Le phénotypage consiste à caractériser les plantes et leur comportement en vue de la sélection génétique. Cette étude a évalué le potentiel de l'imagerie hyperspectrale de proximité pour répondre à ces besoins. Elle s'appuie sur le lien existant entre la physiologie des plantes et leurs propriétés optiques. Cette étude a montré qu'il est possible de retrouver la réflectance des feuilles en dépit d'un éclairage naturel variable. La procédure de correction mise en place permet de retrouver la réflectance vraie de feuilles à plat et introduit un effet additif (dû à la réflexion spéculaire), un effet multiplicatif (dû au niveau d'éclairement) et un effet non linéaire (dû aux réflexions multiples) sur les feuilles inclinées des plantes au champ. Cependant, nous avons montré également que, grâce à des pré-traitements des spectres adéquats et à la PLS (Partial Least Square regression), la concentration en azote est accessible à partir de la réflectance (400-1000~nm) de feuilles fraîches sur pied. L'étude de spectres simulés a montré que la non prise en compte des réflexions multiples dans l'étalonnage d'un modèle conduisait à une surestimation de la concentration en azote des feuilles subissant des réflexions multiples. Enfin, cette étude a illustré l'intérêt de l'imagerie hyperspectrale de proximité par rapport à la spectrométrie ponctuelle. Le fait d'avoir une image, combiné à la haute résolution spatiale permet d'obtenir des données plus représentatives de la parcelle et de calculer une vitesse de fermeture de couvert. La réalisation de cartographies d'azote permet de suivre la concentration en azote dans différents étages foliaires ou parties d'une même feuille. / Henotyping consists in characterising plants and their behavior with the aim of the genetic selection. This study estimated the potential of the close-range hyperspectral imaging to meet these needs. It leans on the link existing between plant physiology and their optical properties. This study showed that it is possible to find leaf reflectance in spite of a variable natural lighting. The developed correction procedure allows finding the true reflectance of flat leaves and introduces an additive effect (due to specular reflection), a multiplicative effect (due to illumination level) and a not linear effect (due to the multiple reflections) on inclinated leaves of plants in the field. However, we also showed that, thanks to adequate preprocessing of the spectra and to PLS (Partial Least Square regression), the nitrogen concentration is accessible from the reflectance (400-1000~nm) of fresh leaves on standing plants. The study of simulated spectra showed that the not consideration of the multiple reflections in the calibration of a model lead to an overestimation of the nitrogen concentration leaves undergoing multiple reflections. Finally, this study illustrated the interest of close-range hyperspectral imaging with regard to the punctual spectrometry. The fact of having an image, combined with the high spatial resolution allows to obtain more representative data of the plot and to calculate a speed of cover closure. Nitrogen mappings allow following the nitrogen concentration in various leaf level or parts of the same leaf.

Quelque soit la zone de culture, l'anacardier (Anacardium occidentale L.) est essentiellement cultivé pour la production de noix de cajou, filière d'une grande importance socio-économique notamment au Brésil. Le jus de cajou est un produit secondaire qui résulte du pressage du pédoncule hypertrophié de la noix appelé pomme de cajou (pseudo-fruit). Le traitement des pommes engendre de grands volumes de déchets solides qui sont soit mis en décharge, soit utilisés pour l'alimentation animale. Dans ce contexte, le travail a pour objectif de proposer et d'évaluer un nouveau procédé permettant d'accroître la valeur ajoutée de ce sous-produit en extrayant les caroténoïdes qu'il contient. Le procédé comporte 3 opérations successives : une extraction par pressage associée à une macération enzymatique, une concentration à froid de l'extrait par microfiltration tangentielle et une purification par diafiltration. La première opération a été optimisée à l'aide de 2 plans d'expériences : un plan de criblage de facteurs de Plackett-Burmam (matrice de Hadamard) pour sélectionner les paramètres opératoires les plus influents suivi d'un plan central composite pour les optimiser. La dose de pectinase utilisée durant la macération et la force appliquée lors du pressage sont les paramètres les plus influents sur le profil caroténoïdique de l'extrait. De fortes doses de pectinase associées à une force de pressage élevée permettent d'obtenir à la fois un extrait plus riche en caroténoïdes et une meilleure