bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Skeletal Muscle Ultrasonography in Nutrition and Functional Outcome Assessment of Critically Ill Children: Experience and Insights From Pediatric Disease and Adult Critical Care Studies
Authors: Ong Chengsi , Lee Jan Hau , Leow Melvin K. S. , Puthucheary Zudin A.
Published: January 2017

Evidence suggests that critically ill children develop muscle wasting, which could affect outcomes. Muscle ultrasound has been used to track muscle wasting and association with outcomes in critically ill adults but not children. This review aims to summarize methodological considerations of muscle ultrasound, structural findings, and possibilities for its application in the assessment of nutrition and functional outcomes in critically ill children. Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched up until April 2016. Articles describing skeletal muscle ultrasound in children and critically ill adults were analyzed qualitatively for details on techniques and findings. Thickness and cross‐sectional area of various upper and lower body muscles have been studied to quantify muscle mass and detect muscle changes. The quadriceps femoris muscle is one of the most commonly measured muscles due to its relation to mobility and is sensitive to changes over time. However, the margin of error for quadriceps thickness is too wide to reliably detect muscle changes in critically ill children. Muscle size and its correlation with strength and function also have not yet been studied in critically ill children. Echogenicity, used to detect compromised muscle structure in neuromuscular disease, may be another property worth studying in critically ill children. Muscle ultrasound may be useful in detecting muscle wasting in critically ill children but has not been shown to be sufficiently reliable in this population. Further study of the reliability and correlation with functional outcomes and nutrition intake is required before muscle ultrasound is routinely employed in critically ill children.
Elemental Diets in the Management of Crohn's Perianal Fistulae
Authors: CALAM J. , CROOKS PATRICIA E. , WALKER ROBIN J.
Published: January 2017

Elemental diets have been used extensively in the routine management of patients with Crohn's disease during the past 2 years in this unit. We report our experience in 6 patients in whom perianal fistulae were present. Fistulae improved in 4 patients during elemental feeding; complete healing of fistulae occurred in one of them. No benefit was apparent in 2 patients, but in one the fecal stream had previously been diverted by transverse colostomy, and in the other fecal stasis was marked. The clinical significance of the observations and the difficulties of assessing diet therapy in this condition are discussed.
Optimal Threonine Intake for Preterm Infants Fed on Oral or Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Rigo J. , SENTERRE J.
Published: January 2017

Serum threonine concentration was determined during the first month of life in 163 low birthweight infants fed on either human milk, various adapted formulae, or total parenteral nutrition. On the pooled data, a significant positive relationship was found between the serum threonine concentration and threonine intake. However, the increase of the serum threonine level is more marked in the infants with the lowest actual gestational age; with a high threonine intake, the most premature infants have serum threonine levels twice as high (58.1 vs 31.7 μM/dl) as term infants. Therefore, threonine metabolism seems to be impeded in preterm infants. Considering the cord blood concentration of threonine (26.8 $pL 5.1 μM/dl) and the possible hazardous effect of hyperthreoninemia, it is suggested that threonine intake should not exceed 1200 μM (143 mg)/kg bodyweight/day in premature infants and that the amino acid composition of the diet should probably be modified in order to satisfy their protein requirement.
Keynes and ‘Stream of Consciousness’ or What Keynes Could Have Learnt From Virginia Woolf
Authors: Correa Romar
Published: January 2017

Keynes was a member of the Bloomsbury group, a group that took its credo in some measure from the philosophy of G.E. Moore. However Keynes was unable to follow through the implications of this early influence into his economics cumbered as he was with his ‘Marshallian baggage’. Virginia Woolf, as another member of the Bloomsbury group, shared with Keynes habits of perception and conduct inspired by Moore. The paper explores the relationship between the methods of the two authors. It is argued that Keynes insufficiently incorporated consciousness into his schema, an entity essential to Moore’s critique of idealism. Woolf more completely imbibed Moore’s insight that perception does not bear any simple correspondence with the external world. Secondly, there is Moore’s distinction between personal and universal modes of perception. Woolf’s novels present not just one person whose consciousness is rendered but many people with incessant shifts from one to the other. For his part, Keynes’s work contains only the germs of a philosophy of probability according to which probability can be viewed as the degree of intersubjective belief of a group.
Heavy Drinking: Risk, Restraint and Other Determinants
Authors: Cameron Samuel
Published: January 2017

It is shown, using a large national survey, that risk taking attitude influences both heavy and daily drinking. There are also significant effects of age, religion, education and situational factors. Some factors also differ by gender notably the effect of working away from home.
New Ventures and Evolutionary Economics
Authors: Pinfold John F.
Published: January 2017

It is widely accepted that neoclassical economics has largely neglected the role of entrepreneurial activity and the process of new firm formation. Similar shortcomings are not found in evolutionary economics, which views economic activity in ways closely resembling the observed reality of the entrepreneurial process. This paper explores the development of evolutionary economic theory and its relevance to entrepreneurship and new ventures. Current evolutionary economic theory tends to describe a process of economic development that parallels the process of natural evolution, but generates change in a different manner. This is based on the assumption that the diffusion of successful innovation through the population of firms and other institutions results in economic change, as opposed to the process found in nature, whereby the characteristics upon which evolution acts are inherited at birth. New evidence is brought to bear which shows that the process on new firm formation appears to closely resemble the Darwinian evolutionary process found in nature. It shows firms have a high reproductive capacity which combined with a somewhat random process of innovation allows a process of survival of the fittest to play a major role in economic change.
Long-term Trends in Wage Discrimination Against Ethnic Minorities: USA and UK
Authors: Simister John
Published: January 2017

