bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study Protocol: Randomised controlled trial to investigate the functional significance of marginal riboflavin status in young women in the UK (RIBOFEM)
Authors: Hill Marilyn HE , Mushtaq Sohail , Williams Elizabeth A , Dainty Jack R , Powers Hilary J
Published: March 2009

Background

The functional significance of moderate riboflavin deficiency as it is currently assessed is not well understood. Animal and human studies have suggested a role for riboflavin in the absorption and mobilisation of iron and as such may be important in maintaining haematological status. Recent National Diet and Nutrition Surveys in the United Kingdom have shown that young women in particular are at risk of moderate riboflavin deficiency and low iron status.

Methods/Design

A randomised placebo controlled intervention trial was conducted to investigate the effect of riboflavin supplementation on various measures of haematological status in a group of moderately riboflavin deficient young women aged 19 to 25 years. Women who were low milk consumers were initially screened for riboflavin status as assessed by the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient assay (EGRAC). One hundred and twenty three women with EGRAC values >1.40 were randomised to receive 2 mg, 4 mg riboflavin or placebo for 8 weeks. In addition 36 of these women were randomly allocated to an iron bioavailability study to investigate the effect of the intervention on the absorption or utilisation of iron using an established red cell incorporation technique.

Discussion

One hundred and nineteen women completed the intervention study, of whom 36 completed the bioavailability arm. Compliance was 96 ± 6% (mean ± SD). The most effective recruitment strategy for this gender and age group was e-communication (e-mail and website). The results of this study will clarify the functional significance of the current biochemical deficiency threshold for riboflavin status and will inform a re-evaluation of this biochemical threshold.

Trial Registration

Current Controlled Trials Registration No. ISRCTN35811298
Effects of research tool patents on biotechnology innovation in a developing country: A case study of South Korea
Authors: Kang Kyung-Nam , Ryu Tae-Kyu , Lee Yoon-Sik
Published: March 2009

Background

Concerns have recently been raised about the negative effects of patents on innovation. In this study, the effects of patents on innovations in the Korean biotech SMEs (small and medium-sized entrepreneurs) were examined using survey data and statistical analysis.

Results

The survey results of this study provided some evidence that restricted access problems have occurred even though their frequency was not high. Statistical analysis revealed that difficulties in accessing patented research tools were not negatively correlated with the level of innovation performance and attitudes toward the patent system.

Conclusion

On the basis of the results of this investigation in combination with those of previous studies, we concluded that although restricted access problems have occurred, this has not yet deterred innovation in Korea. However, potential problems do exist, and the effects of restricted access should be constantly scrutinized.
Sigma-2 receptor ligands potentiate conventional chemotherapies and improve survival in models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kashiwagi Hiroyuki , McDunn Jonathan E , Simon Peter O , Goedegebuure Peter S , Vangveravong Suwanna , Chang Katherine , Hotchkiss Richard S , Mach Robert H , Hawkins William G
Published: March 2009

Background

We have previously reported that the sigma-2 receptor is highly expressed in pancreas cancer. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that sigma-2 receptor specific ligands induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion. Here, we examined whether sigma-2 receptor ligands potentiate conventional chemotherapies such as gemcitabine and paclitaxel.

Methods

Mouse (Panc-02) and human (CFPAC-1, Panc-1, AsPC-1) pancreas cancer cell lines were used in this study. Apoptosis was determined by FACS or immunohistochemical analysis after TUNEL and Caspase-3 staining. Combination therapy with the sigma-2 ligand SV119 and the conventional chemotherapies gemcitabine and paclitaxel was evaluated in an allogenic animal model of pancreas cancer.

Results

SV119, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion in all pancreas cancer cell lines tested. Combinations demonstrated increases in apoptosis. Mice were treated with SV119 (1 mg/day) which was administered in combination with paclitaxel (300 μg/day) over 7 days to mice with established tumors. A survival benefit was observed with combination therapy (p = 0.0002). Every other day treatment of SV119 (1 mg/day) in combination with weekly treatment of gemcitabine (1.5 mg/week) for 2 weeks also showed a survival benefit (p = 0.046). Animals tolerated the combination therapy and no gross toxicity was noted in serum biochemistry data or on necropsy.

Conclusion

SV119 augments tumoricidal activity of paclitaxel and gemcitabine without major side effects. These results highlight the potential utility of the sigma-2 ligand as an adjuvant treatment in pancreas cancer.
Stimulation of Apolipoprotein A-IV expression in Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes and reduction of triglyceride formation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by potential anti-obesity Chinese herbal medicines
Authors: Guo Ava Jiangyang , Choi Roy Chi-yan , Cheung Anna Wing-han , Li Jun , Chen Ivy Xiaoying , Dong Tina Tingxia , Tsim Karl Wah-keung , Lau Brad Wing-chuen
Published: March 2009

Background

Chinese medicine has been proposed as a novel strategy for the prevention of metabolic disorders such as obesity. The present study tested 17 Chinese medicinal herbs were tested for their potential anti-obesity effects.

