An evaluation of a Lake Houston tributary, Cypress Creek, for contamination and water quality

Introduction. Lake Houston serves as a reservoir for both recreational and drinking water for residents of Houston, Texas, and the metropolitan area. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) expressed concerns about the water quality and increasing amounts of pathogenic bacteria in Lake Houston (3). The objective of this investigation is to evaluate water quality for the presence of bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, carbon, phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved solids, and chlorine in Cypress Creek. The aims of this project are to analyze samples of water from Cypress Creek and to render a quantitative and graphical representation of the results. The collected information will allow for a better understanding of the aqueous environment in Cypress Creek.^ Methods. Water samples were collected in August 2009 and analyzed in the field and at UTSPH laboratory by spectrophotometry and other methods. Mapping software was utilized to develop novel maps of the sample sites using coordinates attained with the Global Positioning System (GPS). Sample sites and concentrations were mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) software and correlated with permitted outfalls and other land use characteristic.^ Results. All areas sampled were positive for the presence of total coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The presences of other water contaminants varied at each location in Cypress Creek but were under the maximum allowable limits designated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. However, dissolved oxygen concentrations were elevated above the TCEQ limit of 5.0 mg/L at majority of the sites. One site had near-limit concentration of nitrates at 9.8 mg/L. Land use above this site included farm land, agricultural land, golf course, parks, residential neighborhoods, and nine permitted TCEQ effluent discharge sites within 0.5 miles upstream.^ Significance. Lake Houston and its tributary, Cypress Creek, are used as recreational waters where individuals may become exposed to microbial contamination. Lake Houston also is the source of drinking water for much of Houston/Harris and Galveston Counties. This research identified the presence of microbial contaminates in Cypress Creek above TCEQ regulatory requirements. Other water quality variables measured were in line with TCEQ regulations except for near-limit for nitrate at sample site #10, at Jarvis and Timberlake in Cypress Texas.^

Influence of Crop Load on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Scab Resistant Apples at Harvest

Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is a major disease affecting apple production. Breeding programs have developed over 30 releases of scab-resistant cultivars since 1970 with recent ones having much improved quality. Redfree and GoldRush are from a cooperative breeding program involving Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois universities while Liberty was introduced from the Cornell University breeding program. For these cultivars to gain better acceptance, more information is needed on their cropping capacities and the effect of crop load on fruit quality attributes. Our study was conducted to determine the relationship between increasing crop load on tree growth, fruit size, and fruit quality variables of the three cultivars under Iowa conditions.

Influence of nutritional and management practices on productive performance and egg quality of brown egg-laying hens = Influencia de factores nutricionales y de manejo sobre la productividad y calidad del huevo en gallinas ponedoras rubias