densité de flux de perméat en microfiltration. L'utilisation de plusieurs cycles successifs de pressage permet d'augmenter les teneurs en caroténoïdes de l'extrait mais augmente également son pouvoir colmatant en microfiltration. L'étude de la concentration de l'extrait par microfiltration tangentielle a montré qu'il est possible d'atteindre un facteur de réduction volumique (FRV) de 20 en maintenant des densité de flux de perméat supérieures à 100 L.h-1.m-2. Les caroténoïdes sont concentrés à hauteur du FRV choisi (jusqu'à 20 fois). La diafiltration a permis de purifier 5 fois les caroténoïdes par rapport à la matière sèche. Un modèle simple basé sur des bilans matières pour prévoir l'impact du FRV et du diavolume sur la composition de l'extrait a été développé et validé. L'extrait final obtenu présente une teneur en caroténoïdes de 70 mg.kg-1. Parmi les 11 molécules identifiées par HPLC-DAD, les caroténoïdes majoritaires sont les isomères cis et trans de l'auroxanthine, la β-cryptoxanthine et le β-carotène. Les extraits finaux obtenus se présentent sous forme de liquides visqueux de couleur jaune intense, faciles à disperser dans l'eau. Ils possèdent un fort potentiel d'utilisation dans la formulation des aliments comme colorant naturel. / Whatever is the area of plantation, cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is grown primarily for the production of nuts, a supply chain that has great socioeconomic importance, especially in Brazil. The cashew juice is a by-product that results from pressing the nut hypertrophied peduncle, known as cashew apple, a juicy pseudo fruit. Peduncle processing generates large volumes of industrial solid waste that are usually discarded or sometimes used as animal feed. In this context, this work aimed to propose and evaluate a new process that provides an added value to this industrial byproduct, extracting carotenoids that were contained therein. The process comprised three successive operations: an extraction by pressing associated to an enzymatic maceration, a cold concentration of the extract by crossflow microfiltration and a purification by diafiltration. The first operation was optimized with the use of two experimental designs: a Plackett-Burmam (Hadamard matrix) plan for factors screening to select the most influential operating parameters, followed by a central composite design for optimization. The dose of pectinase used during maceration and the applied force used during the pressing operation were the most influential parameters on the carotenoid extract profile. High doses of pectinase associated with a high pressing force led to a richer carotenoid extract and enhanced the permeate flux in microfiltration. The use of several successive cycles of compression increased the carotenoid content of the extract but also increased its fouling properties during microfiltration. The extract concentration by crossflow microfiltration study showed that it was possible to reach values of volumetric reduction ratio (VRR) of about 20, maintaining the permeate flux above 100 Lh-1.m-2. The carotenoids were concentrated in the same levels of FRV (up to 20 times). The diafiltration allowed purification of carotenoids 5 times in relation to the dry matter. A simple model, based on a mass balance to predict the impact of VRR and diavolume on the extract composition was developed and validated. The final extract obtained presented a carotenoid content of 70 mg.kg-1. Among the 11 compounds identified by HPLC-DAD, the main carotenoids were cis and trans isomers of auroxanthine, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene. The final extracts obtained were in the form of viscous liquids of a yellow intense color, and easily dispersed in water. These concentrates have a strong potential for use in the formulation of foods and beverages as a natural dye.

La pomme de cajou est une matière première qui n'est pas exploitée en Côte d'Ivoire alors qu'elle présente un potentiel nutritionnel important. Dans ce contexte, l'étude réalisée s'intéresse à la valorisation des pommes de cajou en jus de fruit. En partant du jus brut de pommes de cajou, il s'agit d'étudier un procédé qui couple plusieurs techniques membranaires pour la production de jus clarifiés et concentrés. Les températures modérées de traitement doivent permettre une meilleure préservation du potentiel vitaminique et sensoriel de la matière première. Les deux variétés de pommes de cajou étudiées sont riches en acide ascorbique (1,2 g.kg-1) et en composés phénoliques (2,9 g.kg-1). Avec un rendement optimal de 82%, l'extraction du jus par pression ne génère pas de dégradation significative des composés d'intérêt. Toutefois, certains d'entre eux se répartissent