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The purpose of the study was to document and examine the experiences and perspectives of students and staff who were affected by the closure of Mount Rogers Combined School in 2010. Mount Rogers Combined School was established in Grayson County, Virginia, by the concerted efforts of volunteers and community members who valued education and considered schooling a top priority for the area. The original four-room school was built of rocks and housed grades 1 through 11, taught by four teachers, one of whom also served as the principal (Grayson County School Board [GCSB], 1993). In 1990, it was the smallest school in the Commonwealth of Virginia (United States Department of Agriculture, 1990). A review of early education in Virginia and early education in Grayson County is documented to place the study in historical context. A brief history of Grayson County is also included in this paper. The qualitative case study documents the experiences and perspectives of the students and staff who went through the school's closure. Both primary and secondary sources were used to complete the study including interviews of students and staff who worked at or attended the school, reviews of official records and documents found in archives, examination of personal manuscripts, inspection of artifacts, and study of general histories. School divisions close and consolidate schools to improve instructional programs for students, offset student enrollment declines, provide adequate facilities for learning, and for economic savings. Communication, developing relationships, transportation, extracurricular activities and course offerings are variables that should be considered when planning a school closure. While transportation and changes in relationships are particular challenges, the overall benefits for former staff members include better access to more resources and professional development opportunities. Former students tend to adapt better than staff members when schools close due to more course offerings and access to a broader range of extracurricular activities. The findings are aligned with the literature that was reviewed for the study. / Ed. D.

An investigation has been made to determine the effect of geometry on the performance of six collection troughs that served to collect and store grit captured by a model grit chamber. The grit employed was a 0.1mm sand fraction obtained by sieving and the width of the channel of the model grit chamber was 0.5 ft. Over a hundred experiments were performed which spanned a range of velocities of from 0.31 to 1.1 ft/sec and a range of depths of from 0.1 to 0.36 ft. The performance of the grit chamber - collection trough units was evaluated in terms of percentage grit capture under comparable flow conditions and observation of grit travel patterns. The results indicated that the performance of the troughs was influenced by the volume, the depth to length ratio and the slope of the upstream and downstream walls. High performance appeared to be induced by large volumes, moderate depth to length ratio, vertical upstream wall slope, and a downstream slope of 2 vertical to 1 horizontal. / M.S.

The liberalization of electricity markets and a growing penetration of renewables is changing operation of electrical grids. The boundary conditions for the operation of conventional power plants are changing and, as such, an improved understanding of the varying loads and prices on the electricity grid is required to assess the performance of emerging combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) concepts and to further optimize their design for these new markets in the pursuit of increasing their profitability, especially when considering combined heat and power (CHP). To increase the flexibility of CCGT-CHP plants, three new plant layouts have been investigated by integrating different storage concepts and heat pumps in key sections of the traditional plant layout. The present study analyses the influence that market has on determining the optimum CCGT-CHP plant layout that maximizes profits (in terms of plant configuration, sizing and operation strategies) for a given location nearby Turin, Italy, for which hourly electricity and heat prices, as well as meteorological data, have been gathered. A multi-parameter approach for design and operation was followed using KTH’s and EPS’ techno-economic modeling tool DYESOPT. Results are shown by means of a comparative analysis between optimal plants found for each layout and the state-of-the art CCGT-CHP. It is shown that a plant configuration in which a cold storage unit is integrated together with a heat pump at the inlet of the gas turbine unit increases the net present value of the plant by approximately 0.3% when compared against conventional plant layouts. Using the same concept with a heat pump alone can improve lifetime profitability by 1.6%. A layout where district heating supply water is preheated with a combination of a heat pump with hot thermal tank increases plant profitability by up to 0.5%. This work has been performed as part of the PUMP-HEAT project, an EU Horizon 2020 research project in which KTH collaborates with other 13 stakeholders including industry and research institutions. The results will directly influence future work of the project.

Aus der Einleitung: "Durch die Verwendung von Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung (KWK) kann sowohl die erzeugte elektrische als auch die anfallende thermische Energie genutzt und somit der Nutzungsgrad der eingesetzten Primärenergie deutlich gesteigert werden. Dieses Konzept wird sowohl in Blockheizkraftwerken (BHKW) wie auch in Range Extendern (RE) verwendet (Ferrari et al. 2012). Die bisher geringe Reichweite von Elektrofahrzeugen wird durch die zusätzlich vom RE bereitgestellte elektrische Energie erweitert. ..."