El objetivo general de esta Tesis Doctoral fue estudiar la influencia de diversos factores nutricionales y de manejo sobre la productividad y la calidad del huevo en gallinas ponedoras comerciales rubias. Los factores estudiados fueron: 1) Cereal principal y tipo de grasa en la dieta; 2) Nivel de proteína bruta y grasa en la dieta; 3) Nivel energético de la dieta; 4) Peso vivo al inicio del período de puesta. En el experimento 1, la influencia del cereal principal en la dieta y el tipo de grasa suplementada en la dieta sobre los parámetros productivos y la calidad del huevo fue estudiado en 756 gallinas rubias de la estirpe Lohmann desde la sem 22 hasta las 54 de vida. El experimento se realizó mediante un diseño completamente al azar con 9 tratamientos ordenados factorialmente, con 3 cereales bases (maíz, trigo blando y cebada) y 3 tipos de grasa que variaban en su contenido en ácido linoléico (aceite de soja, oleína vegetal mezcla y manteca). Todas las dietas satisfacian las recomendaciones nutricionales para gallinas ponedoras rubias según el NRC (1994) y FEDNA (2008). La unidad experimental fue la jaula para todas las variables. Cada tratamiento fue replicado 4 veces, y la unidad experimental estuvo formada por 21 gallinas alojadas en grupos de 7. Las dietas fueron formuladas con un contenido nutritivo similar, excepto para el ácido linoléico, que varió en función del tipo de cereal y grasa utilizado. Así, dependiendo de la combinación de estos elementos el contenido de este ácido graso varió desde un 0.8% (dieta trigo-manteca) a un 3.4% (dieta maíz-aceite de soja). Este rango de ácido linoléico permitió estimar el nivel mínimo de este nutriente en el pienso que permite maximizar el peso del huevo. Los parámetros productivos y la calidad del huevo se controlaron cada 28 días y el peso de las aves se midió individualmente al inicio y al final del experimento con el objetivo de estudiar la variación en el peso vivo de los animales. No se observaron interacciones entre el tipo de cereal y grasa en la dieta para ninguna de las variables productivas estudiadas. Los tratamientos experimentales no afectaron a las principales variables productivas (porcentaje de puesta, peso del huevo y masa de huevo). Sin embargo, la ganancia de peso fue mayor en gallinas alimentadas con maíz o trigo que las gallinas alimentadas con cebada (243 vs. 238 vs. 202 g, respectivamente; P< 0.05). En el mismo sentido, las gallinas alimentadas con manteca obtuvieron una mayor ganancia de peso que las gallinas alimentadas con aceite de soja u oleína vegetal (251 vs. 221 vs. 210 g, respectivamente; P< 0.05). En cuanto a las variables estudiadas en relación con la calidad del huevo, ninguna de las variables estudiadas se vio afectada por el tratamiento experimental, salvo la pigmentación de la yema. Así, las gallinas alimentadas con maíz como cereal principal obtuvieron una mayor puntuación en relación con la escala de color que las gallinas alimentadas con trigo y con cebada (9.0 vs. 8.3 vs. 8.3, respectivamente; P< 0.001). La pigmentación de la yema también se vio afectada por el tipo de grasa en la dieta, así, las gallinas alimentadas con manteca obtuvieron una mayor puntuación de color en relación con la escala de color que las gallinas alimentadas con aceite de soja u oleína vegetal (8.9 vs. 8.5 vs. 8.2, respectivamente; P< 0.001). La influencia del contenido en ácido linoléico respecto al peso de huevo y masa de huevo fue mayor a medida que el contenido de dicho ácido graso se redujo en la dieta. Así, la influencia de la dieta en los radios peso de huevo/g linoléico ingerido y masa de huevo/g linoléico ingerido fue significativamente mayor a medida que el contenido en dicho ácido graso disminuyo en la dieta (P< 0.001). Los resultados del ensayo indican que las gallinas ponedoras rubias no necesitan más de un 1.0% de ácido linoléico en la dieta para maximizar la producción y el tamaño del huevo. Además, se pudo concluir que los 3 cereales y las 3 grasas utilizadas pueden sustituirse en la dieta sin ningún perjuicio productivo o referente a la calidad del huevo siempre que los requerimientos de los animales sean cubiertos. En el experimento 2, la influencia del nivel de proteína bruta y el contenido de grasa de la dieta sobre los parámetros productivos y la calidad del huevo fue estudiado en 672 gallinas ponedoras rubias de la estirpe Lohmann entre las sem 22 y 50 de vida. El experimento fue conducido mediante un diseño completamente al azar con 8 tratamientos ordenados factorialmente con 4 dietas y 2 pesos vivos distintos al inicio de puesta (1592 vs. 1860g). Tres de esas dietas diferían en el contenido de proteína bruta (16.5%, 17.5% y 18.5%) y tenían un contenido en grasa añadida de 1.8%. La cuarta dieta tenía el nivel proteico más elevado (18.5%) pero fue suplementada con 3.6% de grasa añadida en vez de 1.8%. Cada tratamiento fue replicado 4 veces y la unidad experimental consistió en 21 gallinas alojadas dentro de grupos de 7 animales en 3 jaulas contiguas. Todas las dietas fueron isocalóricas (2750 kcal EMAn/kg) y cubrieron las recomendaciones en aminoácidos para gallinas ponedoras rubias (Arg, Ile, Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, TSAA y Val) según el NRC (1994) y FEDNA (2008). Los efectos de los tratamientos sobre las variables productivas y la calidad de huevo fueron estudiados cada 28 días. La dieta no afecto a ninguna de las variables productivas estudiadas a lo largo del período productivo. Sin embargo, el peso inicial origino que las gallinas pesadas consumieran más (120.6 vs. 113.9 g; P< 0.001), obtuvieran un porcentaje de puesta mayor (92.5 vs. 89.8%; P< 0.01) y un peso del huevo mayor (64.9 vs. 62.4 g; P< 0.001) que las gallinas ligeras. El peso inicial de las gallinas no afecto al IC por kg de huevo ni a la mortalidad, sin embargo, la ganancia de peso fue mayor (289 vs. 233 g; P< 0.01) y el IC por docena de huevos fue mejor (1.52 vs. 1.57; P< 0.01) en las gallinas ligeras que en las gallinas pesadas. En cuanto a la calidad del huevo, la dieta no influyó sobre ninguna de las variables estudiadas. Los resultados del ensayo muestran que las gallinas ponedoras rubias, independientemente de su peso vivo al inicio de la puesta, no necesitan una cantidad de proteína bruta superior a 16.5% para maximizar la producción, asegurando que las dietas cubren los requerimientos en AA indispensables. Asimismo, se puedo concluir que las gallinas con un peso más elevado al inicio de puesta producen más masa de huevo que las gallinas con un peso más bajo debido a que las primeras producen más cantidad de huevos y más pesados. Sin embargo, ambos grupos de peso obtuvieron el mismo IC por kg de huevo y las gallinas más livianas en peso obtuvieron un mejor IC por docena de huevo que las pesadas. En el experimento 3 la influencia de la concentración energética sobre los parámetros productivos y la calidad del huevo fue estudiada en 520 gallinas ponedoras rubias de la estirpe Hy-Line en el período 24-59 sem de vida. Se utilizaron 8 tratamientos ordenados factorialmente con 4 dietas que variaron en el contenido energético (2650, 2750, 2850 y 2950 kcal EMAn/kg) y 2 pesos vivos distintos al inicio del período de puesta (1733 vs. 1606g). Cada tratamiento fue replicado 5 veces y la unidad experimental consistió en una jaula con 13 aves. Todas las dietas se diseñaron para que tuvieran una concentración nutritiva similar por unidad energética. Las variables productivas y de calidad de huevo se estudiaron mediante controles cada 28 días desde el inicio del experimento. No se observaron interacciones entre el nivel energético y el peso inicial del ave para ninguna de las variables estudiadas. Un incremento en la concentración energética de la dieta incrementó la producción de huevos (88.8 % vs. 91.2 % vs. 92.7 % vs. 90.5 %), masa de huevo (56.1 g/d vs. 58.1 g/d vs. 58.8 g/d vs. 58.1 g/d), y eficiencia energética (5.42 vs. 5.39 vs. 5.38 vs. 5.58 kcal EMA/g huevo) de forma lineal y cuadrática (P< 0.05) y afectó significativamente a la ganancia de peso (255 g vs. 300 g vs. 325 g vs. 359 g; P<0.05) . Sin embargo, un incremento en la concentración energética provocó un descenso lineal en el consumo de los animales (115 g vs. 114 g vs. 111 g vs. 110 g; P< 0.001) y un descenso lineal y cuadrático en el IC por kg de huevo (2.05 vs. 1.96 vs. 1.89 vs. 1.89; P< 0.01). En cuanto a la calidad del huevo, un incremento en el contenido energético de la dieta provocó una reducción en la calidad del albumen