This paper assesses two economic perspectives on racial discrimination in labour markets: the ‘Chicago school’ claims racial discrimination is a temporary phenomenon which is removed by competition; whereas more recent economics claims that labour markets are imperfect, so discrimination may be long-lasting. This paper reports evidence from USA and UK on earnings of ethnic minorities relative to the white majority. In recent decades, USA and UK governments have enacted legislation to prevent discrimination; this has been partly effective, but discrimination persists in both countries. Further action is required to reduce inefficiencies associated with discrimination.
The Contribution of Economic Methodology to our Understanding of Terrorism
Authors: Shahin Wassim N. , Islam Muhammad Q.
Published: January 2017

Recently several studies have used economic methodology to interpret and analyze terrorists behavior. This interdisciplinary endeavor is aimed at shedding as much light as possible on measures to eliminate one of the most dangerous problems facing the next decade. The paper suggests a set of policy measures to combat terrorism based on the findings coming out of the studies that have applied economic methodology to this issue. In developing the anti-terrorism policy agenda, the paper highlights the theoretical issues, methodologies and results of studies that have used choice and game theoretic approaches, the economic theory of bargaining, the economics of crime and punishment, spectral, cross spectral and interrupted time series analysis to examine terrorists behavior. The article concludes by suggesting a plan for future research.
Book Review: Higher Education and Employment: an International Comparative Analysis
Authors: Tilak Jandhyala B G
Published: January 2017

Higher Education and Employment: an International Comparative Analysis, Bikas C Sanyal, London, New York and Philadelphia: The Falmer Press, 1987, 237pp.
Book Review: Costing the Earth
Authors: Sandilands Roger
Published: January 2017

Costing the Earth, Ronald Banks (ed.), London, Shepheard-Walwyn, 1989, pp. x + 195, £5.95.
The New Paradigm of Georgescu-Roegen and the Tremendous Speed of Increase in Entropy in the Modern Economic Process
Authors: Kozo Mayumi
Published: January 2017

Inputs of low entropy resources into the economic process and outputs of high entropy waste from it are two unavoidable flows of our economic activities as long as we remain as bioeconomic beings on the earth. The true problem consists in the choice for the suitable speed of increase in entropy in the long run. The tremendous speed of increase in entropy is one of the most troublesome characteristics of modern technological systems with respect to the resource and environmental constraint menacing the existence of humans on the earth.

The main purpose of this study is to clarify this characteristic both in terms of two types of physical efficiency and in terms of four variations of the law of diminishing returns. Georgescu-Roegen’s emphasis on matter as well as energy and his Fourth Law of Thermodynamics will be reinforced by these concepts. Georgescu-Roegen’s theory will be also compared with Tsuchida’s water cycle theory which emphasizes the openness of the earth with respect to energy. The implication of these two theories for the steady state of the earth is also discussed. Final section gives some implications of this study for our future economic system.
Economics as Allegory
Authors: Highfill Jannett K.
Published: January 2017

The paper consists of an investigation of Donald McCloskey’s proposition that economic journals contain both metaphors and allegory. The first section consists of a definition of allegory where it is shown that the defining trait of allegory is that it can be read on two levels, the literal and the figurative or allegory. This definition is then used to show (in the second section) that while narrative economic allegories can certainly be written, such economics narratives as the typical “Robinson Crusoe Allegory” are not, in fact, allegory. An example of an economic narrative which is allegory is provided. The second section concludes by demonstrating that mathematical economic models are allegory, and an example is given. In the third section it is shown that both the literal and figurative levels of mathematical economic models are abstract, and that this fact has important implications for the use of empirical data in economics.
Beyond Positivism and Normativism
Authors: Zsolnai Laszlo
Published: January 2017

The author rejects the usual division of economics (Positive Economics versus Normative Economics). Since actions and perceptions are not contrary but complementary phases of the same process such an economics seems to be right which is able to serve both economic actions and perceptions. The author argues for the utilization of the Action Research and Evaluation Research methodologies in economics. In the light of these methodologies the constructive and valuative aspects of economics are desirable. Constructive economic researches discover, new earlier non-existent possibilities for the economic activities. Valuative economic researches explicitly valuate the ways economic activities actually run. Constructive and Valuative Economics seems to be appropriate for making of a better economic world than we live in now.
Politics, Psychology, and the Neutrality Proposition
Authors: Mevorach Baruch
Published: January 2017

This paper provides a political-psychological explanation to the otherwise somewhat pessimistic accounts of the (structural) neutrality (invariance) proposition in the Rational Expectations (RE) money-output literature.

