Uniformity in the Wiener-Wintner theorem for nilsequences

We prove a uniform extension of the Wiener-Wintner theorem for nilsequences due to Host and Kra and a nilsequence extension of the topological Wiener-Wintner theorem due to Assani. Our argument is based on (vertical) Fourier analysis and a Sobolev embedding theorem.Comment: v3: 18 p., proof that the cube construction produces compact homogeneous spaces added, measurability issues in the proof of Theorem 1.5 addressed. We thank the anonymous referees for pointing out these gaps in v

Pretreatment of secondary effluents in view of optimal ozone-based AOP removal of trace organic contaminants : bench-scale comparison of efficiency and energy consumption

This study compares the performance of several ozone-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), in combination with filtration, in terms of trace organic contaminant (TrOC) removal efficiency and energy and cost requirement. It was shown that the hydroxyl radical ((OH)-O-center dot) scavenging rate of the secondary wastewater effluent decreased as a result of an additional pretreatment step, leading to an increase of ozone and (OH)-O-center dot exposures at the same ozone dose. Adding filtration such as sand filtration or granular activated carbon filtration (GACF) as a pretreatment increased the removal efficiency of TrOCs by all tested ozone-based AOPs and reduced the minimum effective ozone dose for TrOC elimination. When the applied ozone dose is more than this minimum effective ozone dose, the elimination of TrOCs can be observed. For example, because of the use of anion resin filtration, 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol elimination contributed by the process of ozone-based AOP increased from 34.6 to 42.1% at an ozone dose of 1.0 g O-3/g dissolved organic carbon. Ozone-based AOPs coupled with filtration as a pretreatment were found to be more cost-efficient than the single AOPs at all ozone dose levels. The energy consumption of ozone-based AOPs was decreased by more than 25% when applying GACF as a pretreatment. In comparison with other filtration techniques, the pretreatment of secondary effluents by GACF before ozonation was proven to be the most cost-effective method for TrOC elimination

A nilpotent IP polynomial multiple recurrence theorem

We generalize the IP-polynomial Szemer\'edi theorem due to Bergelson and McCutcheon and the nilpotent Szemer\'edi theorem due to Leibman. Important tools in our proof include a generalization of Leibman's result that polynomial mappings into a nilpotent group form a group and a multiparameter version of the nilpotent Hales-Jewett theorem due to Bergelson and Leibman.Comment: v4: switch to TeXlive 2016 and biblate

Effects of drinking-water filtration on Cryptosporidium Seroepidemiology, Scotland

Continuous exposure to low levels of Cryptosporidium oocysts is associated with production of protective antibodies. We investigated prevalence of antibodies against the 27-kDa Cryptosporidium oocyst antigen among blood donors in 2 areas of Scotland supplied by drinking water from different sources with different filtration standards: Glasgow (not filtered) and Dundee (filtered). During 2006–2009, seroprevalence and risk factor data were collected; this period includes 2007, when enhanced filtration was introduced to the Glasgow supply. A serologic response to the 27-kDa antigen was found for ≈75% of donors in the 2 cohorts combined. Mixed regression modeling indicated a 32% step-change reduction in seroprevalence of antibodies against Cryptosporidium among persons in the Glasgow area, which was associated with introduction of enhanced filtration treatment. Removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts from water reduces the risk for waterborne exposure, sporadic infections, and outbreaks. Paradoxically, however, oocyst removal might lower immunity and increase the risk for infection from other sources

Interpolated-DFT-Based Fast and Accurate Amplitude and Phase Estimation for the Control of Power

The quality of energy produced in renewable energy systems has to be at the high level specified by respective standards and directives. The estimation accuracy of grid signal parameters is one of the most important factors affecting this quality. This paper presents a method for a very fast and accurate amplitude and phase grid signal estimation using the Fast Fourier Transform procedure and maximum decay sidelobes windows. The most important features of the method are the elimination of the impact associated with the conjugate's component on the results and the straightforward implementation. Moreover, the measurement time is very short - even far less than one period of the grid signal. The influence of harmonics on the results is reduced by using a bandpass prefilter. Even using a 40 dB FIR prefilter for the grid signal with THD = 38%, SNR = 53 dB and a 20-30% slow decay exponential drift the maximum error of the amplitude estimation is approximately 1% and approximately 0.085 rad of the phase estimation in a real-time DSP system for 512 samples. The errors are smaller by several orders of magnitude for more accurate prefilters.Comment: in Metrology and Measurement Systems, 201

Effectiveness of Membrane Filtration to Improve Drinking Water: A Quasi-Experimental Study from Rural Southern India.

Since point-of-use methods of water filtration have shown limited acceptance in Vellore, southern India, this study evaluated the effectiveness of decentralized membrane filtration 1) with safe storage, 2) without safe storage, versus 3) no intervention, consisting of central chlorination as per government guidelines, in improving the microbiological quality of drinking water and preventing childhood diarrhea. Periodic testing of water sources, pre-/postfiltration samples, and household water, and a biweekly follow up of children less than 2 years of age was done for 1 year. The membrane filters achieved a log reduction of 0.86 (0.69-1.06), 1.14 (0.99-1.30), and 0.79 (0.67-0.94) for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli, respectively, in field conditions. A 24% (incidence rate ratio, IRR [95% confidence interval, CI] = 0.76 [0.51-1.13]; P = 0.178) reduction in diarrheal incidence in the intervention village with safe storage and a 14% (IRR [95% CI] = 1.14 [0.75-1.77]; P = 0.530) increase in incidence for the intervention village without safe storage versus no intervention village was observed, although not statistically significant. Microbiologically, the membrane filters decreased fecal contamination; however, provision of decentralized membrane-filtered water with or without safe storage was not protective against childhood diarrhea