de forma lineal en forma de reducción de Unidades Haugh (88.4 vs. 87.8 vs. 86.3 vs. 84.7; P< 0.001), asimismo el incremento de energía redujo de forma lineal la proporción relativa de cáscara en el huevo (9.7 vs. 9.6 vs. 9.6 vs. 9.5; P< 0.001). Sin embargo, el incremento energético propició un incremento lineal en la pigmentación de la yema del huevo (7.4 vs. 7.4 vs. 7.6 vs. 7.9; P< 0.001). El peso vivo al inicio de la prueba afecto a las variables productivas y a la calidad del huevo. Así, los huevos procedentes de gallinas pesadas al inicio de puesta tuvieron una mayor proporción de yema (25.7 % vs. 25.3 %; P< 0.001) y menor de albumen (64.7 vs. 65.0; P< 0.01) y cáscara (9.5 vs. 9.6; P< 0.05) respecto de los huevos procedentes de gallinas ligeras. Consecuentemente, el ratio yema:albumen fue mayor (0.40 vs. 0.39; P< 0.001) para las gallinas pesadas. Según los resultados del experimento se pudo concluir que las actuales gallinas ponedoras rubias responden con incrementos en la producción y en la masa del huevo a incrementos en la concentración energética hasta un límite que se sitúa en 2850 kcal EMAn/kg. Asimismo, los resultados obtenidos entre los 2 grupos de peso al inicio de puesta demostraron que las gallinas pesadas al inicio de puesta tienen un mayor consumo y producen huevos más pesados, con el consecuente aumento de la masa del huevo respecto de gallinas más ligeras. Sin embargo, el IC por kg de huevo fue el mismo en ambos grupos de gallinas y el IC por docena de huevo fue mejor en las gallinas ligeras. Asimismo, la eficiencia energética fue mejor en las gallinas ligeras. Abstract The general aim of this PhD Thesis was to study the influence of different nutritional factors and management on the productivity and egg quality of comercial Brown laying hens. The factor studied were: 1) The effect of the main cereal and type of fat of the diet; 2) The effect of crude protein and fat content of the diet; 3) The effect of energy concentration of the diet; 4) The effect of initial body weight of the hens at the onset of lay period. In experiment 1, the influence of the main cereal and type of supplemental fat in the diet on productive performance and egg quality of the eggs was studied in 756 Lohmann brown-egg laying hens from 22 to 54 wk of age. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with 9 treatments arranged factorially with 3 cereals (dented corn, soft wheat, and barley) and 3 types of fat (soy oil, acidulated vegetable soapstocks, and lard). Each treatment was replicated 4 times (21 hens per replicate). All diets were formulated according to NRC (1994) and FEDNA (2008) to have similar nutrient content except for linoleic acid that ranged from 0.8 (wheat-lard diet) to 3.4% (corn-soy bean oil) depending on the combination of cereal and fat source used. This approach will allow to estimate the minimum level of linoleic acid in the diets that maximizes egg weight. Productive performance and egg quality traits were recorded every 28 d and BW of the hens was measured individually at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. No significant interactions between main factors were detected for any of the variables studied. Egg production, egg weight, and egg mass were not affected by dietary treatment. Body weight gain was higher (243 vs. 238 vs. 202 g; P<0.05) for hens fed corn or wheat than for hens fed barley and also for hens fed lard than for hens fed soy oil or acidulated vegetable soapstocks (251 vs. 221 vs. 210 g; P< 0.05). Egg quality was not influenced by dietary treatment except for yolk color that was greater (9.0 vs. 8.3 vs. 8.3; P< 0.001) for hens fed corn than for hens fed wheat or barley and for hens fed lard than for hens fed soy oil or acidulated vegetable soapstocks (8.9 vs. 8.5 vs. 8.2, respectivamente; P< 0.001). The influence of linoleic acid on egg weight and egg mass was higher when the fatty acid was reduced in the diet. Thus, the influence of the diet in egg weight/g linoleic acid intake and egg mass/g linolec acid intake was higher when the amount of this fatty acid decreased in the diet (P< 0.001). It is concluded that brown egg laying hens do not need more than 1.0% of linoleic acid in the diet (1.16 g/hen/d) to maximize egg production and egg size. The 3 cereals and the 3 fat sources tested can replace each other in the diet provided that the linoleic acid requirements to maximize egg size are met. In experiment 2, the influence of CP and fat content of the diet on performance and egg quality traits was studied in 672 Lohmann brown egg-laying hens from 22 to 50 wk of age. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with 8 treatments arranged factorially with 4 diets and 2 initial BW of the hens (1,592 vs. 1,860 g). Three of these diets differed in the CP content (16.5, 17.5, and 18.5%) and included 1.8% added fat. The fourth diet had also 18.5% CP but was supplemented with 3.6% fat instead of 1.8% fat. Each treatment was replicated 4 times and the experimental unit consisted of 21 hens allocated in groups of 7 in 3 adjacent cages. All diets were isocaloric (2,750 kcal AME/kg) and met the recommendations of brown egg-laying hens for digestible Arg, Ile, Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, TSAA, and Val. Productive performance and egg quality were recorded by replicate every 28-d. For the entire experimental period, diet did not affect any of the productive performance traits studied but the heavier hens had higher ADFI (120.6 vs. 113.9g; P< 0.001), egg production (92.5 vs. 89.8%; P< 0.01), and egg weight (64.9 vs. 62.4g; P< 0.001) than the lighter hens. Initial BW did not affect feed conversion per kilogram of eggs or hen mortality but BW gain was higher (289 vs. 233g; P< 0.01) and FCR per dozen of eggs was better (1.52 vs. 1.57; P< 0.01) for the lighter than for the heavier hens. None of the egg quality variables studied was affected by dietary treatment or initial BW of the hens. It is concluded that brown egg-laying hens, irrespective of their initial BW, do not need more than 16.5% CP to maximize egg production provided that the diet meet the requirements for key indispensable amino acids. Heavier hens produce more eggs that are larger than lighter hens but feed efficiency per kilogram of eggs is not affected. In experiment 3, the influence of AMEn concentration of the diet on productive performance and egg quality traits was studied in 520 Hy-Line brown egg-laying hens differing in initial BW from 24 to 59 wks of age. There were 8 treatments arranged factorially with 4 diets varying in energy content (2,650, 2,750, 2,850, and 2,950 kcal AMEn/kg) and 2 initial BW of the hens (1,733 vs. 1,606 g). Each treatment was replicated 5 times (13 hens per replicate) and all diets had similar nutrient content per unit of energy. No interactions between energy content of the diet and initial BW of the hens were detected for any trait. An increase in energy concentration of the diet increased (linear, P< 0.05; quadratic P< 0.05) egg production (88.8 % vs. 91.2 % vs. 92.7 % vs. 90.5 %), egg mass (56.1 g/d vs. 58.1 g/d vs. 58.8 g/d vs. 58.1 g/d), energy efficiency (5.42 vs. 5.39 vs. 5.38 vs. 5.58 kcal AMEn/g of egg), and BW gain (255 g vs. 300 g vs. 325 g vs. 359 g; P<0.05) but decreased ADFI (115 g vs. 114 g vs. 111 g vs. 110 g; P< linear, P< 0.001) and FCR per kg of eggs (2.05 vs. 1.96 vs. 1.89 vs. 1.89; linear, P< 0.01; quadratic P< 0.01). An increase in energy content of the diet reduced Haugh units (88.4 vs. 87.8 vs. 86.3 vs. 84.7; P< 0.01) and the proportion of shell in the egg (9.7 vs. 9.6 vs. 9.6 vs. 9.5; P< 0.001). Feed intake (114.6 vs. 111.1 g/hen per day), AMEn intake (321 vs. 311 kcal/hen per day), egg weight (64.2 vs. 63.0 g), and egg mass (58.5 vs. 57.0 g) were higher for the heavier than for the lighter hens (P<0.01) but FCR per kg of eggs and energy efficiency were not affected. Eggs from the heavier hens had higher proportion of yolk (25.7 % vs. 25.3 %; P< 0.001) and lower of albumen (64.7 vs. 65.0; P< 0.01) and shell (9.5 vs. 9.6; P< 0.05) than eggs from the lighter hens. Consequently, the yolk to albumen ratio was higher (0.40 vs. 0.39; P< 0.001) for the heavier hens. It is concluded that brown egg-laying hens respond with increases in egg production and egg mass, to increases in AMEn concentration of the diet up to 2,850 kcal/kg. Heavy hens had higher feed intake and produced heavier eggs and more egg mass than light hens. However, energy efficiency was better for the lighter hens.