The subject of the thesis is the analysis of the intermodal connection between Czech Republic and the seaports. The importance of this connection for the Czech Republic as for an open economy with a large volume of international trade is undervalued. The connection between Czech Republic and the ports is mainly provided by the container combined transport road -- rail. It is necessary to pay attention to the development of this field as it has a potential to be the most effective way of transport considering both economical and environmental criteria. The aim of the thesis is to survey the issue of intermodal connection with the ports, to evaluate the current status and future development options, including the barriers to this development. The result of the thesis is an analyzed current situation: the ports to which Czech Republic is connected have been determined as well as the modes of transport and the key players on the Czech market that provide the shipping services to the ports. A significant part of attention is paid to METRANS, a.s. which is the leading provider of intermodal transport services between Czech republic and the ports. A major problem associated with the development of combined transport is the harmonization of the conditions between road and rail transport. There is one chapter of the thesis which is devoted to this issue. Thanks to the information obtained from companies operating in the intermodal transport business, it was possible to calculate the costs related to the transport of the consignment by road and rail route, to highlight the problems in the daily operation of combined transport, to identify the weaknesses that may hinder the development of the METRANS or to bring other real outcomes.

A LDE é uma nanoemulsão rica em colesterol com composição semelhante às lipoproteínas naturais. Devido a sua capacidade de ligação aos receptores da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) cuja expressão é aumentada em células neoplásicas, a LDE pode ser usada como veículo de agentes quimioterápicos concentrando os mesmos no tecido tumoral. A base racional da quimioterapia combinada é utilizar medicamentos que atuem em diferentes partes dos processos metabólicos da célula, aumentando dessa forma a probabilidade de destruição de uma maior quantidade de células tumorais. O principal fator limitante do uso combinado dos quimioterápicos paclitaxel e etoposídeo é o efeito mielossupressor. O direcionamento específico do fármaco às células tumorais promovido pela LDE, tornaria possível a terapia antitumoral combinada LDE-oleato de paclitaxel e LDEoleato de etoposídeo, sem produzir os efeitos colaterais observados com o uso combinado das formulações comerciais. O presente estudo tinha como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da terapia antitumoral combinada LDE-oleato de paclitaxel e LDEoleato de etoposídeo em comparação com a terapia dos respectivos fármacos isoladamente, bem como com a terapia combinada do paclitaxel e etoposídeo comerciais. A atividade antitumoral foi determinada em camundongos portadores de melanoma após a administração de intraperitoneal de LDE-oleato de paclitaxel 15 mg/kg e LDE-oleato de etoposídeo 10 mg/kg. Nos grupos dos fármacos comerciais injetou-se paclitaxel 3,75 mg/kg e etoposídeo 2,5 mg/Kg, ou paclitaxel 7,5 mg/Kg e etoposídeo 5 mg/kg. Os fármacos foram administrados em dois esquemas terapêuticos: 11º, 13º, 15º; e 11°, 14°, 19° dias após a inoculação do tumor. Todos os grupos apresentaram aumento na taxa de sobrevida em comparação ao grupo controle. Por outro lado, nos grupos LDE-fármacos foi observada uma redução dos efeitos de mielossupressão, visto que as doses administradas nestes grupos foram 2 e 4 vezes maiores do que nos demais. Os tratamentos do melanoma nos dois protocolos terapêuticos mostraram-se eficazes na redução da massa tumoral, sendo seu efeito inibitório acima de 90% nos grupos LDE-fármacos e na combinação dos quimioterápicos comerciais de maior dose. O número de metástases foi menor nos grupos de combinação LDE-Fármacos. Os resultados mostraram que a terapia antitumoral combinada LDE-oleato de paclitaxel e LDE-oleato de etoposídeo foi mais eficaz que as terapias isoladas destes fármacos e que a terapia combinada com o paclitaxel e etoposídeo comerciais. / LDE is a cholesterol-rich emulsion with similar composition to the natural lipoproteins. Due to its ability of binding to the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and concentrate in neoplastic cells which present overexpression of these receptors, LDE may be used as vehicle to target antineoplastic drugs against cancer cells. Combined chemotherapy is a therapeutic strategy against cancer that usually uses drugs that act in different parts of cells metabolism, increasing the chances of destruction of the cancer cells. In addition, adverse effects can be reduced when combining agents with different toxicities at lower doses than the usual in single therapy. The major limiting factor in combining the chemotherapeutic agents paclitaxel and etoposide is their side effects such as leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. The ability of LDE to carry the drug into the cell may bring a strong possibility of combining LDE- paclitaxel oleate and LDE-etoposide oleate without producing the toxic effects observed in the combined use of the commercial formulations of these drugs. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of combined antitumoral therapy of LDE- paclitaxel oleate and LDE-etoposide oleate in comparison to the combination of commercial paclitaxel and etoposide formulations and to the single therapy with the same LDEagents. Antitumoral activity was determined in melanoma-bearing mice after injection of LDE-paclitaxel oleate 15 mg/kg and LDE-etoposide oleate 10 mg/kg, or commercial paclitaxel 3.75 mg/kg and etoposide 2.5 mg/kg, or commercial paclitaxel 7,5 mg/kg and etoposide 5 mg/kg. Drugs were administered in two protocols: 11º, 13º, 15º; and 11°, 14°, 19° days after tumor implantation. All groups had an increase in the survival rate in comparison to the control group, however LDE combination groups showed reduction in the bone marrow toxicity, since the doses used were 2 and 4 fold greater that in the commercial drugs groups. The tumor growth inhibition rate was greater in both LDE-drugs combination groups and in the higher dosage of paclitaxel and etoposide combination (over 90% in comparisson to the control). There were also great reduction of metastatic nodes in LDE-drugs combination groups in comparison to the commercial drugs combination groups. Our results showed that the antitumor combined therapy of LDE-paclitaxel oleate and LDE-etoposide oleate was more effective than the therapies with LDE-paclitaxel oleate and LDE-etoposide oleate alone, and the combined therapy of commercial paclitaxel and etoposide formulations.