différemment dans le jus et les tourteaux de presse. Parmi les 50 composés d'arôme identifiés dans le jus de fruit, les esters sont quantitativement les plus abondants. Le traitement du jus de pomme de cajou par microfiltration tangentielle sur membranes tubulaires minérales (0,2 µm, 35 °C) permet de clarifier le produit sans altérer sa teneur en acide ascorbique. La forte rétention des composés phénoliques en diminue l'astringence. Le prétraitement par liquéfaction enzymatique modifie les caractéristiques du jus et permet d'améliorer les performances de la filtration. Certaines des préparations enzymatiques testées présentent un effet synergique sur les densités de flux de perméat (Jp). Lors de la validation du procédé à l'échelle semi-industrielle, des Jp voisines de 70 L.h-1.m-2 ont été obtenues à FRV 8. Les performances sont toutefois très variables d'un jus à l'autre et ne sont pas liées aux caractéristiques des jus mesurées. Les tests classiques de filtrabilité (résistance spécifique en filtration frontale et temps de succion capillaire) ne permettent pas non plus de prévoir le pouvoir colmatant des jus en microfiltration tangentielle. Une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes qui régissent le colmatage membranaire est indispensable pour développer un outil prévisionnel à ce niveau. La nanofiltration tangentielle et l'osmose inverse ont été ensuite utilisées pour pré-concentrer 2,5 à 3 fois le jus clarifié. L'osmose inverse présente l'avantage de retenir totalement les principaux solutés pour une consommation énergétique comparable à celle de la nanofiltration. Enfin, l'évaporation osmotique a permis de concentrer le jus clarifié environ 6 fois sans en altérer la couleur et en préservant plus de 90 % de l'acide ascorbique. Comparé à des concentrés de référence traités par évaporation sous-vide, le concentré obtenu présente un profil aromatique moins altéré. Au final, l'intérêt du procédé proposé est donc vérifié en terme de qualité nutritionnelle et organoleptique. En vue d'une application industrielle, son évaluation économique reste toutefois indispensable / The cashew apple is a raw material which is not exploited in Côte d'Ivoire though it has an important nutritional potential. In this context, the study dealt with the processing of the cashew apple in fruit juice. Starting from the raw juice of cashew apples, a new process that coupled several membrane technologies was proposed for the production of clarified and concentrated juice. Moderate temperatures of treatment should allow a better preservation of the vitamins and sensory potential of the raw material. Both varieties of cashew apples studied were rich in ascorbic acid (1.2 g.kg-1) and phenolic compounds (2.9 g.kg-1). With an 82 percent optimum yield, juice extraction by pressure did not generate significant degradation of the compounds of interest. However, some of them are distributed differently in the juice and the press cake. Among the 50 aroma compounds identified in the fruit juice, the esters were the most abundant. Treatment of cashew apple juice by cross-flow microfiltration on inorganic tubular membranes (0.2 µm, 35 °C), clarified the product without altering its ascorbic acid content. The high retention of phenolic compounds decreased astringency. Pretreatment with enzymatic liquefaction of juice improved the performance of the filtration. Some of the enzyme preparations tested exhibited a synergistic effect on the permeate flux (Jp). During the validation of the process at semi-industrial scale, Jp of 70 Lh-1.m-2 was obtained using a volumetric reduction ratio of 8. However, performances were highly variable from one juice to another and were not related to the measured characteristics of juice. Classical tests of filterability (specific resistance in dead-end filtration and capillary suction time) did not predict the fouling properties of juices in cross-flow microfiltration. A better understanding of the fouling phenomena is absolutely necessary to develop new predictive tests filtrability. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis were then used to pre-concentrate 2.5 to 3 times the clarified juice. Reverse osmosis allowed to retain entirely the major solutes with an energy consumption very close to nanofiltration. Finally, the clarified juice was concentrated 6 times using osmotic evaporation without altering the color and preserving more than 90% of ascorbic acid. Compared to standard concentrates treated by vacuum evaporation, the concentrate obtained has a less altered flavor profile. The interest of the suggested process was verified in terms of nutritional and sensorial quality. Its economic assessment remains essential for industrial application.