Methods

The herbs were evaluated in terms of their abilities to stimulate the transcription of Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) in cultured Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes. The herbs that showed stimulating effects on ApoA-IV transcription were further evaluated in terms of their abilities to reduce the formation of triglyceride in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Results

ApoA-IV transcription was stimulated by Rhizoma Alismatis and Radix Angelica Sinensis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in cultured Caco-2/TC7 cells. Moreover, these two herbs reduced the amount of triglyceride in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Conclusion

The results suggest that Rhizoma Alistmatis and Radix Angelica Sinensis may have potential anti-obesity effects as they stimulate ApoA-IV transcription and reduce triglyceride formation.
Quietism and Karma
Authors: Jain Andrea R. , Kripal Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2009

This essay is conceived as a contribution to the academic debate on the ethical status of mystical traditions with regard to Jain asceticism in particular and—through comparison of Jain with Advaita Vedanta asceticism—to ideologies of radical quietism more generally. For both Jain and Advaita Vedantic ascetic traditions, the material world, and particularly the body, are the primary obstacles to spiritual development. We deal with the social, physical, and environmental implications of such a worldview, rather than with the practice or the phenomenology or the doctrine of mysticism, which we grant to be an accurate reflection of a particular kind of cosmic experience. We address ethical issues, not metaphysical ones. In our discussion of Jain asceticism, we demonstrate that the basic problem (and promise) of quietism, in almost any cultural form, is the shocking realization it can occasion that the Real has absolutely nothing to do with the social or with any sort of ethical action. We argue that Jain asceticism cannot function as an adequate resource for contemporary ethics. Our normative concerns lie exclusively with the adequacy of Jain quietism in supporting a stable global community and a sustainable natural environment. One can be mystical without being ethical, and ethical without being a mystic. We conclude that the truths of quietism are both very profound and profoundly nonethical.
Introduction: “The Need for Repose”
Authors: Perl Jeffrey M. , Choudhury Mita , Chamberlain Lesley , Jain Andrea R. , Kripal Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2009

This essay introduces the second installment of a symposium in Common Knowledge called “Apology for Quietism.” This introductory piece concerns the sociology of quietism and why, given the supposed quietude of quietists, there is such a thing at all. Dealing first with the “activist” Susan Sontag's attraction to the “quietist” Simone Weil, it then concentrates on the “activist” William Empson's attraction to the Buddha and to Buddhist quietism, with special reference to Empson's lost manuscript Asymmetry in Buddha Faces (and to Sharon Cameron's work on the topic in her book Impersonality). The author, who is also editor of the journal, argues against the effort of some contributors to substitute new terms for quietism and emphasizes instead what he calls (quoting Sontag) “the need for repose.”
Sanctifying the Southern Organizing Campaign: Protestant Activists in the CIO's Operation Dixie
Authors: Fones-Wolf Elizabeth , Fones-Wolf Ken
Published: March 2009

When assessing the Congress of Industrial Organization's (CIO) postwar Southern Organizing Campaign, evangelical Protestantism shows up only on the debit side of the historians' ledger. Focus on anti-union hate sheets like Militant Truth and Gospel Trumpet conveniently substitutes for analysis of the shifting religious terrain of the South. In contrast, we argue that the potential for a sympathetic hearing from southern religious leaders was greater than scholars have previously believed, but that the CIO staff responsible for interpreting Operation Dixie's mission misunderstood the creeds and the theology of the most vibrant southern churches. By choosing individuals who boasted of their endorsement by the liberal Federal Council of Churches, the CIO incurred the wrath of southern denominations that had supported collective bargaining and an employee's right to join unions just a few years earlier. This missed opportunity is not the entire story, however. We also argue that the CIO's religious activists often challenged the Southern Organizing Campaign to promote racial equality and desegregation even when such challenges threatened to harm organizing goals. At the same time, they repudiated the claims of Communists to be the true supporters of black advancement in the labor movement. The connection of religious faith to the struggle for justice in the postwar South is surely far more complex than what exists in previous accounts.
Working for the Sabbath: Sabbath in the Jewish Immigrant Neighborhoods of New York
Authors: Polland Annie
Published: March 2009