Os sistemas combinados anaeróbio/aeróbio, para tratamento de água residuária, têm sido considerados alternativas viáveis do ponto de vista técnico-econômico em relação aos sistemas tradicionais. Este trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento de nova configuração para um sistema, com dois reatores operados seqüencialmente, composto por Reator Misto Radial de Leito Fixo para tratamento e nitrificação de esgoto sanitário e Reator Anóxico Horizontal de Leito Fixo para desnitrificação da água residuária. O RMRLF mostrou ser uma configuração promissora, promoveu a remoção de matéria orgânica, favoreceu a transferência de oxigênio dissolvido devido à distribuição das espumas em seções circuncêntricas, obteve boa nitrificação e possibilitou a desnitrificação simultânea com a nitrificação. O RAHLFa obteve baixa eficiência no processo de desnitrificação. O bom desempenho do sistema é decorrente, principalmente, da operação do RMRLF e apresentou eficiências de 88%, 86% e 95% na remoção de matéria orgânica em termos de demanda química de oxigênio, retenção de sólidos suspensos voláteis e nitrificação, respectivamente. O efluente final do sistema atingiu valores de demanda química de oxigênio, sólidos suspensos voláteis, nitrito e nitrato de 41 mg.l-1, 8 mg.l-1, 0,3 mg.l-1 e 16,7 mg.l-1, respectivamente. No efluente final não foi detectada a presença de nitrogênio amoniacal. / The combined, anaerobic/aerobic systems for wastewater treatment, are considered as possible alternatives from the technical-economical perspective, in relation to the traditional systems. The data obtained on the development and operation of a new system configuration of two reactor sequentially operated, composed of a Radial Flow Anaerobic/Aerobic Immobilized Biomass reactor (RFAAIB) for domestic sewage treatment and a Horizontal-flow Anoxic Immobilized Biomass (HAIBa) for wastewater denitrification are presented. The RFAAIB reactor was found to be a very promising configuration for promoting the organic matter removal, due to its round shape distribution of the foam matrix it favored the dissolved oxygen transfer, obtaining good nitrification and making possible to achieve simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The HAIBa reactor obtained low efficiency in the denitrification process. The good system performance is mainly due to the RFAAIB reactor it achieved efficiency of 88%, 86% and 95% in the biochemical oxygen demand reduction process, volatile suspended solids retention and nitrification, respectively. The system final effluent achieved chemical oxygen demand, volatile suspended solids, nitrite and nitrate values of 41 mg.l-1, 8 mg.l-1, 0,3 mg.l-1 and 16,7 mg.l-1, respectively. In the final effluent no ammonium nitrogen was detected.