Le concept de vigilance entrepreneuriale introduit par Kirzner (1973) joue un rôle clé dans le processus de détection d’opportunités d’affaires. Depuis les travaux conduits par l’école autrichienne, ce concept a été largement développé et a soulevé un certain nombre de questionnements par les chercheurs. L’approche cognitive a permis d’apporter quelques éléments de réponses en affinant le concept. En s’inspirant des travaux initiaux de Kirzner (1973, 1989) et de ceux de l’approche cognitiviste, Tang et al. (2012) ont proposé une nouvelle définition plus intégratrice. Ces auteurs ont modélisé et opérationnalisé la vigilance entrepreneuriale autour de trois dimensions : la veille et la recherche d’informations, la capacité à faire des associations et des connexions entre les informations, et celle de les évaluer et de les juger. La question des antécédents potentiels de la vigilance entrepreneuriale restait en suspens (Valliere, 2013). En réponse à la remarque de Valliere (2013) et aux besoins de connaissances et de statistiques du champ de la santé entrepreneuriale, nous avons étudié les effets du sommeil sur ce processus. À cet effet, la théorie de l’attention a permis de faire des liens entre les champs de l’entrepreneuriat et du sommeil. Afin de répondre à la problématique, une posture positiviste, associée à un mode de raisonnement hypothético-déductif, a été adoptée. Treize hypothèses de recherche ont été proposées à partir desquelles le modèle conceptuel a été construit. Afin de le valider, une étude quantitative en coupe instantanée de deux mois a été conduite auprès de dirigeants de PME. À l’issue de cette enquête, 238 questionnaires ont été récoltés. Ces derniers ont été analysés par la méthode des équations structurelles basée sur les moindres carrés partiels (PLS). Les résultats soulignent l’importance du sommeil dans le maintien des capacités cognitives, attentionnelles et entrepreneuriales pour un dirigeant de PME. / The concept of entrepreneurial alertness introduced by Kirzner (1973) plays a critical role in the process of business opportunities detection. Since the work conducted by the Austrian school, this concept has been widely developed and has raised numerous questions by researchers. The cognitive approach has pointed to some answers by refining the concept. Inspired by the initial work of Kirzner (1973, 1989) and those conducted by the cognitive approach, Tang et al. (2012) proposed a more inclusive definition. These authors modeled and operationalized entrepreneurial alertness by three dimensions: alert scanning and search, alert association and connection and evaluation and judgment. The issue of potential antecedents of entrepreneurial alertness remained unresolved (Valliere, 2013). In response to the comments of Valliere (2013) and the entrepreneurial health field’s needs for knowledge and statistics, we proposed to study the effects of sleep on this process. To this end, the theory of attention allowed to make the links between the fields of entrepreneurship and sleep. To meet the problematic, a positivist posture associated with a hypothetical-deductive approach was adopted. Thirteen research hypotheses were proposed from the conceptual model was built. To validate this model, a cross sectional quantitative study of two months was conducted among SME owners/directors. At the end of this survey, we collected 238 questionnaires. These were analyzed by the structural equation method based on Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results highlight the importance of sleep in maintaining cognitive, attentional and entrepreneurial abilities for SME owners/directors.

Este trabalho apresenta a rota de concentração de manganês através da flotação reversa de caulinita, presente na forma de ganga, em um rejeito proveniente do beneficiamento de minério manganês do Azul. Tem-se como objetivo o desenvolvimento da rota de concentração por flotação de finos de manganês através de coletores e depressores que conduzem a separação seletiva entre os minerais de manganês e de ganga, o que, possivelmente, contribuirá para o processamento de minérios atualmente considerados como marginais, aumentando a vida útil de reservas existentes e futuras, e promovendo o aproveitamento de minérios finos de manganês depositados em barragens. Inicialmente, realizou-se o estudo de caracterização mineralógica, subsidiando os estudos de flotação em bancada na definição da rota de concentração. Verificou-se que o rejeito é composto por caulinita (71% em massa) e, em menor proporção, por criptomelana-holandita (17% em massa). A caulinita apresenta liberação global de 88%, e os óxidos de manganês apresentam liberação de 52%, com aumento para os finos, sendo um aluminossilicato comum nos minérios brasileiros. Tendo em vista a tendência de exaustão dos minérios ricos, é quase inevitável o aumento da relevância de operações unitárias complementares de concentração no beneficiamento de minérios que serão explotados nas próximas décadas. Neste contexto, esta dissertação antecipa uma necessidade da indústria mineral. Estudos de flotação em escala de bancada, com amostras previamente deslamadas em 10 m, foram realizados para a definição da rota de concentração. A melhor condição obtida para a concentração foi a de