals from different photodetectors collecting the scattered light at two orthogonal polarizations. Therefore, we prove in this paper that signal diversity enables a laser-Doppler extensometer for industrial applications. Furthermore, a theoretical model based on the speckle statistics for estimating the probability of signal dropout is introduced. The relationship between the occurrence of signal dropouts and the demodulation bandwidth is studied. The experimental results of the occurrence of dropouts highly match the theoretical estimated probability distribution. Finally, strain measurement demonstrates a significant reduction of speckle noise with the implemented technique.
Drinking water supply is at the core of both, humanitarian action in times of crisis, as well as national policies for regular and emergency supply. In countries with a continuous water supply, the ...population mostly relies ingenuously on the permanent availability of tap water due to high supply standards. In case of a disruption in the drinking water infrastructure, minimum supply standards become important for emergency management during disasters. However, wider recognition of this issue is still lacking, particularly in countries facing comparably fewer disruptions. Several international agencies provide guideline values for minimum water provision standards in case of a disaster. Acknowledging that these minimum standards were developed for humanitarian assistance, it remains to be analyzed whether these standards apply to disaster management in countries with high supply standards. Based on a comprehensive literature review of scientific publications and humanitarian guidelines, as well as policies from selected countries, current processes, contents, and shortcomings of emergency water supply planning are assessed. To close the identified gaps, this paper flags potential improvements for emergency water supply planning and identifies future fields of research.
Disasters such as the Ahr Valley flood in 2021 make us aware of the importance of functioning healthcare facilities. Their functionality depends on the availability of drinking water. Water safety ...planning is a long-established method to increase the safety of water utilities. Our work supports the implementation of water safety planning in healthcare facilities during normal operations and emergency situations concerning the water supply. The authors conducted a stakeholder mapping exercise and problem awareness analysis. Based on these results, it was identified what is needed to overcome barriers to water safety planning (WSP). Building on existing procedures, the WSP concept, and latest scientific findings, an event-specific risk assessment method for healthcare facilities was developed and applied in a case study. Based on an analysis of water demand, water-related processes, and infrastructure, potentially necessary components for establishing an emergency supply were identified. For these, based on technical and legal requirements, planning principles were developed, and prototypes of components for emergency water supply were built. They were tested in pilot trials, particularly regarding hygienic safety. For the management of crises in hospitals, a survey was carried out on the command structures used in practice. Finally, recommendations were drawn based on the German Hospital Incident Command System.
Abstract Background and purpose To assess the safety and effectiveness of treating high-risk T1 and T2 bladder cancer with transurethral resection (TUR-BT) followed by radiochemotherapy (RCT) ...combined with regional deep hyperthermia (RHT). Material and methods Between 2003 and 2007, 45 patients were enrolled. After TUR-BT patients received radiotherapy (RT) of the bladder and regional lymph nodes with 50.4 Gy, and a boost to the bladder of 5.4–9 Gy. RCT was applied to 43/45 patients. RHT was administered once weekly. Response was re-evaluated 6 weeks after RT by restaging-TUR. Toxicity was graded with the CTCAE, version 3.0. QoL was evaluated by a dedicated questionnaire. Results The median follow-up was 34 months (range 12–60). The median number of hyperthermia treatments was 5 (range 1–7). Acute toxicity grades 3 and 4 occurred in 20% (9/45) and 9% (4/45), respectively. Late toxicity grades 3/4 were seen in 24% (11/45). Complete response rate was 96% (43/45). Local recurrence-free survival was 85%, overall survival was 80%, disease-specific survival was 88%, metastasis-free survival was 89%, and the bladder-preserving rate was 96% (43/45) at 3 years. Eighty percent (24/30) were at least mostly satisfied with their bladder function. Conclusions The quadrimodal treatment was feasible and well tolerated. Local control and bladder-preserving rates were encouraging.
The objectives of this study were to investigate the expression of survivin in tumor samples from patients with high-risk T1 bladder cancer and to correlate its expression with clinicopathologic ...features as well as clinical outcomes after initial transurethral resection (TURBT) followed by radiotherapy (RT) or radiochemotherapy (RCT).
Survivin protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on tumor specimen (n = 48) from the initial TURBT, and was correlated with clinical and histopathologic characteristics as well as with 5-year rates of local failure, tumor progression, and death from urothelial cancer after primary bladder sparring treatment with RT/RCT.
Survivin was not expressed in normal bladder urothelium but was overexpressed in 67% of T1 tumors. No association between survivin expression and clinicopathologic factors (age, gender, grading, multifocality, associated carcinoma in situ) could be shown. With a median follow-up of 27 months (range, 3-140 months), elevated survivin expression was significantly associated with an increased probability of local failure after TURBT and RCT/RT (p = 0.003). There was also a clear trend toward a higher risk of tumor progression (p = 0.07) and lower disease-specific survival (p = 0.10).
High survivin expression is a marker of tumor aggressiveness and may help to identify a subgroup of patients with T1 bladder cancer at a high risk for recurrence when treated with primary organ-sparing approaches such as TURBT and RCT.
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