We argue that: 1. The methodology for detecting unanticipated monetary policy, in its present form, might be flawed; 2. The political information, discussed in this paper, is of a “pure” expectational nature. This is due to the psychologically convenient limited information basis it has, and the complete lack of direct-stimuli effects, resulting from its existence in different explanatory models; 3. Existing unanticipated monetary policy should probably be partitioned into two unanticipated sources: “punishing expectations”, concerning an adjusting average metaphor, capable of apply ‘punishing expectations’ whenever economic conditions do not conform with its own egocentric welfare; and, real shocks to the system, unanticipated by both parts to the macroeconomic game, the public and policy-makers as well.
Nigeria: Economy, Finance and the Role of the Stockbroker
Authors: Abdullahi Nuruddeen A. , Wakelam Alan
Published: January 2017

The first part deals with the financial background to the economy. The switch from an agricultural economy to one where, since 1974, oil has taken centre stage, has been dramatic. A country traumatised by civil war has left deep scars, as a result the oil boom of the 1970’s was not taken full advantage of—wastage and misallocation of revenues were characteristic of the 1970’s and 80’s. Despite this, there has been some improvement in the infrastructure as a result of public spending.

The second part looks at the role of the stockbroker. As professional advisors, stockbrokers are expected to have a good understanding of the financial market. Sadly the advice that some gave to private investors was not always sound. A particular example was when a third of the sample advised their clients to borrow money for share purchase at a time when interest rates were particularly high.

It is interesting to note that in spite of their strong support for deregulation of the stock market, the majority (74.1%) expressed satisfaction with the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (NSEC).

The authors expected the financial press to be the most important source of financial information, instead company reports took first place, possibly reflecting a lack of confidence in press reporting.

62% of the stockbrokers were ignorant of the fact that a company may declare profit even when its cashflow position is in deficit, and 22% had the misconception that listed companies were always profitable.

Unlike the UK and the USA there is yet to emerge a market risk service, hence the stockbrokers have to rely on their own perceptions of market risk, and the results show that
Environment Growth and Value Revisited
Authors: Mulberg Jon
Published: January 2017

This article returns to the debate on economic growth and the environment. It outlines two approaches to environment: the orthodox and the Austrian. The orthodox approach claims to be positivistic, and stresses objective functions. In fact positivism has an implied political theory, and objectivity leads to a policy of economic planning, not market-led solutions.

The orthodox approach to environment leads to an environmental planning ‘supplement’. It is not clear why the criticisms of economic planning are invalid in environmental economics, nor why these techniques should not be extended to the rest of the economy.

The Austrian school accepted that laissez-faire and positivism are incommensurable. The Austrian theory is normative and subjective, and criticises the static and unrealistic nature of the orthodox approach, but has a consequence that macroeconomic variables are meaningless.

What is required is a political economy not based on ‘rational economic human’, but grounded instead in a concept of dialogic democracy, based on the concept of citizenship and community.
Ecological Efficiency, Economic Efficiency and Time Efficiency in Private Consumption
Authors: Cogoy Mario
Published: January 2017

Consumerism is on the list of critical targets of ecological economists, but an economic theory of consumerism has still to be developed. The present paper intends to contribute to such a theory based on an institutionalist view of consumption as a social process and focussing on the interrelations between consumers as skilled social agents, infrastructures and institutions. In the present paper consumption is understood as the life-process encompassing all kinds of social activities necessary to the life-enjoyment objective of socialized and culturally determined individuals. In their consumption activities, individuals have to move between different types of institutions (the market, the firm, the state, personal relations, etc.) with the aim of successfully organizing their life-processes. Consumers are therefore potentially creative and consumption may become an important source of social and environmental innovation. Innovative behaviour involves a change in the relationship between consumers, infrastructures and institutions and its outcome may be evaluated under different criteria. The present paper suggests a comparison of three types of efficiency: ecological, economic and time efficiency.

In order to illustrate the here proposed view, some environmental problems of the transportation system are discussed.
Book Review: The New Institutional Economics and Third World Development
Authors: Dutta D.K.
Published: January 2017

John Harriss, Janet Hunter and Colin M. Lewis (eds.), The New Institutional Economics and Third World Development London and New York, Routledge, 1995. H/B 0415 11823 9 £47.50 P/B 0415 15791 9 £16.99
Adsorption of thiophene, dibenzothiophene, and 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene on activated carbons
Authors: Li Zhijun , Jin Shuangling , Zhang Rui , Shao Xia , Zhang Shimin , Jiang Ning , Jin Minglin , Meng Tingting , Mu Yanhan
Published: January 2017