flotação catiônica reversa a 20% de sólidos, em pH>10, usando como depressor fubá ou Fox Head G2241 (na concentração 227 mg/L ou 900 g/t) para a depressão dos minerais de manganês e o coletor amido-amina Flotigam 5530 (na concentração 1.360 mg/L ou 5.333 g/t.). No que diz respeito à cinética de flotação, após o condicionamento com os reagentes, o tempo de flotação do estágio rougher deve ser de 5-6 minutos, e do estágio scavenger-1, de 6 minutos, sem adição de reagentes. Os concentrados dessa 1ª etapa, após o condicionamento com o depressor (amido ou Fox Head na concentração de ~90 mg/L ou ~500 g/t) e o coletor (Flotigam 5530 ou Lilaflot 811M na concentração de ~364 mg/L ou ~2030 g/t) em pH>10, devem alimentar uma 2ª etapa, composta por um estágio cleaner realizado em 6 minutos, produzindo uma espuma que alimentará o próximo estágio, o scavenger-2. Este deverá ser flotado por 4 minutos, sem adição de reagentes. O estudo com reagentes indicou que o Fox Head G2241 e o fubá apresentam desempenhos semelhantes, e podem ser usados como depressores dos minerais de manganês. Em relação ao coletor catiônico, o coletor do tipo amido-amina (Flotigam 5530) é o mais indicado, pois apresentou melhores resultados de recuperação metalúrgica comparativamente à éter amina Lilaflot 811M. O rejeito, composto por caulinita e outros minerais argilosos apresenta notável capacidade de alterar as propriedades reológicas da polpa de flotação, prejudicando a mistura dos reagentes, influenciando a cinética de flotação e tornando extremamente relevante a realização da flotação em baixo percentual de sólidos (20% de sólidos). / This paper presents the route of manganese concentration through the process of reverse flotation of kaolinite present in the tailings from the ore beneficiation of Manganese taken from the \'Mina Azul\' mine located in Para Brazil. This research aims to develop a route of fine manganese concentration by flotation through the study of collectors and corn starch, that conduct the selective separation between the manganese minerals and gangue, This process could possibly contribute to the beneficiation of ores currently deemed marginal and consequently extend the useful life of existing and future reserves, as well as, make viable the exploitation of the fine manganese ores deposited in dams. Initially studies of mineralogy were conducted in order to obtain grants for laboratory scale flotation studies on the definition of the concentration route, where the waste is mainly composed of kaolinite (71 wt%) and smaller proportions of cryptomelane - holandita (17 wt%) . Where kaolinite presents a global liberation of 88 % manganese oxides present a global release of 52 %, increasing the fine. The growing increase in the ore presented as a kaolinite contaminant motivated the execution of this research which focuses on the concentration of manganese ore tailings and evaluates several types of reagents, some already presented in the literature and others suggested in this dissertation. Kaolinite is an aluminosilicate common in Brazilian ores and considering the tendency for the exhaustion of rich ores it is almost inevitable that additional unit concentrations should be increasingly relevant in the beneficiation of ores to be exploited in the coming decades, this dissertation anticipates the future needs of the mineral industry. Flotation Studies on a laboratory scale with samples which had previously undergone 10m desliming were performed in order to define the concentration route where the best condition was obtained for the concentration of cationic reverse flotation at 20 % solids at pH > 10 using as a depressant ( or Starch Fox Head G2241 227 mg / L or 900 g / t ) for depression of the minerals manganese, collector and starch - amine ( 5530 Flotigam 1.360 mg / L and 5.333 g / t). With regard to the kinetics of flotation, after conditioning with reagents, the time of the rougher flotation stage should be 5-6 minutes and the scavenger1 - should be 6 minutes, without the addition of reagents. The concentrates during this 1st step, after conditioning with depressant ( starch or Fox Head on the concentration of ~ 90 mg / L or ~ 500 g / t ) and collector ( Flotigam Lilaflot 811m in 5530 or concentration of ~ 364 mg / L or ~ 2030 g / t ) at pH > 10 should feed a 2nd stage consisting of a cleaning process. This in turn is followed by a scavenger-2 stage, where the cleaner flotation should be performed for 6 minutes, producing a foam which feeds the scavenger- 2 stage. It should be floated for 4 minutes without the addition of reagents. The study of reagents indicated that the Fox Head G2241 and corn have a similar performance and can be used as manganese mineral depressants, while in relation to the cationic collector starch - amine (Flotigam 5530) is the most suitable collector reagent. This is because it provided higher metallurgical recovery compared to 811m Lilaflot ether amine. The waste is composed predominantly of kaolinite, thus like other clay minerals it shows a remarkable ability to change the rheological properties of the flotation pulp thus damaging the mixing of the reactants and influencing the kinetics of flotation. This consequently makes it extremely relevant to the achievement of the flotation with 20% of solids.