This article analyzes the dilemmas and contradictions surrounding Saturday/Sabbath in New York City's Jewish immigrant neighborhoods at the turn of the twentieth century. How were working-class immigrants supposed to maintain allegiance to the commands and prohibitions of the Sabbath in a new, urban environment that encouraged Saturday labor? Though many immigrants breached Sabbath laws, either by working or by shopping, many also continued to value the traditional Sabbath. They engaged in activities such as Friday night celebrations and Saturday social events with friends and family that ritualized this value and embedded it into the week. This essay introduces the concept of what I call a “family religious economy,” which allows us to examine the strategies immigrants developed to manage the tensions of work and religion. Scholars have shown the absolute importance of the family unit in analyzing the immigrant economy at the turn of the century. This emphasis holds especially true for Jews: more than any other contemporary immigrant group, Jews brought women and children with them and also often relied on the wages of their teenage children. In considering the religious life of Jews, daily, weekly, and annual observances often played out in the familial setting. The family religious economy involved the division of responsibilities of wage earning, household duties, and religious observances within a family and prods us to examine the various strategies families devised to ensure both economic and spiritual survival. By highlighting the religious work of preparing for the Sabbath—whether cooking, cleaning, or simply by earning the wages to finance the cooking and cleaning—this article expands our understanding of the Sabbath in the working-class immigrant neighborhood. It allows us to examine what immigrants did do to honor the Sabbath and how their Sabbaths, though not always observed in a strict halakhic (Jewish legal) fashion, had a profound impact on the rhythm and patterns of the immigrants' week.
Challenging Binaries: Working-Class Women and Lived Religion in English Canada and the United States
Authors: Marks Lynne
Published: March 2009

This essay argues that while historians of working-class women have generally developed a complex and multi-faceted approach to studying their subjects, that religion has remained largely invisible in such studies. This essay argues for the value of incorporating religion as a category of analysis in the study of working-class women. It provides some discussion of absences in the existing literature, primarily using American and English Canadian examples along with a few forays into relevant British work. More attention is focused on recent literature which does fully incorporate religion into the lives of their subjects, such as work in African-American women's history and within the field of “lived religion”. Scholars of lived religion explore religion as part of working-class women's lives, and demonstrate the complex, messy and important ways in which the religious and the secular can combine in everyday lives. This essay explores reasons why most scholars of working-class women have largely ignored religion and argues that the approaches discussed here can point the way forward for the field of working-class women's history. The essay provides examples of particular areas of study, such as motherhood, consumption and women and unions, as areas where our ability to “see” religion as part of women's lives would deepen and strengthen our understanding of these topics.
Competitive Environment and the Relationship Between IT and Vertical Integration
Authors: Ray Gautam , Wu Dazhong , Konana Prabhudev
Published: March 2009

The information systems (IS) literature suggests that by lowering coordination costs, information technology (IT) will lead to an overall shift towards more use of markets. Empirical work in this area provides evidence that IT is associated with a decrease in vertical integration (VI). Economy-wide data, however, suggests that over the last 25 years the average level of VI has, in fact, increased. This paper studies this empirical anomaly by explicating the moderating impact of two measures of competitive environment, demand uncertainty, and industry concentration, on the relationship between IT and VI. We examine firms included in 1995 to 1997 InformationWeek 500 and the COMPUSTAT database. Consistent with the IS literature, the analysis suggests that IT is associated with a decrease in VI when demand uncertainty is high or industry concentration is low. However, contrary to the IS literature, IT is found to be associated with an increase in VI when industry concentration is high or demand uncertainty is low. Furthermore, as demand uncertainty increases, less vertically integrated firms invest more in IT, while as industry concentration increases, more vertically integrated firms invest more in IT. The analysis also suggests that firms' choice of the level of VI and IT investment, under different levels of demand uncertainty and industry concentration, are rational. When demand uncertainty is high or industry concentration is low, increase in VI may increase coordination and production costs. Thus, less VI is rational. However, when industry concentration is high or demand uncertainty is low, increase in VI may decrease coordination and production costs. Thus, firms choose more VI in such industries. The implications for research and practice are discussed.
The development of an instrument to measure teachers' use of fear appeals in the GCSE classroom
Authors: Putwain David W. , Roberts Christine M.
Published: March 2009

Background Previous work has suggested that teachers of General Certificate of Secondary Education classes may use fear appeals as a motivational device but these may have unwanted consequences by increasing examination‐related anxiety in students.

Aim To facilitate future work in this area, an instrument was developed to measure teachers' use of fear appeals in the course of normal classroom instruction.

Samples Students in their final 2 years of compulsory schooling in England: 192 in Study 1 and 133 in Study 2.

Method A construct validity approach was used in the development of this instrument. Study 1 reports the development and piloting of this measure. Study 2 reports refinement of this measure and relations with other constructs.

Results A three‐factor structure provided a reasonable model fit and all factors demonstrated acceptable reliability. Factors 1 and 2 described the perceived frequency of fear appeals made in relation to educational/occupational consequences and the third factor described the perceived threat of fear appeals.

