Decision support systems in water and wastewater treatment process selection and design: a review

The continuously changing drivers of the water treatment industry, embodied by rigorous environmental and health regulations and the challenge of emerging contaminants, necessitates the development of decision support systems for the selection of appropriate treatment trains. This paper explores a systematic approach to developing decision support systems, which includes the analysis of the treatment problem(s), knowledge acquisition and representation, and the identification and evaluation of criteria controlling the selection of optimal treatment systems. The objective of this article is to review approaches and methods used in decision support systems developed to aid in the selection, sequencing of unit processes and design of drinking water, domestic wastewater, and industrial wastewater treatment systems. Not surprisingly, technical considerations were found to dominate the logic of the developed systems. Most of the existing decision-support tools employ heuristic knowledge. It has been determined that there is a need to develop integrated decision support systems that are generic, usable and consider a system analysis approach.

Endometritis in she donkeys in Egypt

The endometrial necropsies of 165 she donkeys were examined and the endometria were classified into four grades according to histological features (I, IIa, IIb, III). Category I was observed in 86 cases (52.12%) and diagnosed as normal endometria. Category IIa was observed in 18 cases (10.91%) and diagnosed as slight endometritis. Category IIb was observed in 28 cases (16.97%) and diagnosed as moderate endometritis (two to four nests/field), while category III was observed in 33 cases (20%) and diagnosed as severe endometritis (eight nests/field). A bacteriological examination was carried out and oestrogen and progesterone were estimated. Our results indicate that endometritis and the prognosis of fertility in she donkeys were more or less parallel to mares.

Histopathological studies on neoplasms in the genital tract of female donkeys in Egypt

The genital tracts of 165 female donkeys were collected and examined with special concern to neoplasms. Ovarian Neoplasms were found in 12 cases (7.72%). A granulosa cell tumor was found in one case (0.61%). A cavernous haemangioma was found in 11 cases (6.67%). Uterine neoplasms were found in 14 cases (8.84%). Endometrial polyps and fibroleiomyoma were found in one case (0.61%) each. Leiomyoma was found in 2 cases (1.21%). Cavernous haemangioma was found in 10 cases (6.06%), and cervical polyps in 5 cases (3.03%).

Pathological and biochemical studies on experimental hypothyroidism in growing lambs

Secondary iodine deficiency was experimentally produced in growing male lambs by oral administration of 50 mg/kg bodyweight of Thiourea daily for 3.5 months. At the end of the experiment the animals became weak, emaciated, anaemic, significantly reduced in body weight with facial oedema and alopecia at thigh, legs and abdomen. The clinical analysis showed significant reduction in erythrocyte and leucocyte numbers and in levels of triiodothyronine and testosterone at the end of the experiment. The histopathological picture of the thyroid gland revealed hyperplasia of the follicle-lining epithelial cells which project into the lumen. The lumens of the follicles are devoid of colloid. The testes showed ill-developed small, empty seminiferous tubulcs. In the liver, the hepatocytes showed degeneration and vacuolation with proliferation of Kupffer cells, which contain haemosiderin pigment. The kidney showed glomerular lipidosis with accumulation of haemosiderin pigment in the cytoplasm of the renal tubules. Hyperkeratosis of the epidermis associated with excessive keratin formation within the hair follicles was detected. In conclusion, deficiency of iodine causes hypothyroidism which leads to retardation of growth, reduced wool production and interferes with sexual maturity of growing male lambs.