Forecasting Responses of Seagrass Distributions to Changing Water Quality Using Monitoring Data

Extensive data sets on water quality and seagrass distributions in Florida Bay have been assembled under complementary, but independent, monitoring programs. This paper presents the landscape-scale results from these monitoring programs and outlines a method for exploring the relationships between two such data sets. Seagrass species occurrence and abundance data were used to define eight benthic habitat classes from 677 sampling locations in Florida Bay. Water quality data from 28 monitoring stations spread across the Bay were used to construct a discriminant function model that assigned a probability of a given benthic habitat class occurring for a given combination of water quality variables. Mean salinity, salinity variability, the amount of light reaching the benthos, sediment depth, and mean nutrient concentrations were important predictor variables in the discriminant function model. Using a cross-validated classification scheme, this discriminant function identified the most likely benthic habitat type as the actual habitat type in most cases. The model predicted that the distribution of benthic habitat types in Florida Bay would likely change if water quality and water delivery were changed by human engineering of freshwater discharge from the Everglades. Specifically, an increase in the seasonal delivery of freshwater to Florida Bay should cause an expansion of seagrass beds dominated by Ruppia maritima and Halodule wrightii at the expense of the Thalassia testudinum-dominated community that now occurs in northeast Florida Bay. These statistical techniques should prove useful for predicting landscape-scale changes in community composition in diverse systems where communities are in quasi-equilibrium with environmental drivers.