Conclusion This instrument has demonstrated sufficient convergent and discriminant validity and reliability to be used in subsequent research, although the validation process should continue and it is hoped that the instrument will be adapted for use in other contexts.
Near space functioning of the human angular and supramarginal gyri
Authors: Bjoertomt Otto , Cowey Alan , Walsh Vincent
Published: March 2009

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) has been associated with the encoding of events in peripersonal space, but little is known about the precise segregation of parietal areas involved specifically in ‘near‐space’ visuospatial processing. This study applied transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to two parietal areas: the right angular gyrus (ANG) and the right supramarginal gyrus (SMG) in addition to a control site, cortical visual area V5, while subjects performed symmetry judgements on lines presented simultaneously in the left and right visual fields. Eight subjects performed the task with the stimuli presented either in peripersonal or extra personal space. As expected, TMS over the right ANG caused subjects to report lines as being longer ipsilateral to the stimulation site, but only in near space. TMS of the right SMG, however, induced a bias shift in both near and far space, but the change only reached significance in near space. Our findings suggest that, consistent with its role in somatosensory functions, the SMG, like the ANG, is specialised for near space.
Akzent und Lautwandel der Vokale seit althochdeutscher Zeit
Authors: Becker Thomas
Published: March 2009

From Old High German to the contemporary language there was only a single process that affected vowels: the increase in the relief of stressed syllables against unstressed ones. Apart from a few assimilations that are well understood, there are fortitions in stressed syllables and lenitions in unstressed syllables; these changes, including the behavior of diphthongs, are phonologizations of the phonetic correlates of stress. Open syllable lengthening is not a straightforward fortition but rather an effect of the syllable cut prosody that serves the purpose of maintaining the quantity opposition against the lengthening effect of strong dynamic stress; the syllable cut prosody also explains New High German monophthongization.
Improved Suction Technique for the Characterization of Construction Materials
Authors: Thygesen LG , Hansen KK
Published: March 2009

The suction technique is a method from soil science that is used for the study of moisture storage capacity in porous construction materials at high relative humidity levels (above approximately 93 %). The samples to be studied are placed in a pressurized container (an extractor) on a water saturated ceramic disk or membrane. The pressure corresponding to a certain relative humidity level is established and moisture is expelled from the samples until moisture equilibrium is reached. This paper presents two adjustments to this method and their applicability. The first adjustment is a new procedure for determining the equilibrium moisture content of samples during the experiment. The method (referred to as the balance method) is to simply keep track of all water entering and leaving the system and use these data to estimate the moisture content of the samples. The advantage of this approach is that the experiment does not need to be stopped and restarted for each relative humidity level tested. The main disadvantage of the method is that the estimation of the moisture content in the samples depends on a correct estimation of the moisture content of the ceramic disk. The second adjustment is the development of a pressure regulation system that keeps the pressure constant (±0.015 bar) within an extractor for weeks.
Application of a Silicon Calorimeter in Fast Burst Reactor Environments
Authors: Michael Luker S. , Griffin Patrick J. , Russell DePriest K. , King Donald B. , Naranjo Gerald E. , Suo-Anttila Ahti J.
Published: March 2009

Frequently in experiments at fast burst reactors (FBRs), it is necessary to know the dose and peak dose rate absorbed by a material in terms of dose to silicon. The dose to silicon at a given point in an irradiation cannot be reliably measured by a passive dosimeter retrieved at late times from a mixed field environment, so we rely on the silicon calorimeter as the true standard. A silicon calorimeter has been developed for applications in a water-moderated pulsed reactor. In this paper, the authors investigate the application of this silicon calorimeter in an FBR environment. Tests have been conducted at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) FBR, also known as MoLLY-G, to develop techniques to use this silicon calorimeter for a measure of rad(Si) during and soon after a pulsed operation. This calorimeter can be coupled with the response of a diamond photoconductive detector (PCD) in order to derive a dose rate monitor suitable for application during an FBR operation [1].
Development of a Practical Method to Evaluate the Fatigue Properties of Structural Silicone Glazing Adhesives
Authors: Carbary LD , Bull ED , Mishra SS
Published: March 2009

Structural silicone sealants have been used since the mid 1960s in the construction industry to attach glass to curtainwall framing systems. Design standards for these sealants have been in practice since the early 1970s and continue to be developed today. Most of these standards require tests that are based on a one-time destructive test of the joint material in tension. The industry established structural silicone design stress is intended to be reached only during the highest windload for the specified return wind period. The existing practice has had great success because the industry guidelines minimize stress on the silicone, and dictate quality assurance procedures that are instituted by curtainwall producers. In real life situations the sealant is additionally fatigued through a cyclic shear mechanism caused by daily thermal movement differences between the glass pane and the aluminum frame. This paper discusses a method for testing the effect of fatigue in sealants used in structural designs and comparing the data to control samples.
Formulating High Weatherability Sealants: Possibilities and Challenges
Authors: Urban C , Matsumoto T , Tomari S , Adeleu F
Published: March 2009

Customers challenge sealant formulators to develop high weatherability construction sealants with ever-higher performance. This paper will discuss some of the factors that influence weatherability and durability of sealants, such as binder, pigments, stabilizers, and catalysts. One-component polyurethane and modified silicone sealants will be evaluated. Raw material influences need to be carefully tested and optimized in order to develop high weatherability sealants. Taking these factors into consideration, it is possible to formulate high weatherability sealants that meet customers' demands. These demands are expected to increase in the future.
Deflection Criteria for Masonry Beams
Authors: Bennett RM , McGinley WM , Bryja J
Published: March 2009