Four activated carbons (ACs) activated by different activation methods from different precursors were heat-treated at 600℃ to decrease surface oxygen functional groups and to separate the effect of pore texture from surface chemistry on their sulfur adsorption performance. The ACs and the heat-treated ones were used as adsorbents for thiophene (T), dibenzothiophene (DBT), and 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) for model fuels with or without a competing benzene. The correlations of surface functional groups and pore textures to their adsorption capacities for T, DBT and 4,6-DMDBT were investigated. Results indicated that the heat treatment not only decreased surface oxygen content, but also caused a pore texture modification. The adsorption isotherms can be well fitted by the Langmuir–Freundlich single solute isotherm. The sulfur adsorption capacity of ACs after the treatment for T, DBT, and 4,6-DMDBT has a good linear relationship with the pore volume of pores within 0.536–1.090, 0.536–1.179, and 0.679–1.268 nm, respectively. The decreased percentage of surface oxygen of ACs by the heat treatment is correlated linearly with the decreased percentage of the sulfur adsorption capacity for all the thiophenic compounds. Micropore filling via the π–π interaction is the dominant adsorption mechanism of thiophenic compounds for both the untreated and heat-treated ACs. Surface oxides contribute to the thiophenic adsorption by a cooperative interaction of the π–π interaction and the acid–base interaction between the basic sulfur atom and the acidic carbon atoms linked with oxygen in graphene edges. A flat adsorption is the most possible geometry in the adsorption of thiophenic compounds.
The Two-Stage Air–CO2 Activation in the Preparation of Activated Carbons. I. Characterization by Gas Adsorption
Authors: Rodríguez-Reinoso F. , Linares-Solano A. , Molina-Sabio M. , López-González J. de D.
Published: January 2017

Three different methods for the preparation of activated carbons from almond shells and olive stones have been carried out in the temperature range 1073–1123 K: (a) carbonization in N2 followed by activation in CO2; (b) direct activation in CO2 and (c) treatment of the raw material in air at 573 K followed by activation in CO2. The characterization of the samples by gas adsorption and mercury porosimetry has shown that methods (a) and (b) yield similar results (and consequently it is preferable to use the direct activation) and that method (c) gives the best results, both in an adsorptive capacity and in the overall yield. On the other hand, the carbons from almond shells are more micro- and mesoporous whereas those from olive stones are more macroporous; in any case, the adsorptive capacity for gas adsorption of activated carbons prepared from both raw materials is very large.
Surface Properties of a Pyrogenic Low Surface Area Silica: A Microcalorimetric and IR Spectroscopic Investigation
Authors: Bolis Vera , Marchese Leonardo , Coluccia Salvatore , Fubini Bice
Published: January 2017

The affinity towards water of a pyrogenic low surface area silica (50 m2/g) has been studied by adsorption microcalorimetry and IR spectroscopy. Attention was given both to the dehydration and rehydration processes under different conditions. The evolution of OH species was investigated in the 298–1073 K range. Evidence has been obtained for two species; isolated free (3750 cm−1) and adjacent interacting (3670 cm−1) hydroxyls. The presence of isolated silanols (which are usually created at a silica surface by outgassing at T > 450 K) on the initial ‘virgin’ sample (i.e. prior to any thermal treatment) accounts for the intrinsically low hydrophilicity of this specimen. By raising the outgassing temperature, the extent of the 3750 cm−1 species increases in parallel with the disappearance of the 3670 cm−1 species. The progressive development of surface hydrophobicity was monitored by the decrease in the adsorption capacity and of the heat of adsorption, the latter falling far below 44 kJ/mol (latent heat of liquefaction of water) even for the sample treated at 423 K. Upon contact with water vapour at r.t., rehydration occurs only to a limited extent and depends on both the thermal pretreatment undergone by the sample and the time of exposure to H2O vapour.
Activated Carbon as an Adsorbent for the Separation of Low-Molecular Weight Alkyl Halides from Ground Water in the Production of Drinking Water. II. The Relationship between the Adsorption Capacity for Trichloroethene of Virgin and Regenerated Activated Carbons, and Their Achievement in the Purification of Deep-Well Ground Water
Authors: Roncken Th. , Roebers A. , Hopman R. , de Ligny C.L. , Dekker B.G. , Van der Laan J. , Kruithof J.C.
Published: January 2017

Activated carbon can be used for the separation of trichloroethene from contaminated deep-well ground water. When the activated carbon has become saturated with trichloroethene, it may be regenerated (i.e., purified from trichloroethene) by the manufacturer. After regeneration, it can be used again.

It is shown that the activated carbon deteriorated gradually upon regeneration. Successive regenerations became necessary after ever-decreasing time intervals, and the amount of trichloroethene adsorbed from the ground water decreased gradually.

It appears that the efficiency in the separation of trichloroethene from ground water of the regenerated activated carbons is proportional to their adsorption capacity for trichloroethene at equilibrium. This relationship can be used to predict the efficiency of a charge of regenerated activated carbon in the separation of trichloroethene from deep-well ground water.
Calorimetric and Isosteric Heats of Adsorption of Substances with Molecules of Different Electronic Structure
Authors: Kuznetsov B.V. , Tuan Ninh Anh , Rachmanova T.A.
Published: January 2017

Calorimetric heats of adsorption have been measured for iso- and cyclo-pentane on NaX(86) zeolite at 140°C and for acetonitrile on carbon black and silica gel at 150°C. These heats have been compared with the corresponding isosteric values, calculated from isotherms measured over temperature ranges whose average values correspond to the above temperatures. The isosteric heats of adsorption coincide well with the calorimetric values in those cases where no change occurs in the mechanism for adsorbate–adsorbent interaction within the temperature range over which the isotherms have been measured. If this condition is not observed, the difference between the two sets of values can be quite considerable.
Selective Adsorption of Europium on Activated Charcoal from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Saleem M. , Afzal M. , Qadeer RiaZ , Hanif Javed
Published: January 2017