Water Quality and Wet Season Diatom Assemblage Characteristics from the Tamiami Trail Pilot Swales Sites (Everglades National Park, Florida, USA)

A pivotal component of hydrological restoration of the Florida Everglades is the improvement of water conveyance to Everglades National Park by the degradation of the current network of canals, roadways and levees. The Tamiami Trail (L29) road/canal complex represents a major barrier to natural water flows into the park and a variety of modification options for flow improvement are currently being explored, including the installation of spreader swales immediately downstream of culverts conveying water under Tamiami Trail from the L29 canal into Everglades National Park. In this study, we evaluated water column chemistry and wet-season diatom community structure to provide baseline information for use in future monitoring activities related to the proposed Tamiami Trail modifications. Water chemistry showed pronounced fluctuations in response to precipitation and anthropogenically mediated hydrological events. Differences in water quality variables among sites were dampened during periods of inundation, and became more pronounced during periods of low canal stage, suggesting the importance of small-scale mechanisms related to isolation of habitat patches. Diatom assemblages were unexpectedly speciose (127 taxa in 40 samples) compared to typical Everglades assemblages, and spatially heterogeneous in sites associated with concentric areas of dense vegetation immediately downstream of culverts. We also observed significant compositional dissimilarities among transects, indicating that culvert pool and north transect assemblages were substantially influenced by propagule input from the canal and areas to the north, while south transect sites were compositionally similar to typical sawgrass prairie diatom communities. Central transect sites were compositionally intermediate to their north and south counterparts. We propose that the position and spatial extent of this “transitional assemblage” is a sensitive indicator of subtle environmental change related to Tamiami Trail modifications.

Structural Time Series Modeling: an Application to Environmental Variables

A structural time series model is one which is set up in terms of components which have a direct interpretation. In this paper, the discussion focuses on the dynamic modeling procedure based on the state space approach (associated to the Kalman filter), in the context of surface water quality monitoring, in order to analyze and evaluate the temporal evolution of the environmental variables, and thus identify trends or possible changes in water quality (change point detection). The approach is applied to environmental time series: time series of surface water quality variables in a river basin. The statistical modeling procedure is applied to monthly values of physico- chemical variables measured in a network of 8 water monitoring sites over a 15-year period (1999-2014) in the River Ave hydrological basin located in the Northwest region of Portugal.

Preparation of environmental monitoring plan pattern for surface water quality in Iran (Case study: Gharehsou River)

Using water quality management programs is a necessary and inevitable way for preservation and sustainable use of water resources. One of the important issues in determining the quality of water in rivers is designing effective quality control networks, so that the measured quality variables in these stations are, as far as possible, indicative of overall changes in water quality. One of the methods to achieve this goal is increasing the number of quality monitoring stations and sampling instances. Since this will dramatically increase the annual cost of monitoring, deciding on which stations and parameters are the most important ones, along with increasing the instances of sampling, in a way that shows maximum change in the system under study can affect the future decision-making processes for optimizing the efficacy of extant monitoring network, removing or adding new stations or parameters and decreasing or increasing sampling instances. This end, the efficiency of multivariate statistical procedures was studied in this thesis. Multivariate statistical procedure, with regard to its features, can be used as a practical and useful method in recognizing and analyzing rivers’ pollution and consequently in understanding, reasoning, controlling, and correct decision-making in water quality management. This research was carried out using multivariate statistical techniques for analyzing the quality of water and monitoring the variables affecting its quality in Gharasou river, in Ardabil province in northwest of Iran. During a year, 28 physical and chemical parameters were sampled in 11 stations. The results of these measurements were analyzed by multivariate procedures such as: Cluster Analysis (CA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor Analysis (FA), and Discriminant Analysis (DA). Based on the findings from cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and factor analysis the stations were divided into three groups of highly polluted (HP), moderately polluted (MP), and less polluted (LP) stations Thus, this study illustrates the usefulness of multivariate statistical techniques for analysis and interpretation of complex data sets, and in water quality assessment, identification of pollution sources/factors and understanding spatial variations in water quality for effective river water quality management. This study also shows the effectiveness of these techniques for getting better information about the water quality and design of monitoring network for effective management of water resources. Therefore, based on the results, Gharasou river water quality monitoring program was developed and presented.