This paper examines issues related to deflection criteria for masonry beams. Masonry walls supported by beams and lintels act compositely with the beam. As the height of the masonry wall increases, the behavior becomes more like that of a tied arch, with the masonry in compression and the beam acting as the tension tie. Deflection limits are only needed so that sufficient stiffness is provided during construction to prevent serviceability problems, with the suggested limit being I/600. Several methods for determining the deflection of reinforced masonry beams are examined, and a method for the effective moment of inertia of cracked reinforced sections is recommended. Beams and lintels that exceed this deflection do not necessarily have to be increased in size, but rather shores could be used during construction. Masonry beams and lintels with I/d≤8 should not be controlled by deflections. Therefore, it is recommended that the code not require these members to be checked for deflections.
Influence of Metallurgical Parameters on the Coercive Strength of Some Carbon Steels
Authors: Gerosa R. , Rivolta B. , Cusolito M. , Valsecchi M.
Published: March 2009

The final properties of a wire rod for magnetic components are strongly influenced by the specific steps of the industrial cycle which can be different according to the specific chemical composition of the steel. In this experimental work, measurements of coercive strength have been carried out on wire rods in different metallurgical conditions. The influence of work-hardening, as a function of some different drawing ratios, and the restoring of the coercive strength within the accepted values by heat treatments have been investigated. The carbon content and the steel chemical composition have also been evaluated. The obtained results give important information to the wire rods manufacturers for the respect of the technical delivery conditions.
A Complete System for Testing and Evaluation of Quenchants and Quenching Systems
Authors: Kristoffersen H. , Troell E. , Felde I. , Bodin J.
Published: March 2009

The quenching operation is a very critical part of the heat treatment process. Improper quenching parameters and drifting of the cooling characteristics during the working life of the quenchant will influence the quenching results. Sophisticated computer-based tools have made it possible to monitor, evaluate, and perform a continuous quality control of the quenchants’ and the quenching systems’ performance. The increasing and ever more sophisticated use of FEM simulation in order to optimize products and processes means that there is also a growing need for accurate input data. In quenching simulations, the boundary conditions expressed as heat transfer coefficients based on measured cooling curves are of great importance in order to obtain accurate calculations. One system that offers these features is the ivf SmartQuench® system (SQ).4 This system encompasses data acquisition and a software module for analyzing the cooling curves. With the new, extended software module that was introduced in 2007, SQintegra (SQi),4 it is now possible for the user to calculate heat transfer coefficients (e.g., for the ISO 9950 probe), as well as hardness and microstructure in a cross section of steel samples. Heat transfer calculations are made on the basis of an inverse analysis of the recorded cooling curve. The result is used as input for the calculation of microstructural constituents and the hardness profile of cylindrical samples of arbitrary diameter. Calculations can be made for several different steel grades. The system can be used for quality control of quenchants, troubleshooting, process follow-up, calculation of heat transfer coefficients, hardness calculations compared to verifying tests, and sensitivity analyses of quenchants. The system has also been used to evaluate the cooling performance in showers used for quenching after induction heating. The process window for a specific quenching shower was established for a polymer quenchant. Factors considered were flow rate, concentration and temperature of the quenchant.
Determination of Spatial and Seasonal Distribution of Surface Sediment Contamination in an Irish River and Estuarine System
Authors: Buggy Conor J. , Tobin John M.
Published: March 2009

An investigation of sedimentary matrices in a polluted Irish river and estuary was undertaken to determine the distribution both spatially, and more importantly seasonally, of metal and organometal contamination on a monthly basis over 2 years. No previous investigations in Ireland have undertaken such a detailed analytical regime. The Tolka River and Estuary, Dublin, Ireland, is a typical Irish urban river and estuarine system, and it was chosen for this study as it has significant metal and organometal contaminant loading arising from the urban environment in general but also specific sources including a closed landfill. A 1-month sampling and analysis regime was devised to optimize riverine and estuarine analysis to determine seasonality of contaminant distribution. Between August 2003 and January 2005, contaminant concentrations within the surface sediment of the river and estuarine system were analyzed monthly from 20 sampling points. Six metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) and an organometal (tributyltin (TBT)) were analyzed using differential pulse polarography. This assessment created an extensive database to determine spatial and seasonal distributions of contaminants over time and various in situ environmental and anthropogenic parameters that influence these distributions. It was found that contaminant concentrations within surface sediment are highly variable seasonally. Contaminant concentrations were observed to gradually increase (30–120 %) in spring to a maximum at the end of summer, which was followed by a decrease in winter months (30–60 %); e.g., at one estuarine site in February 2004, lead concentrations of 148.5 ppm were recorded, followed by a gradual increase to 312.1 ppm in July and a subsequent decrease to 131.1 ppm in January 2005. This paper presents the final 12 months of contaminant analysis as this period provided the clearest illustration of contaminant spatial and seasonal distributions.
Treatment of Salted Road Runoffs Using Typha latifolia, Spergularia canadensis, and Atriplex patula: A Comparison of Their Salt Removal Potential
Authors: Morteau B. , Triffault-Bouchet G. , Galvez R. , Martel L. , Leroueil S.
Published: March 2009