L’optimisation du système d’assainissement et la réduction des rejets d’eaux résiduaires urbaines non traitées est devenue un enjeu majeur pour de nombreuses collectivités dans le but d’atteindre les objectifs de qualité des milieux aquatiques fixés par la Directive Cadre européenne sur l’Eau (DCE 2000/60/CE). Pour cela, une parfaite connaissance du système d’assainissement est nécessaire. L’objectif de cette thèse, financée par la CDAPP et l’Agence de l’Eau Adour Garonne, était l’étude de la dynamique du système d’assainissement de la CDAPP et de sa contribution sur les flux de polluants dans le milieu récepteur (le Gave de Pau). La première étape du travail a été consacrée à la caractérisation hydraulique et physicochimique du système d’assainissement par temps sec et par temps de pluie. Une étude hydraulique a été tout d’abord réalisée et a permis de mieux appréhender la dynamique des déversements via les déversoirs d’orage (DO) en fonction de la nature des évènements pluvieux. D’autre part, la caractérisation physico chimique des eaux usées (matières en suspension ou MES, demande chimique en oxygène ou DCO, métaux, hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques) a mis en évidence que pour l’ensemble de ces paramètres, une nette augmentation des flux par temps de pluie était observée en particulier en début d’événement (augmentation d’un facteur de 2 à 10). Ce phénomène s’explique par l’apport de polluant par les eaux de ruissellement et l’érosion des dépôts accumulés par temps sec dans les réseaux. Seul l’azote total se comporte différemment puisqu’il est majoritairement présent sous forme dissoute. Afin de mieux appréhender la dynamique des paramètres polluants réglementaires (MES, DCO et azote), un suivi haute fréquence (au pas de temps de cinq minutes) a été mis en place durant un an à l’aide de sondes de turbidité et de conductivité. Ce suivi en continu constitue la troisième partie de ce travail. Des corrélations (r² ≈ 0,9) ont été établies entre d’une part, les paramètres polluants DCO et MES, et la turbidité et d’autre part, entre la conductivité et l’azote total. Ces enregistrements ont permis une meilleure compréhension du fonctionnement du système d’assainissement : mise en évidence du phénomène de first flush, estimation des flux polluants déversés via les DO, étude des phénomènes de stockage dans les réseaux. La dernière partie de cette thèse vise à l’étude de la contribution des rejets d’assainissement dans le milieu récepteur. Elle a permis de démontrer la contribution modérée du rejet de sortie de STEP (entre 1 et 15 %) par temps sec. Par temps de pluie, la contribution du système d’assainissement via les DO est extrêmement variable suivant les conditions hydro-climatiques (de < 1 % à plus de 50 %). Ce travail a permis d’une part d’apporter des résultats utilisables par le gestionnaire de l’assainissement pour optimiser la gestion des eaux usées de la CDAPP. D’autre part, ce travail apporte des résultats plus fondamentaux relatifs à une meilleure connaissance de la dynamique hydrologique et physicochimique des eaux résiduaires urbaines et des polluants associés tels que la mise en évidence, à l’aide d’outils statistiques, des paramètres influençant les déversements et les concentrations en polluants par temps de pluie. / Optimization of sewer system and reduction of untreated wastewater discharges has become a key issue for many communities in order to achieve the good quality of aquatic environments set by the European Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60/EC). For this, a perfect knowledge of sanitation is required. The objective of this thesis, funded by CDAPP and Adour Garonne Water Agency, was the study of the dynamics of the CDAPP sanitation and its contribution to the pollutants fluxes in the receiving environment (the river Gave de Pau). The first step of the work was devoted to the hydraulic and physicochemical wastewater characterization during dry and wet weather. A hydraulic study was first carried and helped to better understand the dynamics of discharges through the combined sewer overflow (CSO) according to the rainfall events characteristics. On the other hand, the physico-chemical characterization of wastewater (suspended solids or TSS, chemical oxygen demand or COD, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) showed that for all these parameters, a clear increase of pollutant fluxes was observed at the beginning of the rainfall event (increase by a factor of 2 to 10). This phenomenon is explained by the runoff contribution and erosion of sediments accumulated in the networks during dry weather periods. Only total nitrogen behaves differently because it’s mostly dissolved. To better understand the dynamics of pollutants parameters (TSS, COD and nitrogen), high frequency monitoring (every five minutes) has been established for one year with turbidity and conductivity sensors. This continuous monitoring is the third part of this work. Correlation functions (r² ≈ 0.9) were found between, the pollutant parameters COD and TSS, and turbidity, and secondly, between conductivity and total nitrogen. These records allowed a better understanding of sanitation system: highlighting the first flush phenomenon, estimation of pollutant loads discharged by CSO, study of storage networks phenomenon. The last part of this thesis aims to study the contribution of wastewater discharges to the receiving environment. It demonstrated the moderate contribution of rejection output STEP (between 1% and 15%) in dry weather. In rainy weather, the contribution of sanitation through CSO is extremely variable depending on the hydro-climatic conditions (<1% to over than 50%). This work has led to provide usable results for the sanitation manager to optimize CDAPP wastewater treatment. Moreover, this work provides most fundamental results for a better understanding of the hydrological and physicochemical dynamics of urban wastewater and associated pollutants such as highlighting, using statistical tools, the parameters influencing pollutant concentrations during rainfall events.