The adsorption of europium on activated charcoal has been studied as a function of shaking time, pH, concentration of adsorbate and temperature. The adsorption of europium obeys the Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. Thermodynamic quantities such as ΔH0 and ΔS0 have been calculated from the slopes and intercepts of plots of In KD versus 1/T. The influence of different cations and anions on europium adsorption has been examined. The adsorption of other metal ions on activated charcoal has been investigated under specified conditions to check their selectivity for europium. As a result, europium has been successfully removed from a mixture containing Ba, Sr, Ru, Cs, Cr, Nd, Pr and In. Approximately 96% of the europium adsorbed on the activated charcoal was recovered using 45 ml of 3 M HNO3. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used for measuring the europium concentration.
Surface Characterization and Thermodynamics of Adsorption of Pr, Nd and Er on Alumina from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Saleem M. , Afzal M. , Mahmood F. , Ali A.
Published: January 2017

The porous nature of alumina has been investigated using various techniques. The values obtained for moisture content, surface area, pore volume, average particle size and porosity were 22%, 116 m2/g, 0.76 cm3/g, 17.0±0.5 μm and 68.0%, respectively. The adsorption isotherms of NdIII, PrIII and ErIII on alumina from aqueous solution have been obtained at different temperatures. All these adsorption isotherms obey the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm equations. Thermodynamic parameters such as the free energy, entropy and enthalpy of adsorption have been computed and interpreted. It is noteworthy that the adsorption of PrIII and NdIII increases with decreasing temperature while the reverse is observed for ErIII.
Tungsten Adsorption on to Alumina from Ammonium Meta- and Para-Tungstate Solutions — UV-Visible Spectra of the Solutions
Authors: Pizzio L.R. , Cáceres C.V. , Blanco M.N.
Published: January 2017

The species in solutions used during tungsten adsorption on to alumina from ammonium meta- and para-tungstate solutions have been studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. For metatungstate, the spectra of the impregnant solution placed in contact with alumina and of the solutions corresponding to the dissolution pH and pH- were measured as a function of time. In all the cases, the intensity of the band corresponding to metatungstate decreased with time.

The spectra of paratungstate B solutions placed in contact with alumina as a function of time were very different from those of paratungstate solutions maintained at the dissolution pH and at pH = 8.5. However, these latter spectra were similar to those obtained for metatungstate solution placed in contact with alumina.

The decrease was more rapid for the solution which had been in contact with alumina relative to that to which ammonia had been added (pH = 9). In both cases, the variation in intensity with time was greater than that recorded for the metatungstate solution maintained at the dissolution pH. The observed fraction of metatungstate transformed depended not only on the solution pH but also on the presence of an additional effect due to the interaction of metatungstate ions and alumina. Only the monomeric species WO2-4 was present in a solution which had been placed in contact with alumina for 24 h.

During impregnation of an alumina support with paratungstate B and ammonium metatungstate solution, the species adsorbed is the monomer while the metatungstate fraction which does not interact with alumina is slowly transformed to the WO2-4 species.
Dependence of the C Constant in the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller Equation on Water Pre-Adsorbed on Activated Carbon
Authors: Mehandjiev D.R. , Nickolov R.N.
Published: January 2017

The dependence of the C constant in the BET equation on the amount of pre-adsorbed water has been investigated by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption on activated carbon containing different amounts of water pre-adsorbed at the same relative water vapour pressure. It is suggested that the rapid decrease in the surface area as determined by the BET method in comparison with the C value in cases of low degrees of sorption volume filling is associated with blocking of part of the carbon texture and the parallel formation of extremely narrow micropores.
Adsorption of Mercury from Wastewater by Fly Ash
Authors: Kapoor A. , Viraraghavan T.
Published: January 2017

The effectiveness of fly ash in adsorbing mercury from wastewater has been studied. Batch kinetic and isotherm studies have been carried out to determine the effect of contact time, pH and temperature on the adsorption. It has been found that a contact time of 2 h is necessary for the adsorption to reach equilibrium. The optimum pH was found to be between 5.0 and 5.5. The adsorption isotherm data were described adequately by both the Langmuir and the Freundlich models. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic.
Branched-Pore Kinetic Model for Basic Dyestuff Adsorption onto Natural Clay
Authors: El-Geundi Mohammad S.
Published: January 2017

The adsorption of Basic Blue 69 from aqueous solution onto natural clay has been studied using an agitated batch adsorber. The branched-pore kinetic model (BPKM). based on external mass transfer, macropore diffusion and micropore diffusion, has been used to predict the performance of a batch adsorber. A computer program has been developed to generate theoretical concentration-time curves and these results adjusted to experimental concentration-time curves by a ‘best fit’ approach. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to study the effect of the main mass-transfer parameters, Ks, Ds, Kb and f, on the shape of the concentration decay curves. The variables of initial dye concentration and natural clay mass have been successfully correlated using constant values of the mass-transfer parameters Ks, Ds, Kb and f. The Ks value is (3.7 ± 0.1) × 10−3 cm/s, the Ds value is (2.6 ± 0.1) × 10−8 cm2/s. the Kb value is (1.7 ± 0.1) × 10−7 cm/s and finally the f value is 0.56 ± 0.01. The micropore diffusion terms enable the concentration decay curves to be predicted accurately for a longer period of time than in previous models.
Influence of Hydrogen on the Properties of Nickel-Molybdenum Catalysts in the Steam Reforming of Hydrocarbons
Authors: Stasińska Beata , Borowiecki Tadeusz , Golebiowski Andrzej , Stolecki Kazimierz
Published: January 2017