De-icing salts are used all around the world to improve driving security. Their impacts on the environment are a major concern, especially due to the production of salted road runoffs that induce rising of salinity of freshwater ecosystems. Some plants tolerate high salt concentrations and are able to accumulate large amounts of salt in their tissues. To protect freshwater ecosystems, constructed wetland incorporating this kind of plant could be used to treat salted road runoffs before they reached natural ecosystems. Lake Saint-Augustin, located near Quebec City (Quebec, Canada) is used as an experimental watershed area. Typha latifolia, Atriplex patula, and Spergularia canadensis have been selected and assessed for their ability to survive and grow in salted waters by accumulating salt in their tissues. Germination (20 days) experiments, recovery experiments (20 days), and chloride accumulation experiments (2 months) have been performed in a controlled environment. The three species showed no germination inhibition for salt concentrations found in the field (0, 150, 1500 mg NaCl/L). Accumulation of chloride has been found significant for all species. Typha latifolia showed the best accumulation of chloride (63 mgCl−/g of dry mass) which corresponds to a standing stock up to 230,000 mgCl⋅m2. This result is promising and supports the decision for upgrading the process to a constructed wetland.
Characterization and Simulation of the Creep Behavior of P92 Sandwich Structures at 923 K with Loading Transverse to the Intermediate Layer
Authors: El-Magd E , Gebhard J , Stuhrmann J
Published: March 2009

Improving thermal efficiency in modern steam turbines can be achieved by the application of new cooling systems, such as sandwich structures which enable cooling steam to flow without severe losses during operation. The mechanical behavior, especially the creep behavior, of the cooling structure could decide its adoption in a newly built combined cycle power plant. P92 sandwich structures which combine an interlayer of a woven wire mesh between two plane sheets were suggested. Creep tests at T=923 K on this sandwich structure were performed by loading transverse to the intermediate layer. In this work, a new test arrangement for carrying out these tests was introduced. Furthermore, the creep behavior was simulated with the finite element method using creep law material parameters determined from bulk material.
Tensile Creep Studies on Filled Polychloroprene Elastomer
Authors: Lacroix F. , Tougui A. , Berton G. , Ranganathan N. , Neelakantan N. R.
Published: March 2009

Tensile creep data on an elastomeric material, polychloroprene, are presented in this paper. The data were collected at four temperatures, 20, 40, 80, and 110°C and four stress levels, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 MPa. Each experiment was conducted over a time period of about twelve hours. Two different mechanisms seem to operate for the creep behavior in these ranges. At the lower temperatures, 20 and 40°C, the data are fitted with a new four-parameter equation; the data at different stress levels are combined into a single curve, which can be called a master plot. At the higher temperatures, 80 and 110°C, for the time period used, a single equation cannot fit the data and two equations are used, a four-parameter equation for the initial time, and the Findley equation for the later time.
Validation Of Initial and Failure Stiffness Definitions in Flexure Fatigue Test for Hot Mix Asphalt
Authors: Witczak MA , Mamlouk MW , Kaloush MS , Kaloush KE
Published: March 2009

Flexural beam fatigue testing of asphalt mixtures has been used for nearly 40 years in the pavement industry. Since the development of the test, the definitions of initial and failure stifnesses have not been verified or validated in any comprehensive study. The main objective of this study is to validate the criteria used to define the initial and the final stiffnesses in flexure fatigue testing. In this study, extensive flexure fatigue tests were performed on five typical dense-graded mixtures and an asphalt rubber gap-graded mixture. An optimization approach was used, in which different intial and failure conditions were assumed. Fatigue models were developed using linear regression curve fitting and the conditions that produced the best fit were selected. Both the phenomenological and the dissipated energy approaches were used. Test results conclusively indicated that the initial stiffness should be defined at cycle number 50. In addition, when a phenomenological approach for fatigue is employed, the fatigue stiffness should be taken at 50% of the initial stiffness.A stiffness degradation model was developed, which provided an independent proof that failue occurs when the stiffness of the beam is reduced to 50% of the initial stiffness. This model represents a basic material propertey at which damage accumulation in the mixture has produced an inability of the mix to resist further damage independent of the mode of loading. In contract to the tensile strain-failure approach, data analysis with the energy approach showed that fatigue failure stiffness, taken at 30% of the initial stiffness, provided identical fatigue energy failure regardless of constant stress or strain mode of loading. The results show that the phenomenological and energy approaches provide different definition of failure and the test should be consistent with the method of analysis used.
A Journal Bearing Test Rig With Reduced Uncertainty: Some Design Considerations
Authors: Wale D. , Mba D.
Published: March 2009