Odour emissions from anaerobic piggery ponds. 2: Improving estimates of emission rate through recognition of spatial variability

Odour emission rates were measured for seven different anaerobic ponds treating piggery wastes at six to nine discrete locations across the surface of each pond on each sampling occasion over a thirteen month period. Significant variability in emission rates were observed for each pond. Measurement of a number of water quality variables in pond liquor samples collected at the same time and from the same locations as the odour samples indicated that the composition of the pond liquor was also variable. The results indicated that spatial variability was a real phenomenon and could have a significant impact on odour assessment practices. Considerably more odour samples would be required to characterise pond emissions than currently recommended by most practitioners, or regulatory agencies.

Development and testing of an evaluation procedure for commercial manure additive products.

Manure additive products can be used to reduce odour emissions (OE) from livestock farms. The standardised evaluation of these manure additive products under specific farm conditions is important. In this study, the efficacy of a manure additive (WonderTreat(TM), CKLS, Inc., Hong-Kong) was assessed under Australian conditions utilising a combination of laboratory and field-scale evaluation techniques. As a first step, the efficacy of the manure additive was assessed in a laboratory-scale trial using a series of uniformly managed digesters and standard odour, liquor ammonia and hydrogen sulphide concentration measurement procedures. This showed that the addition of WonderTreat(TM) at the 'low dose rate' (LDR) (102.6 g m-2) used during the trial significantly, but only marginally (30%; P = 0.02) reduced the OE rate (mean 13.9 OU m-2 s-1) of anaerobic pig liquor relative to an untreated control (UC) (19.9 OU m-2 s-1). However, the 'high dose rate' (HDR) (205.3 g m-2) also assessed during the trial preformed similarly (19.7 OU m-2 s-1) to the UC. No statistically significant difference in the concentrations of a range of measured water quality variables at the 5% level was observed between the treatments or controls digesters. As a second step, a field-scale assessment of the manure additive was undertaken at a commercial piggery. Two piggery manure lagoons (each with approximately 2500 m2 surface area) were included in the study; one was treated with WonderTreat(TM) while the other was used as control. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed using olfactometric evaluation of odour samples collected from the surface of the pond using a dynamic wind tunnel and ancillary equipment. No statistically significant reduction in OE rate could be demonstrated (P = 0.35), partially due to the limited number of samples taken during the assessment. However, there was a numerical reduction in the average OE rate of the treatment pond (29 OU m-2 s-1 at 1 m s-1) compared to the control lagoon (38 OU m-2 s-1 at 1 m s-1).

Plankton periodicity and some physicochemical parameters of the intake channel of Lake Chad

This study examines zooplankton periodicity and some physicochemical parameters of the intake channel of Lake Chad (Nigeria). Nine different zooplankton species were identified at the sampling station 1, while seven different zooplankton species were identified at the sampling station 2 (the intake channel of Lake Chad). Each identified zooplankton species was grouped according to its major group of copepods, Cladocera or Rotifera. The copepods dominated the zooplankton community with the highest numbers of occurrence as Cyclopedia species throughout the course of the study at both station l and 2. There was a clear evidence of the influence of organic manure nutrients on total zooplankton population at station 1 when compared to that of station 2. The water quality variables measured in the course of this study show that the surface water temperature in station 1 ranges from 27.5 degree C to 30.5 degree C. The pH ranges from 6.8 to 8.5, while D.O. contents ranges from 2.9mg/L to 6.1mg/L and alkalinity recorded was 172.00 to 208.00. At the station 2 the water quality parameters obtained show that surface water temperature ranges from 27.3 degree C to 30.2 degree C, pH ranges between 6.9 to 8.5, while the D.O contents ranges from 3.0 mg/L to 6.2 mg/L.Alkalinity ranges from 172mg/L to 212 mg/L

IQAFAL - Índice Fuzzy de Qualidade de Água para Ambiente Lótico.