It is well known that the presence of hydrogen influences the activity of a nickel catalyst in the steam reforming of hydrocarbons. The properties of nickel–molybdenum catalysts in such reactions depend on the kind of atmosphere employed since the effects of the partial pressure of hydrogen on the coking rate of nickel or of nickel–molybdenum catalysts are different. The changes observed depend on the presence and amount of promoter, although changes in the rate of coking for promoted catalysts at increased partial pressures of hydrogen in the reaction mixture cannot be explained solely in terms of changes in their activity. When all the experimental results and literature information are taken into account, it appears that the distribution of various MoOx surface sites plays an important role in the behaviour of nickel–molybdenum catalysts.
Influence of the Nature of the Non-Framework Cations on the Sorption Properties of Natural Stilbite
Authors: Kasture M.W. , Joshi P.N. , Joshi V.V. , Choudhari A.L. , Mirajkar S.P. , Shiralkar V.P.
Published: January 2017

A natural zeolite of stilbite type, collected from the Deccan traps (Aurangabad, M.S., India), has been investigated for its selectivity sequence in exchanging extra-framework cations for the first time, using Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, Na+ and Ag+ cations as the probe cations. The different cation-exchanged forms were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy, TG/DTA, chemical analysis and water sorption capacity.

Water sorption isotherms in the temperature range 303–393 K were obtained as a function of different non-framework cations up to a pressure of 22 Torr. The sorption data were analysed in terms of different sorption models. The characteristics and population of the non-framework cations were found to influence the chemical affinity for water sorbate almost in a similar trend.
The Influence of Nickel Dispersion in Ni/Al2O3 Catalysts on Their Properties in the Reaction with Hydrogen, Hydrocarbons and Steam
Authors: Nazimek Dobieslaw , Machocki Andrzej , Borowiecki Tadeusz
Published: January 2017

Nickel catalysts are commonly used in many industrial processes including the hydrogenation, hydrotreating, hydrogenolysis, methanation and steam reforming of hydrocarbons. The aim of the present paper was to describe the influence of various physicochemical properties of nickel-supported catalysts on the course of coking in the steam reforming of n-butane as well as the influence of the concentration of B5 sites on the surface of the catalyst on the course and mechanism of the hydrogenolysis of simple alkanes.
Hydrogenation of CO2 over Alkali Metal-Modified Ni/Al2O3 Catalysts
Authors: Ryczkowski J. , Borowiecki T.
Published: January 2017

A group of Ni and Ni, Li/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared using impregnation and controlled surface reaction methods. The various steps in the preparation were characterised by IR spectroscopy. The catalysts were reduced under the same conditions, while fixed conditions were also employed for the subsequent reactions in order to effect a better comparison. The total and metal surface areas, the degree of nickel reduction and the activity of the catalysts towards CO2 methanation were all measured in order to compare the effect of preparation method on the structural properties as well as on the catalyst activity and selectivity. Nickel catalysts modified with lithium, either by controlled surface reaction or double impregnation utilising H2Li2EDTA, exhibited a higher activity in CO2 methanation than any other catalyst samples investigated.
Studies of the Influence of the Percentage Content of Polar Organic Solvent on the Sorption and Separation of Rare Earth Elements Nitrate Complexes on Anion Exchangers
Authors: Hubicki Z. , Olszak M.
Published: January 2017

Rare earth elements do not occur individually in Nature but in the form of mixtures, which are frequently isomorphic, and in minerals but only in small amounts. Hence, their metallurgy is difficult and extremely expensive. The aim of the present work was to study the influence of the percentage content of a polar organic solvent (CH3OH, CH3COCH3) on the possible selective removal and separation of rare earth elements(III) nitrate complexes by frontal analysis in 95–35% v/v polar organic solvent-x% v/v H2O-5-10% v/v 1 or 7 M HNO3 systems on the strongly basic anion exchangers Wofatit SBW × 6% DVB and Wofatit SBK × 7% DVB. The weight and bed distribution coefficients, as well as the number of theoretical plates for individual systems, were determined. The best results were obtained in the 95% v/v CH3COCH3-5% v/v 7 M HNO3 system on Wofatit SBW × 6% DVB. In this case, 2.62 kg Y2O3 were purified from a 1% neodymium admixture on 1 dm3 of the anion exchanger.
An in Vitro Model for the Molecular Investigation of Varicose Veins: Use of Cultured Explants of Human Long Saphenous Vein
Authors: Hollingsworth S. J. , Tang C. Bong , Barker S. G. E.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To develop an in vitro model from explants of human varicose veins (VVs).