This paper presents results from a design study for a new journal bearing test rig intended to set new standards of accuracy. The paper summarizes a review of previous rigs and experimental techniques, with consideration and selection of the general design features most likely to give high accuracy in a new rig. Certain sources of error are identified and described, including those associated with the measurement system and build errors. A numerical assessment of the sensitivity to errors in selected experimental configurations is presented. In addition, methods of controlling uncertainties are discussed. This paper would be of interest to practicing engineers and researchers, either already involved, or new, to experimental journal bearing testing.
Influence of the Calibration Points on theSpb Parameter Behavior
Authors: Wainstein JE , Cocco RG , de Vedia LA , Cassanelli AN
Published: March 2009

The present work studies the separability parameter Spb behavior to estimate crack lengths when two or three calibration points are used. A set of precracked and blunt notched specimens with three-point bend ASTM-SE(B) geometry were prepared from three materials: AA 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with different side groove ratio, high-strength low-alloy welded steel, and 2.25Cr-1Mo steel. For each precracked specimen, initial and final crack length were measured on the crack surface. Intermediate crack lengths were determined by two methodologies: the standard elastic unloading and the Spb parameter method using two and three calibration points. The Spb crack lengths were very close to those estimated using the standard methodology; differences between them were less than 15 % Δa, suggested as a difference limit value in ASTM E 1820-99 to alternative methods for measuring crack extension. The performance of Spb parameter was evaluated using two and three calibration points. J-R curves were constructed. The JIQ values obtained by the standard methodology and the Spb method were similar.
Stress Evaluation of Railroad Forged Wheels by Ultrasonic Testing
Authors: José Minicuci D , dos Santos Júnior AA , Andrino MH , de Carvalho Santos F
Published: March 2009

Many railroads and research institutes have developed nodestructive testing methods in order to prevent accidents and remove the wheels from service before they fail. One of the most promising alternative means of performing this type of inspection is the evaluation of the stress on the forged wheel rim by ultrasonic testing. The main purpose of this test is to detect the wheel rim stress variations. MWL Brasil, with UNICAMP (State University of Campinas)'s support, applied a stress analysis method by ultrasonic test, using longitudinal critically refracted waves (Lcr). The magnitude of stress found was compared with simulation in infinite elements presenting consistent results.
Anisotropy of Field-Compacted Asphalt Concrete Material
Authors: Motola Y , Uzan J
Published: March 2009

This note presents a study to quantify the degree of anisotropy induced in situ by the compaction equipment. Large asphalt concrete samples were cut from the field and sawed in the laboratory to give prismatic specimens 200 × 80 × 80 mm3. The specimens were tested in all directions, at 40°C, using low sinusoidal load. The dynamic modulus obtained at different frequencies was used as the indicator of anisotropy in the three principal directions. Analyses of variance were conducted. They indicated that the material is not isotropic, but rather cross-anisotropic.
Testing and Evaluation of Quality Changes of Treated Fresh-Cut Tropical Fruits Packaged in Thermoformed Plastic Containers
Authors: Singh S. Paul , Chonhenchob V. , Chantarasomboon Y. , Singh J.
Published: March 2009

Fresh-cut fruit accounted for nearly $300 at retail in the U.S. in 2004, with projected sales ranging between $1 and $2 billion by 2008. The choice of packaging materials and the atmospheric conditions both inside and outside the package contribute significantly to the shelf-life of these products. This study evaluated quality changes such as firmness, color, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), sensory quality, and microbial safety of fresh-cut mangoes, pineapples, melons, and mixes of these fruits. Chemical treatments to reduce browning, firmness loss, and decay for these fruits were also investigated. The most effective treatments for fresh-cut mangoes, pineapples, and melons were 0.1 M ascorbic acid, 0.2 M ascorbic acid, and 0.2 M ascorbic acid plus 0.2 M calcium chloride, respectively. These fresh-cut tropical fruits were packaged in three semi-rigid containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), oriented polystyrene (OPS), and oriented poly(lactide) (OPLA). Gas composition in the package headspace and the time to reach steady-state conditions were observed to vary among fresh-cut packaging systems and affected their quality and shelf-life. The effects of package permeability, with regards to O2 and CO2, on quality and shelf-life of the fresh-cut products are discussed in this paper. Extended shelf-life was observed in fresh-cut mangoes, pineapples, and mixes packaged in PET due to reduced O2 and elevated CO2 atmosphere. Modified atmosphere of 6% O2 and 14% CO2 achieved in PET extended the shelf-life of fresh-cut pineapples from 6 to 13 days. The results suggest that shelf-life of fresh-cut fruit could be extended using appropriate semi-rigid containers.
Quality Assurance of Manufactures by Means of Intelligent Tomographic Processing
Authors: Barbuzza RG , Vénere MJ , Clausse A
Published: March 2009

Quality standards in industry require highly rapid and reliable inspection tools to optimize the production. In this article, a tomographic technique for defect inspection of manufactures is presented. Previous knowledge of the geometry of the inspected objects is used to shorten the inspection time. The location and dimension of internal defects can be determined rapidly from a few projections, providing valuable data for quality control.
Characterization of Thermal Degradation of Liquid Amine Anti-Strip Additives in Asphalt Binders Due to RTFO and PAV-Aging
Authors: Wasiuddin Nazimuddin M. , Fogle Chris M. , Zaman Musharraf M. , O’Rear Edgar A.
Published: March 2009