A divulgação de informação sobre qualidade das águas para um público não especialista é fundamental para subsidiar ações políticas e institucionais de gestão dos ambientes aquáticos. Para tanto, índices de qualidade de água têm sido propostos por serem capazes de sintetizar em um único valor ou categoria a informação normalmente descrita a partir de um conjunto extenso de variáveis químicas, físicas e biológicas de qualidade de água. A maioria das metodologias propostas para o desenvolvimento de índices de qualidade de água é baseada no conhecimento de especialistas quanto à escolha das variáveis a serem utilizadas, a ponderação da importância relativa de cada variável e métodos utilizados para agregar os dados das variáveis em um único valor. Este trabalho propõe um novo índice de qualidade de água, baseado em lógica nebulosa e direcionado para o ambiente lótico. Esse índice, o IQAFAL, foi desenvolvido com a colaboração de especialistas com ampla e comprovada experiência na área de qualidade de água. A essência do desenvolvimento de um índice, usando-se lógica nebulosa, está na capacidade dessa metodologia representar, de forma mais eficiente e clara, os limites dos intervalos de variação dos parâmetros de qualidade de água para um conjunto de categorias subjetivas, quando esses limites não são bem definidos ou são imprecisos. O índice proposto neste trabalho foi desenvolvido com base no conhecimento dos especialistas em qualidade de água do Instituto Estadual do Ambiente - INEA e aplicado aos dados de qualidade de água do Rio Paraíba do Sul, obtidos pelo INEA, nos anos de 2002 a 2009. Os resultados do IQAFAL mostraram que esse índice foi capaz de sintetizar a qualidade da água deste trecho do Rio Paraíba do Sul correspondendo satisfatoriamente às avaliações de qualidade de água descritas nos relatórios disponíveis. Verificou-se também que com essa metodologia foi possível evitar que a influência de uma variável em condições críticas fosse atenuada pela influência das outras variáveis em condições favoráveis produzindo um resultado indesejável no índice final.

Effects of seasonal succession and water pollution on the protozoan community structure in an eutrophic lake

The purpose of the research is to study the seasonal succession of protozoa community and the effect of water quality on the protozoa community to characterize biochemical processes occurring at a eutrophic Lake Donghu, a large shallow lake in Wuhan City, China. Samples of protozoa communities were obtained monthly at three stations by PFU (polyurethane foam unit) method over a year. Synchronously, water samples also were taken from the stations for the water chemical quality analysis. Six major variables were examined in a principal component analysis (PCA), which indicate the fast changes of water quality in this station I and less within-year variation and a comparatively stable water quality in stations II and III. The community data were analyzed using multivariate techniques, and we show that clusters are rather mixed and poorly separated, suggesting that the community structure is changing gradually, giving a slight merging of clusters form the summer to the autumn and the autumn to the winter. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to infer the relationship between water quality variables and phytoplankton community structure, which changed substantially over the survey period. From the analysis of cluster and CCA, coupled by community pollution value (CPV), it is concluded that the key factors driving the change in protozoa community composition in Lake Donghu was water qualities rather than seasons. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of polyurethane foam units and calorimetry to microbial monitoring in Lake Donghu

Combined with the national standard biomonitoring method (polyurethane foam units method), calorimetry was applied to study the metabolic activities of PFU microbial communities in fresh water to determine the effects of anthropotgenic stresses on the activity of the microbial community. Comparisons were made at four sampling stations with different eutrophic status in Lake Donghu. Water quality variables, species number of protozoa, abundances of microorganisms, biomass, heterotrophy indexes and diversity indexes are reported. The heat rate-time curves of the native and concentrated PFU microbial communities were determined at 28 degrees C. Growth rate, measured maximum power output and total heat were calculated from the heat rate-time curves. The values of metabolic variables are higher at the more eutrophic stations, which suggests that organic pollution increases the activity of PFU microbial communities. The metabolic variables are in good agreement with chemical and biotic variables. And calorimetry will be useful for biomonitoring of the PFU microbial community. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sobrecarga e qualidade de vida em cuidadores informais de pessoas com demência