Procedures:

Segments of VVs were cultured for up to 14 days with 30% fetal calf serum. At 7 and 14 days, segments were analysed for changes in intima:media thickness and by immunohistochemistry. Comparisons were made with VVs at isolation and cultured explants of normal vein.

Results:

At isolation, VVs had a significantly thicker intima than normal veins ( p<0.001). By day 7 in culture, normal veins developed a significant (smooth muscle cell-derived) ‘neo-intima’ ( p<0.006). In contrast, in VVs there was little change in the intima but a significant increase in the thickness of the media ( p<0.001). Following 14 days in culture, both the neo-intima in normal veins and thickened media in VVs had regressed. Overall, there was a reduction in the intima:media ratio in VVs by day 14 ( p<0.03).

Conclusions:

Segments of VVs can be maintained in culture for up to 14 days without developing a neo-intima and may provide a suitable model to investigate mechanisms underlying the chronic venous insufficiency of varicosity.
The ‘Wound Boot’: A Preliminary Assessment of a Novel Device for the Management of Leg Ulcers
Authors: Barker S. G. E. , Cooper D. G. , Ahmed A. , Agu O. , Challoner E. J. , Hollingsworth S. J.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

A preliminary assessment of a novel device, the ‘wound boot’, in the management of leg ulcers.

Procedures:

Eight subjects with ulcers wore the boot for 5–14 days. Ulcers were cleaned with saline only. No other dressings were applied. Questionnaires examined comfort and ease of use and asked for suggestions for modifications. Additionally, nurses examined ‘time taken to clean and dress ulcers’ in comparison with standard dressings. Although not a primary end-point, ulcer healing was noted.

Results:

For all, the boot was comfortable, easy to use and preferable to standard dressings. Ulcer-associated odour was eliminated entirely. A significant reduction was seen in the nursing time taken to clean and dress ulcers. Occasionally, excess exudate was problematic, with the boot's absorptive materials insufficient. In two cases, where the ‘boot’ was applied for 14 days, significant wound healing was seen.

Conclusions:

The prototype ‘boot’ helped significantly in leg ulcer management. Modifications based upon this assessment will allow a second prototype to be evaluated fully.
Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery is More Cost-Effective Than Compression Bandaging for Healing Venous Ulcers
Authors: Huang A. , Edwards N. , McWhinnie D. L.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To determine whether subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) is more cost-effective than compression bandaging for healing venous ulcers.

Design:

Cost analyses based on theoretical patients supposing the two methods are equally effective in healing venous ulcers.

Setting:

District hospital.

Patients:

A theoretical population of 200 patients with unilateral leg ulceration due to incompetent perforating veins.

Intervention:

The cost of SEPS was calculated based on outpatient visits, investigations and surgery including complications, with varying failure and re-ulceration rates. The cost of compression bandaging was estimated from published data and compared with that of SEPS.

Results:

The average cost per patient undergoing SEPS was £723. In 100 patients with an operative failure rate of 2% and a 10% re-ulceration rate, the cost increased to £818/patient in the first year (£16/ulcer-free week). A re-ulceration rate of 35% increased the cost to £23/ulcer-free week. However, the cost of compression bandage was £33/ulcer-free week using the same model, with healing rates of 50–70% at 20–40 weeks and a recurrence rate of 18–30% at 30–40 weeks.

Conclusion:

In a theoretical model SEPS was more cost-effective in healing venous ulcers due to incompetent perforators compared with compression bandaging.
Surgical Workload Generated by a Single-Visit Venous Clinic
Authors: Geyer M. , Stott P. M. , Harvey Angela , Corbett C. R. R.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To determine the management of patients attending a single-visit venous clinic.

Design:

Observational study.

Setting:

District general hospital.

Patients:

Two hundred and sixty-nine patients who attended over 1 year.

Intervention:

Clinical assessment was carried out with continuous wave Doppler ultrasound examination in all cases and duplex ultrasound examination in selected patients, followed by standard appropriate management.

Main outcome measures:

Patients were classified according to their clinical status under the CEAP classification (clinical, aetiological, anatomical, pathophysiological). This was related to the chosen form of management (advice only, compression hosiery, compression bandaging, injection sclerotherapy, superficial venous surgery).

Results:

A much higher proportion of patients with mild or moderate disease (CEAP 2 or 3) undergo operation (109/146, 75%) than those with severe disease (CEAP 4–6), in whom operation is less often appropriate (37/106, 35%).

Conclusions:

Most of the operative workload is generated by patients with mild or moderate disease; patients with severe disease are more often treated conservatively.
Dose-Response Study of Human Growth Hormone in Venous Ulcers: Influence on Healing and Synthesis of Collagen Types I and III
Authors: Rasmussen L. H. , Avnstorp C. , Karlsmark T. , Peters K. , Hørslev-Petersen K.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To investigate the dose-response effect of topical human growth hormone on healing and local collagen synthesis and to study procollagen propeptides as markers of healing in chronic venous ulcers.

Design:

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Setting:

Multicentre study, University Hospitals of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Patients:

Eighty-seven patients with chronic venous ulcers.