In this study, thermal degradation of amine-based liquid anti-strip additives was evaluated due to RTFO-aging and PAV-aging according to AASHTO T 240 and AASHTO R 28 test methods, respectively. The surface free energy (SFE) characteristics of asphalt binders before and after aging were used as a tool for this evaluation. Two asphalt binders, namely PG 64-22 and PG 70-28, and two anti-strip additives, namely AD-Here HP Plus and Redicote E-6, were evaluated. It was observed for 0.75 % AD-Here HP Plus in PG 64-22, mixing at 163°C is more effective than mixing at 145°C with respect to increase in SFE. Also, both RTFO and PAV-aging decrease the total SFE of asphalt binders; both the aging processes are more effective in PG 64-22. In addition, the beneficial effect of anti-strip additives in acid-base characteristics of asphalt binders is severely reduced by RTFO and PAV-aging. Finally, the chemical model of asphalt binder, proposed by Wasiuddin et al., was expanded to include the SFE characteristics of asphalt binders due to aging.
Medical Image Semi-fragile Watermarking in the Frequential Field
Authors: Kallel Imen Fourati , Lapayre Jean-Christophe , Bouhlel Mohamed Salim
Published: March 2009

Medical imaging requires great integrity of content since any change in the image even in a slight amount might affect the diagnosis. Semi-fragile watermarking could be the best technique to provide an efficient image authentication tool for medical images. In this paper, we propose a semi-fragile watermarking technique for the tamper proofing of still images that can tolerate JPEG lossy compression to a predetermined lowest quality factor and rejects any replacement process. We also present comparison performance for the proposed algorithm to eight other common techniques.
High Performance Stucco to Optimize Moisture Management in Wood-Frame Stucco Walls
Authors: Mukhopadhyaya Phalguni , Kumaran Kumar , Plescia Silvio , Lackey John , Normandin Nicole , van Reenen David
Published: March 2009

Stucco or portland cement plaster is widely used in North America as an exterior cladding material for the wood-frame walls. Recent computer-based numerical simulation studies at the National Research Council (NRC) Canada, Institute for Research in Construction (IRC) have indicated that low liquid diffusivity and high water vapor permeability of the stucco material can positively influence the overall moisture management capacity of wood-frame stucco walls. This paper presents the results from experimental and numerical modeling studies carried out at the NRC-IRC on the development of high performance stucco materials and its effect on the overall moisture management capability of wood-frame stucco walls. Liquid water and water vapor transmission properties of several commercial/conventional stucco materials and some newly formulated compositions were measured and compared under laboratory conditions. The experimental results suggest that by appropriate choice of the mix composition, addition of a proper hydrophobic admixture, and using aggregates with a hydrophobic coating, stucco material with lower liquid water diffusivity can be produced without reducing the water vapor permeability. The results from the numerical modeling study show newly developed high performance stucco materials can significantly improve the moisture management capability of wood-frame stucco walls.
Analysis of Major, Minor Constituents and Various Phases in Carbon Brush by Classical Gravimetry, Titremetry, and by Instrumental Method
Authors: Singh Nahar , Rashmi  , Singh Niranjan , Gupta Prabhat K.
Published: March 2009

A new precise chemical method has been developed for the compositional analysis of carbon brush. The major chemical constituents of carbon brush are carbon (C), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and tin (Sn), while the minor constituents are silica (SiO2), iron (Fe), and molybdenum (Mo). The analytical techniques employed for graphitic carbon, Pb, Sn, and SiO2 analysis were gravimetry (Loss in ignition, as PbSO4, as metastannic acid, and as SiO2, respectively) and titremetry for copper (Iodimetry). Trace impurities of Fe and Mo were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). On the same sample, gravimetric methods as above have been compared for Cu (as cuprous thiocyanate) by gravimetry and for Pb and Sn by normal titremetry (EDTA with xylenol orange as indicator). XRD confirmed the presence of graphitic carbon in carbon brush. The major constituents (w/w %) of carbon brush for Cu, C, Pb, Sn, and SiO2 were found to be 40.5±0.3, 39.5±0.25, 9.5±0.10, 10.2±0.13, and 0.45±0.07, respectively, and minor constituents Fe and Mo were found to be 4.2±0.21 and 1.6±0.2 mg kg−1, respectively. The titremetry Cu results obtained are comparable by gravimetry, which were 40.8±0.5. The gravimetric results obtained for Pb and Sn are comparable by titremetry and FAAS results of SiO2, which were 9.3±0.30, 10.1±0.2, and 0.25±0.09 (w/w %), respectively. The comparability of the above gravimetric and titremetry methods for various constituents are in good agreement with the methods presented in this paper for carbon brush and have been found to be reproducible within an uncertainty of 1.5 % RSD.