RESUMO: Introdução: A sobrecarga do cuidador informal de pessoas com demência está associada à sua qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Analisar as associações entre qualidade de vida e sobrecarga familiar nestes cuidadores informais, assim como as relações entre estas variáveis e outros fatores. Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal (descritivo e analítico). A amostra de conveniência foi composta de 33 cuidadores. O estudo foi realizado nos serviços de consultas externas de dois centros do Instituto das Irmãs Hospitaleiras do Sagrado Coração de Jesus. Os dados foram obtidos através da aplicação das escalas: Entrevista de Sobrecarga de Zarit, WHOQOL-Bref, Escala de Atividades Instrumentais de Vida Diária de Lawton e Brody e Índice de Barthel. Na análise dos dados foram empregues estatísticas descritivas e testes não paramétricos. Os testes empregues consistiram no teste de Mann-Whitney e teste de Kruskal-Wallis. O nível de significância considerado em todas as análises foi de 5%. Todos os dados obtidos foram analisados com recurso ao programa estatístico SPSS 21.0. Resultados: Os cuidadores com menores índices de sobrecarga evidenciaram uma correlação negativa com todos os domínios da qualidade de vida (p≤0.002). Os cuidadores homens revelaram-se menos sobrecarregados enquanto cuidadores principais (p=0.023). A existência de um cuidador secundário foi indicador de uma melhor qualidade de vida dos cuidadores, nos domínios das relações sociais (p=0.034) e do meio ambiente (p=0.034). Quanto mais prolongado o tempo de cuidados para os cuidadores avaliados, menor a sua qualidade de vida, ao nível físico (p=0.003) e do meio ambiente (p=0.000). A situação de sobrecarga foi tanto maior quanto menor a idade do cuidador (p=0.003). A independência da pessoa com demência ao nível instrumental também se traduziu numa melhor qualidade de vida dos cuidadores, em todos os domínios desta variável e, numa menor situação de sobrecarga dos cuidadores (p=0.017). Conclusões: Uma maior sobrecarga dos cuidadores informais de pessoas com demência está associada a indicadores mais baixos de qualidade de vida, em todos domínios desta variável. No presente estudo, os principais fatores a ter em conta na avaliação dos cuidadores de pessoas com demência foram: o género, a existência de um cuidador secundário e a independência da pessoa cuidada nas atividades instrumentais da vida diária. Foi também possível analisar que as variáveis sobrecarga e qualidade de vida não se relacionam apenas entre si mas, concomitantemente, com diferentes situações da vida do cuidador. Uma intervenção mais atenta às características de cada cuidador poderia vir a repercutir-se numa menor sobrecarga e numa melhor qualidade de vida, quer do cuidador como, eventualmente, da pessoa cuidada.------------ ABSTRACT: Introduction and objectives: The overload of informal caregivers of people with dementia tends to be inversely associated with their life quality. This study aims to analyze the associations between the family overload and the life quality of these informal caregivers, as well as the relationships between these variables and other sociodemographic and functional factors. Population and methods: It’s a cross-sectional study (descriptive and analytical). The convenience sample was composed of 33 informal caregivers. The study was carried out in the external services consultations of two centers of the Institute of the Hospitable Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The data were obtained by applying the following scales: Overload Interview of Zarit, WHOQOL-Bref, Scale of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of Lawton and Brody, and Barthel Index. Results: We found a negative correlation between the family overload and every domains of life quality (p ≤ 0.002). The men caregivers proved to be less burdened than the main caregivers (p = 0.023). The existence of a secondary caregiver was an indicator of a better life quality in the fields of social relations (p = 0.034) and in the environment (p = 0.034). The evaluated caregivers, more prolonged time occupy to care, lower was their life quality on the physical level (p = 0.003) and on the environment (p = 0.000). The overload levels were bigger whereas the lower age of the caregiver (p = 0.003). The independence of the person with dementia on the instrumental level rendered a better life quality for caregivers in all domains of this variable and also provided a minor burden for the caregivers (p = 0.017). Conclusions: In this small sample, the higher burden to the informal caregivers of people with dementia is associated with lower indicators of life quality, in every domains of this variable. In this study, the main factors to keep in count in the evaluation to the caregivers of people with dementia were: the gender, the existence of a secondary caregiver and the independence of the person to be cared in his instrumental activities of daily living. We also observed that the overload and life quality variables do not relate only to each other but at the same time with different situations of the life of the caregiver. A closer intervention to the characteristics of each caregiver could reflect a lower overload and a better life quality of the caregiver and eventually as well as the person to be cared of.

Existe trade-off entre eficiência e qualidade nas organizações hospitalares?

A mudança do perfil demográfico e epidemiológico das populações, com progressivo envelhecimento populacional e aumento de portadores de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, somado a necessidade da ampliação da oferta de serviços de saúde e crescentes custos em saúde, impõe enormes desafios aos sistemas e serviços de saúde. A eficiência organizacional dos serviços de saúde tem papel importante tanto na racionalização dos custos quanto na melhoria da qualidade e segurança assistencial. Tendo papel central nos sistemas de saúde como centros difusores de conhecimento, capacitação profissional, incorporação de tecnologias, prestação de serviços de maior complexidade aos pacientes e, consequentemente, elevados custos destes serviços, aos hospitais é fundamental a busca por essa eficiência. Este estudo buscou analisar se existe trade-off entre eficiência e qualidade em organizações hospitalares e identificar quais determinantes poderiam estar associados com maiores ou menores escores de eficiência. Utilizou-se dois modelos de análise de envelopamento de dados (data envelopment analysis, DEA), sem e com variáveis de qualidade, com retornos variáveis de escala e orientados para resultado. Foram estudados 47 hospitais gerais públicos do estado de São Paulo. No modelo sem variáveis de qualidade 14 deles foram considerados eficientes, enquanto que 33 no modelo com estas variáveis. O coeficiente de correlação de Spearman entre os dois modelos foi de 0,470 (correlação moderada). Não há evidências de que haja trade-off entre eficiência e qualidade nestas organizações hospitalares. Hospitais eficientes no modelo sem variáveis de qualidade, também o foram com variáveis de qualidade, assim como houve hospitais ineficientes no modelo sem variáveis de qualidade que foram eficientes com estas variáveis. Não foram encontradas associações estatisticamente significantes (p<0,05) entre eficiência e as características dos hospitais estudados, como acreditação, modelos de gestão, porte hospitalar e atividades de ensino, apesar de alguns achados de maior ou menor escore de eficiência para alguns determinantes. Desta maneira, concluiu-se que a utilização de variáveis de qualidade é um fator fundamental na determinação da eficiência de organizações de saúde, e não podem estar dissociadas. Gestões eficientes também estão relacionadas à obtenção de melhores resultados assistenciais sem a necessidade que se tenha de optar em alcançar melhores resultados econômico-financeiros ou melhores resultados assistenciais.