Interventions:

Solutions of growth hormone (Norditropin), 0.17 IU/ml, 1 IU/ml and 11.2 IU/ml, 0.1 ml/cm2/day, or placebo (groups 1–4) was administered daily except weekends for 6 weeks.

Main outcome measures:

Healing rates evaluated as weekly ulcer area reduction and complete healing. Local collagen synthesis was evaluated by measurement of the propeptides of collagen types I and III (PICP and PIIINP) in wound washings twice weekly during the first 3 weeks.

Results:

No significant difference in ulcer area reduction between the groups was seen, although patients treated with 0.17 IU/ml healed faster than the other groups ( p = 0.14). Nine (45%), five (29%), seven (31%) and six (31%) ulcers in groups 1–4 respectively were healed at follow-up ( p = 0.06–0.1, log rank test). PICP and PIINP increased by 21.4% per week, (14.5–28% per week) and 20.2% per week, (12.2–28.2% per week) respectively compared with placebo, p < 0.05. Both PIIINP and PICP at 3 weeks correlated significantly with the healing rates, r = 0.44, p < 0.001 and r = 0.34, p < 0.005.

Conclusion:

The study failed to demonstrate a significant influence on healing, whereas collagen synthesis was stimulated dose-dependently by growth hormone. Procollagen propeptides are sensitive markers of growth hormone action and may be useful markers of healing in clinical investigations in chronic venous ulcers. Lower doses of growth hormone should be considered in future studies.
Duplex Ultrasound Scanning for Chronic Venous Disease: I. Techniques for Examination of the Crural Veins
Authors: Ziegenbein R. W. , Myers K. A. , Matthews P. G. , Zeng G. H.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To describe a practical technique to reliably find and study crural veins by duplex ultrasound scanning.

Design:

Prospective scanning of patients referred for evaluation of possible chronic deep venous insufficiency.

Setting:

A non-invasive vascular diagnostic laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.

Patients:

A study of 1340 legs in 917 consecutive patients referred with primary or recurrent varicose veins, or for evaluation of possible deep venous disease causing aching or swelling in the legs.

Interventions:

Examination of the crural veins by duplex ultrasound scanning.

Main outcome measure:

Identification of all three sets of crural veins.

Results:

Rates for detecting the posterior tibial, anterior tibial and peroneal veins were 97%, 92% and 91% respectively and all three were observed in 91%. If the last 1227 legs studied by colour-Doppler duplex ultrasound are considered, the rates for detection were 98%, 96% and 96% respectively.

Conclusion:

Examination of the crural veins can be a part of routine duplex ultrasound scanning in patients referred with suspected venous disease.
Clinical Examination, Duplex Ultrasound and Plethysmography for Varicose Veins
Authors: Iafrati M. D. , O'Donnell T. F. , Kunkemueller A. , Belkin M. C. , Mackey W. C.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

In pursuing a policy of selective greater saphenous vein (GSV) preservation in the treatment of varicose veins we hypothesized that limbs with isolated tributary disease (TD) would be ideal candidates for GSV preservation.

Design:

Prospective blinded series.

Setting:

University teaching hospital.

Patients:

Fifty-nine symptomatic legs in 45 consecutive patients presenting with varicose veins.

Interventions:

Patients were evaluated by physical examination, quantitative photoplethysmography (QPG) and colour flow duplex examination.

Main outcome measure:

Colour flow duplex as the standard of comparison.

Results:

Of the limbs studied, 29% had isolated TD. The sensitivity of physical examination for GSV incompetence was 43%, but specificity was 100%. QPG yielded a similar sensitivity of 24% and specificity of 100%.

Conclusions:

Twenty-nine per cent of limbs were optimal candidates for sparing of the GSV with excision of branch varicosities alone. Duplex examination was necessary only when the GSV was clinically normal, and QPG was not helpful.
Four Years' Follow-up Results of Three Different Percutaneous Treatments for Male Varicocele
Authors: Pocek M. , Guazzaroni M. R. , Sodani G. , Guazzaroni M. N. , Cancellieri R. , Sakr A. M. A. , Simonetti G.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of three different interventional radiological procedures for the treatment of venous reflux in symptomatic male varicocele.

Design:

Prospective study with a 48-month colour duplex ultrasound (CD) follow-up.

Setting:

Department of Radiology, Tor Vergata University of Rome.

Patients:

From January 1991 to December 1993, 45 symptomatic patients with third- to fourth-degree varicocele, according to Sarteschi's CD classification, were randomly divided into three equal groups (15 patients each).

Interventions:

The first group received sclerotherapy (Athoxysclerol), the second underwent embolisation (Gianturco coils), while the third group received combined sclero–embolisation therapy (Athoxysclerol and Gianturco coils).

Main outcomes measures:

The frequency of recurrence for each procedure.

Results:

Two recurrences (13%) after 1 and 2 years occurred in patients who underwent sclerotherapy. In the embolisation group, two patients showed residual varices (13%). Neither recurrence nor residue was seen in the third group, who received combined therapy.

Conclusions:

Sclerotherapy provides good immediate results but drug dilution may cause a relapse shortly after treatment. Embolisation has a lower immediate success but better long-term success. Combined treatment provides the highest long-term success rate.