In this study, we developed and standardized a sanding method to evaluate the emission of airborne particles from products that contain carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under different conditions, including three types of sandpaper and three sanding disc speed. We also characterized the emission of the airborne particles from one neat epoxy test sample, four CNTs-incorporating test samples with different CNTs loading, and two commercial products. The total number concentration, respirable mass concentration, and particle size number/mass distribution of the emitted particles were calculated and compared, followed by an electron microscopy (EM) analysis. These data suggest that the sanding process can produce substantial quantities of airborne particles. Also, the emission of airborne particles was associated with different test conditions. EM analysis of the airborne particle samples showed embedded CNTs protruding from the outer surface, which was different from CNTs-incorporating bulk material. Our study suggests a potential generation of particles during the life cycle event of sanding. Further studies should be carried out to investigate the potential human health hazard in other life cycle events.

A study of biosorption of cobalt metal by Pseudomonas Aerguinosa gram-negative bacterial strain is presented. The present study is carried out to determine the optimum conditions of cobalt biosorption at ultra-low concentration (ppb range) in aqueous solutions. The receptiveness of cobalt metal on the extracellular surface of bacterial strain was examined by varying the pH, Initial concentration of metal and treatment time. Experimental data showed that effect of pH and treatment time is prevalent in biosorption of cobalt and by increasing both these parameters resulted in the efficient sorption of cobalt on the extracellular surface of Pseudomonas Aerguinosa. In some cases, higher initial concentration of cobalt resulted in higher metal removal. However, there is no clear relationship is obtained between efficiency of biosorption and initial concentration of cobalt.

<p>Huvudsyftet med studien var att undersöka vilka faktorer som upplevs påverka skidskyttars koncentration positivt och negativt. Vidare undersöktes även...</p>

A major upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant in Saskatoon, Canada significantly improved the final effluent quality. Consequently, the relative impact of the citys urban runoff on the receiving stream, the South Saskatchewan River, has increased. Moreover, at the inception of the study, pending amendments to provincial legislation governing urban runoff were such that urban runoff would no longer be automatically exempt from regulation. In response to this impending change, which has since been made, Saskatchewan Environment initiated a study to examine the water quality of the urban runoff in Saskatoon, because little had been done to date involving the water quality of urban runoff in Saskatchewan.<p>The field program was conducted in 2001 and 2002 to collect representative urban runoff water quality and flow rate data from four different land uses: newer residential, older residential, commercial, and industrial. Three characterizations of the water quality were developed on the basis of the data collected: Site Mean Concentration (SMC), multiple variable regression models, and the unit load. The SMC results indicate that the average water quality parameter concentrations in Saskatoon are greater than those from NURP, the updated U.S. nationwide urban runoff database, and from Vancouver, Canada, but are similar to those from Wisconsin. The regression analyses indicate that the rainfall depth is the most frequently significant parameter in the prediction of event loads. The unit load analyses indicate that the commercial catchment produces the most pollutant load per unit area. Comparison of the methods indicates that the SMC can be used to estimate longer term urban runoff loads, in lieu of the more complex regression method.<p>Heavy metals, pesticides, and fecal coliforms were detected in the urban runoff at concentrations that exceed guideline values. Further investigation is recommended.<p>In comparison to the loads discharged by local point sources, urban runoff contributes larger total suspended solids (TSS) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) loads to the South Saskatchewan River. The load of COD to the river is comparable to that of the Saskatoon Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The total phosphorus load contributed by urban runoff is slightly smaller than that of the WWTP. Considering the relative load of TSS from urban runoff to the WWTP and the potential for other, more toxic pollutants to adsorb to the TSS, sediment controls should be implemented at all levels of development. Further examination of urban runoff with specific emphasis on spring and winter runoff is recommended.

Concentration problems have been discussed from a variety of angles and have been problemized in different ways. One approach is to place the major part of the problem on the child independent of its environment. The terms used as an explanatory model are “attention disorder, impulsiveness, difficulty at finding suitable activity levels, difficulty in understanding rules and instructions” (Kadesjö 2007). Others place the root of the problem in the environment prevalent at pre-school and school. In this case the prevailing arguments are aimed at the pedagogical environment and the organisation of time and space (Nordin-Hultman 2005). My experience is that independent of reasons these children struggle, but often feel quite inadequate. The aim of this study is to examine how special pedagogues argue and problemize the concept of concentration difficulties. I also want to examine if there is anyway to reason and act in a way which will aid children with concentration difficulties, what that work would be and how a pedagogue can be a resource. The main result of my study is that the concentration problems found among the individuals I examined are relatively common in pre-school and school. The results regarding attitude and pedagogical methods can be summarized by the concept that pedagogical methods should be adapted to the individual.